As of July 31, the Florida Department of Highway Safety and Motor Vehicles (FDHSMV) began issuing driver’s licenses with four randomly generated digits. Officials say the change is meant to “improve security and safeguard individuals’ identities,” but it may also create problems for mail-in voters and petition signers.

FDHSMV explained: “While the license or identification card format will remain the same, a different formula utilizing randomization will now be used to determine the driver license numbers assigned to a customer. Customers renewing or replacing their license or identification cards in person or online will be issued a new number.”

Election supervisors including Wendy Sartory Link (Palm Beach County) and Joe Scott (Broward County) warn that voter registration databases do not automatically sync with these updated driver’s license numbers. That means if you’ve received a new license since August 2024, your ID number may no longer match your voter record – potentially invalidating your ballot.

Voters can still use the last four digits of their Social Security number when applying for a mail-in ballot, but for petitions – where signers rarely provide Social Security information – the license number mismatch could be a roadblock.

To avoid issues, election officials urge Floridians to update their voter registration with their new license number at registertovoteflorida.gov or by contacting their local Supervisor of Elections.

Meanwhile, on the national stage, President Donald Trump has renewed his push against mail-in voting.

On Aug. 18, he again claimed the 2020 election was stolen and vowed to “lead a movement to get rid of MAIL-IN BALLOTS” along with “inaccurate and controversial VOTING MACHINES.” Trump argued that states must follow federal directives in counting votes.

“Remember, the States are merely an ‘agent’ for the Federal Government in counting and tabulating the votes,” Trump continued. “They must do what the Federal Government, as represented by the President of the United States, tells them…”

Trump made the remarks on his social media platform, Truth Social, where in the same post he also falsely claimed the United States is the only country allowing mail-in voting. In fact, democracies including Germany, Switzerland, the United Kingdom and Canada all permit vote-by-mail without restrictions.