Central Florida

Election officials in several Florida counties, including Seminole, Broward, and Monroe, are investigating delays in vote-by-mail ballots moving through the U.S. Postal Service. Seminole County has issued more than 500 replacement ballots, with one local delivery taking seven days; a Broward official's son waited 12 days for a ballot sent from Orlando. USPS says it has found no delivery issues in Broward or Monroe. Central Florida counties outside Seminole report no similar problems. With Florida's 7 p.m. Nov. 3 return deadline approaching, officials are urging voters who haven't mailed ballots to instead vote early in person or drop ballots at secure intake stations.

Florida Attorney General James Uthmeier announced the proposed "Safe Screens Act," new legislation aimed at tightening restrictions on minors' use of social media and AI chatbots. The proposal builds on Florida's existing ban on social media accounts for users under 14, recently upheld by the Eleventh Circuit, by adding further requirements for parental control and platform design aimed at curbing addictive features. Violations would be treated as unfair trade practices under state law, carrying fines of up to $50,000 per incident. Polk County Sheriff Grady Judd voiced support, praising Uthmeier's focus on child safety against large tech and gaming companies. The bill would need legislative approval to take effect.

Osceola County, Florida, has authorized a multi-day aerial spraying campaign to reduce mosquito populations after heavy rain and an approaching weather front raised concerns about further mosquito breeding. The move follows a reported uptick in locally transmitted mosquito-borne illnesses, including dengue fever, tracked by the Florida Department of Health. Spraying will pause during rain or high winds, with makeshift October dates planned if needed. Ground-based larvicide and evening spraying will continue countywide. Neighboring Orange County is also spraying in Apopka and Pine Hills after five confirmed dengue cases, while Seminole County reported a new case this week, reflecting a broader Central Florida outbreak concern.

As early voting begins in Orange County, Florida, the two mayoral candidates have staked out opposing positions on Amendment 3, a property tax measure that county officials project would cut revenue by $165 million in 2027 and $275 million in 2028. Chris Messina backs the amendment, arguing it would deliver meaningful savings to homeowners amid an affordability crisis and disputing the county's revenue projections, citing recent tax revenue growth. Tiffany Moore Russell opposes it, warning it threatens discretionary programs like the Housing Trust Fund and offers no relief to the roughly 45% of county residents who rent. She says she would pursue budget cuts and efficiencies if it passes.

Palm Beach County Republican Party Chair Carl Cascio addressed the controversy surrounding Mike Caruso, who served about a year as Palm Beach County Clerk of the Circuit Court and Comptroller after being appointed by Gov. Ron DeSantis in August 2025, before being suspended amid child sex charges. Caruso's continued appearance on a voter guide following his arrest drew scrutiny, which Cascio discussed on WFLA's Battleground Florida podcast alongside broader Republican prospects in Florida's midterms.

The podcast also featured Rep. Darren Soto, who is seeking reelection in Florida's 9th Congressional District against Republican Dan Green, a Trump administration Department of Defense appointee whose campaign did not respond to requests for comment. Soto's district, redrawn mid-decade under DeSantis and the Republican legislature, now has more registered Republicans than Democrats. Also featured was Branden Scrivener, a No Party Affiliated, self-described progressive candidate challenging Rep. Gus Bilirakis and Democrat Kimberly Overman in District 12, as independent candidates seek traction in competitive races ahead of November.

Orange County, Florida election officials held public logic and accuracy testing on voting machines less than a month before Election Day, part of a process required by state law before every election. Workers ran sample ballots through randomly selected machines to confirm they function properly and tally votes correctly, with members of the public invited to observe.

Karen Castor Dentel, Orange County Supervisor of Elections, said the exercise supports transparency and public trust in election integrity. Resident Patti Strandberg, who has volunteered in multiple roles throughout the election process, said watching the testing firsthand offered reassurance and encouraged others with concerns to attend future public viewings.

Election Day is Tuesday, Nov. 3. Early voting runs from Oct. 19 to Nov. 1, and voters seeking mail ballots must request them by Oct. 22. The testing comes amid ongoing national attention to election security and voter confidence ahead of the midterm election cycle.

Orange County, Florida commissioners voted 6-1 to approve a roughly $9 billion budget prioritizing public safety, affordable housing and homelessness services, even as county leaders warn that a statewide ballot measure could upend future budgets. Amendment 3, which would increase the homestead exemption for non-school property taxes, could cut $275 million from county revenue by 2028, officials say. Mayor Jerry Demings noted the measure lacks a public safety exemption, meaning optional services like social programs would likely face cuts first if it passes in November.

Other Central Florida law enforcement leaders share the concern: Volusia Sheriff Mike Chitwood says his agency could lose $37 million next year alone, while Seminole County Sheriff Dennis Lemma has warned of a 20 percent budget cut leading to layoffs and hundreds fewer patrol officers. Commissioner Mayra Uribe suggested the county should first seek internal efficiencies before residents feel the impact. The approved budget also includes $19.5 million for the Affordable Housing Trust Fund, part of a goal to add or preserve 10,000 housing units by 2028.

The Florida Board of Education has approved new rules governing artificial intelligence use in K-12 public schools and the state's 28 colleges. The vote, taken at a meeting at Polk State College, requires school districts to update internet-safety policies to address AI and directs colleges to set their own limits on classroom AI use.

Under the new rules, K-12 districts must notify parents when a student will use an AI product, obtain parental consent, and provide a non-AI alternative of similar quality if a parent declines. Districts have until July 1, 2027 to finalize policies. Additional review is required for AI tools used in PreK-5, and products cannot simulate emotional relationships with students, conduct undisclosed monitoring or profiling, or be used unsupervised. Colleges must bar AI use on graded work unless instructors permit it. Vendors must prioritize keeping student data in the U.S. and are barred from selling or exploiting that data. Officials described the approach as a middle ground between banning AI outright and allowing unrestricted access.