New program helps disabled veterans vote in Orange County

ORANGE COUNTY, Fla. – As supervised voting for the general election is underway, Orange County is rolling out a program to help guide disabled veterans through the voting process.

On Thursday, Supervisor of Elections Glen Gilzean announced he’s hired a team of military veteran poll workers to help fellow veterans who cast their ballots in assisted living facilities.

“They understand and they can relate to veterans,” Gilzean said. “What better way to have a veteran who has the patience to work with another veteran and say, ‘OK, I’m going to help you go through your ballot.’”

State law requires county supervisors of elections to provide supervised voting for absent electors who reside in any assisted living facility.

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Thursday, however, was the first time a dedicated team of veterans guided fellow veterans through the process, which happened at the Orlando VA Medical Center.

Sgt. George Pilioglos is one of the workers and said they’re there to help read the ballot and assist in signing, but cannot give opinions.

“We must be totally and completely impartial,” Pilioglos said. “We are solely there as an instrument, just the same as a voting machine, but it must be his signature and it must be his decision that goes on that ballot.”

Gilzean said the initiative is just one way his office is enhancing access and ensuring election transparency.

“To be able to cast their vote and make sure our democracy continues, that is the bedrock of America. That’s why this is super important. Not just to me, but to Orange County as a whole,” he said.

For more details on how to vote in Orange County, visit ocflections.com.

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