Name: Joe Scott
Date, place of birth: April 22, 1982 in Anchorage, AK
Campaign website: JoeScott.org
Occupation: Broward County Supervisor of Elections
Education: BS, United States Military Academy at West Point (2004), Executive MBA, Villanova University (2015)
15-year Work History:
Broward County Supervisor of Elections 2021-Present
Account Manager at Ricoh 2016-2020
Entrepreneur 2014-2016
Acute Facility Administrator at DaVita 2013-2014
Service Manager at Cintas 2011-2013
Quality Assurance Supervisor at Medco 2009-2011
Have you ever been arrested, charged or convicted of a crime, received a withheld adjudication or had a matter sealed or expunged? If yes, explain.
NO
Have you been a plaintiff or defendant in a civil action, including bankruptcy or foreclosure or had a restraining order issued against you? If so, explain.
In my individual capacity, no. In my capacity as Supervisor of Elections, I walked into office with several lawsuits pending and, like nearly every SOE office in Florida, we have been part of several during my tenure. In every lawsuit that has specifically been filed against my office, we have never been found to have violated any laws and no judgments have been entered against the office since I have been SOE.
Why are you running for this offi ce, and what makes you the best candidate?
I am running for a second term to continue the positive trajectory of this office. I am proud of our improvements to communication systems and our efforts to simplify voter registration, early voting and mail-in voting. My passion for innovation and cybersecurity drives me, and I believe my plans for a second term will be as transformational as the changes we’ve already made. I am the best candidate because I bring 25 years of leadership experience, have successfully run nine elections as SOE, and have earned the highest designation in my profession, Certified Elections/Registration Administrator (CERA), through a professional education program affiliated with Auburn University.
What additional steps are necessary to increase requests for mail ballots?
My office is executing a comprehensive plan that includes a mass marketing campaign to inform citizens about the three voting methods and help them choose the best one. The campaign features broadcast and streaming TV and radio ads, billboards, bus shelters and wrapped buses. We are also notifying people who previously voted by mail but haven’t requested a vote-by-mail (VBM) ballot for this cycle. Using email, text and USPS, we remind them to submit a new request to vote by mail this year. Our contact efforts are ongoing. For instance, after sending out VBMs for the primary election, we will notify those who haven’t received one. We will do the same after sending out VBMs for the general election.
Should Broward cities be able to hold special city elections other than in March or November? Why or why not?
Broward cities can hold special elections at any time, but if they want the Supervisor of Elections office to manage them, it must be at the Supervisor’s discretion. I am proud that my city holds its elections on the first Tuesday in November of even-numbered years, aligning with federal, state and county elections. This approach maximizes turnout and citizen participation while being financially responsible. Since this timing allows for more voter participation with minimal budget impact, I encourage citizens in cities that don’t follow this practice to ask their city commissioners why.
