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Oct. 14 Hot Topics, “Election Anxiety: What Could Possibly Go Wrong … or Right?”

By J.G. Hayes

Vote early, and don’t give into doubts and fear. That was the message of the Oct. 14 Hot Topics panelists who reassured voters that it was safe and easy to vote in Orange County.

The moderator was Sandi Vidal, the vice president of community strategies and initiatives at the Central Florida Foundation. Panelists included Brad Ashwell, the Florida state director of All Voting is Local; Laudi Campo, Florida state director of the Hispanic Federation, and Nick Shannin, general counsel for the Orange County Supervisor of Elections.

Brad Ashwell began by discussing the work All Voting is Local does and the challenges they expect voters may face. He also is the main Florida contact for Election Safeguards Response Network, a national network of more than 300 nonprofits “at the forefront of identifying, planning for and responding to those who would undermine our elections.”

Laudi Campo stressed how immigration policy is affecting Hispanic voters by making them fearful of going out in public. She quoted a popular saying in the Hispanic community, “They took so much from us that they even took the fear.”

Campo focused on the people behind the process — making sure that voters have the time and means to go vote, whether that means transportation or caregiving.

“In the end, fear shouldn’t stop us,” she said.

Nick Shannin elaborated on the issues that are of particular concern to the supervisors of elections and reassured that the Orange County supervisor has many plans for disaster preparedness. “Whether the impediment that is on its way is fire, rain or ICE, we are ready,” Shannin said.

Ashwell harkened back to 2020 and the election chaos that ensued. Election protection is the goal, he stressed.

Shannon likened election preparation for hurricane preparation, noting that the two things sometimes converge. He highlighted the importance of early voting (which begins Oct. 19 and runs through Nov. 1) and directed voters to the voteorangeflorida.gov website that provides live “traffic reports” for the 27 early voting locations so voters can show up when it’s most convenient for them.

So, what are other threats to voters? Making sure they show up at the right polling place, voter intimidation like the fear of ICE at or near polling sites, disability access and others. Asked where voters can find information, the panelists pointed to the websites of the League of Women Voters of Orange County, the supervisor of elections, the state Division of Elections and other credible messengers.

ID laws were discussed and panelists noted that HB 991 (which requires proof of identification from a specific list of documents that is much smaller than the existing list) does not go into effect until January 2027, so that will not affect this election.

One issue that comes up more frequently now is that of guns at the polls. Shannin explained that the “open carry” statute and the “no carry” statute must be read together, and that firearms are not permitted in polling precincts.

Like firearms, ICE is also forbidden at the polls, and Ashwell encouraged voters who see something to say something and call voter protection. One way to do that is calling 1-866-OUR-VOTE, but they can also call the supervisor of elections office.

League members can sign up to be poll workers or poll watchers or monitor the canvassing board if they’re looking for ways to get involved.

The takeaway: vote early, ask for help, promote facts and encourage your friends and neighbors to vote!

Brad Ashwell, Florida state director, All Voting is Local

 

Brad Ashwell has more than 20 years of state and federal legislative experience with nonprofit advocacy groups working to improve election administration systems and voter access.

 

Immediately prior to joining All Voting, Ashwell worked as a research associate with Integrity Florida.

 

He has also worked as the legislative director for the Florida Alliance for Consumer Protection, state policy director for the State Voices Florida Civic Engagement Table, and state director at Florida Public Interest Research Group.

 

He graduated from Florida State University with a bachelor’s degree in interdisciplinary social science.

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Laudi Campo, Florida state director, Hispanic Federation

 

Laudi Campo is Florida state director of the Hispanic Federation, a national nonprofit organization dedicated to advancing the Hispanic community.

 

Campo has played a prominent leadership role in the federation’s Florida operations and is a recognized community service and civic engagement leader.

 

Originally from Morovis, Puerto Rico, she has successfully served as the communications specialist for the Puerto Rico Senate, as the public relations director of the City of Vega Alta in Puerto Rico, and as an aide to the Orlando District 2 Commissioner.

 

Campo holds a bachelor’s degree in arts and communications with a minor in public relations from the University of Puerto Rico.

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Nick Shannin, General Counsel, Orange County Supervisor of Election

 

Founder of the Shannin Law Firm, Nick Shannin is a board-certified appellate specialist. He is a past chair of the Florida Bar Appellate Practice Section and has been named to Florida Trend’s Legal Elite Hall of Fame and the “Top 100 Attorneys in Florida” by SuperLawyers.

 

Shannin is a certified circuit, appellate, and federal court mediator and has frequently represented attorneys and clients as an attorneys’ fee expert. He earned his Juris Doctorate from the University of Florida and his bachelor’s degree from Rice University.

 

Shannin has served as president of both the Orange County Bar Association and its Legal Aid Society. He is also an election law expert and currently serves as general counsel to the Orange County Supervisor of Election.

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Sandi Vidal, vice president of community strategies and initiatives, Central Florida Foundation

 

As vice president, Sandi Vidal works at the intersection of impact, strategy and leadership for Central Florida Foundation. She brings together partners across sectors to address complex community challenges, including homelessness, economic instability and equitable access to care and opportunity. Known for her ability to connect ideas, people and resources, Vidal excels at transforming vision into action.

 

A graduate of the University of Miami School of Business with a degree in business administration, Vidal is a die-hard Hurricane in a household full of Florida State Seminoles. She has more than 25 years of business management experience and over 20 years of nonprofit leadership.

 

Vidal is a passionate advocate and public speaker focused on advancing solutions to complex social issues. She currently serves on the Nominating Committee for the League of Women Voters of Orange County, participates in numerous community task forces and working groups, and serves on the Board of Directors for ProNet.

 

Throughout her career, she has contributed to a wide range of collaborative initiatives, including Thrive and BBLI, and leads an international cohort of foundations advancing the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).