Making her first appearance to the League of Women Voters, Monroe County Supervisor of Elections Sherri Hodies spoke on her role in ensuring electoral fairness at a public forum in Tavernier on June 9.
In her speech, Hodies addressed the policy changes since she began her tenure in early 2025. Notable changes included the promotion of a deputy supervisor of elections as well as three staff members to newly created local manager positions in Key Largo, Marathon and Key West to ensure more open and efficient communication between the three offices and the community.
Hodies emphasized the importance of community input in ensuring fair and secure electoral protocols.
New purchases have been planned for improved electronic scanning systems that ensure greater efficiency and security of voter check-ins, which should be ready for the 2025 municipal elections. In response to concerns, Hodies emphasized the need to train clerks in signature reading, a process which becomes necessary when the voter’s signature does not match what they’d registered.
Hodies also touched on her responsibility, as the county supervisor of elections, to undertake extensive training in cybersecurity and voter registration protocols.
“I’ve really gone to school in the last four or five months,” said Hodies, whose first year of tenure, which is also her first year of elected office, has provided many unforeseen challenges.
For instance, within the last few months alone she reviewed a list of more than 300 voters registered at outdated or suspected fraudulent addresses. In one notable instance, she reviewed the status of 17 voters registered at a seemingly uninhabitable address.
Hodies expressed gratitude for the help and support of her staff members, who have more than 105 years of combined experience, for helping her to adapt to her new role and for their devotion to election safeguarding.
“They don’t care who’s sitting in that chair,” said Hodies. “Their loyalty is to our voters.”
