Monroe County Supervisor of Elections Sherri Hodies joined Good Morning Keys on Keys Talk 96.9/102.5FM this morning to talk about the upcoming election.
For Spanish-speaking voters, an incorrect election date printed on Spanish-language sample ballots was the result of a printing error and does not affect the Aug. 18 primary election.
Hodies said the mistake was discovered after the ballots had already been mailed and immediately prompted an outreach campaign to notify voters of the correct date.
“Monday, Aug. 3 through Aug. 15 is early voting,” Hodies said. “Election Day is Aug. 18.”
The error appeared only on the Spanish-language portion of the sample ballot, where the Election Day date incorrectly listed Nov. 5, 2024, instead of Aug. 18, 2026.
Hodies said her office thoroughly reviewed the ballot proofs before approving them.
“On July 15, we accepted the final proof where it says ‘Vote Election Day’ in English and Spanish was both Aug. 18,” she said. “But on Sunday night, sitting at my home looking at my Saturday mail, I looked at the sample ballot, and under ‘Vote Election Day’ in Spanish, it says Nov. 5, 2024.”
She immediately contacted the county’s printing vendor the following morning.
“He said it was an editing and printing mistake—a communication mistake between those two departments at his location,” Hodies said. “He apologized, and I am going to be getting back all the taxpayer money that it cost to send out these sample ballots.”
Because of the election timeline, Hodies said there was not enough time to print and mail corrected ballots before early voting begins.
Instead, the elections office launched an extensive public information campaign using local media, social media and direct outreach to Spanish-speaking residents.
“We started a widespread social media presence,” Hodies said. “We’re trying to get to the Spanish community to let them know it’s Aug. 18, 2026, if they want to vote on Election Day.”
Hodies said she has personally contacted dozens of Spanish-speaking voters.
“I’ve reached out to about 30 or 40 Spanish-speaking voters who assured me they knew it was a mistake,” she said. “Some had not even seen it, but they also looked up at the English, and they can see the date Aug. 18, 2026. They also said they know it’s not 2024.”
She also encouraged Spanish-speaking voters to contact the elections office with any questions and reminded them that staff are available to assist them in Spanish.
Hodies stressed that the mistake was unintentional and rejected any suggestion that it was intended to discourage Spanish-speaking voters.
“We are not trying to suppress the Spanish community vote,” she said. “We are not trying to discriminate. Nothing like that.”
She added that any voter wishing to review the original approved ballot proof is welcome to visit the Supervisor of Elections Office.
“Anybody can come in and review my sample ballot folder,” Hodies said. “They’ll see where the error was made and what happened.”
Despite the setback, Hodies said her office remains focused on increasing voter participation in the county.
“We are really trying to get up our numbers,” she said, noting that turnout in primary elections typically ranges between 50% and 56%.
“We really want people to come out and vote.”
The Monroe County Supervisor of Elections Office reminded voters of several important upcoming deadlines:
- Early voting: Aug. 3 through Aug. 15.
- Last day to request a vote-by-mail ballot: Aug. 6.
- Primary Election Day: Tuesday, Aug. 18, 2026.
During early voting, voters may cast ballots at any of the county’s five early voting locations. Secure ballot intake stations will also be available for voters returning completed vote-by-mail ballots.
Hodies encouraged voters to choose whichever voting method is most convenient.
“They can vote by mail, vote early, or come out and vote on Election Day, Aug. 18, 2026,” she said.
For more information, click here: https://www.votemonroeflkeys.gov/