378 Seminole Voters Notified After Petition Circulator Arrest Linked to Marijuana Amendment

Seminole County Supervisor of Elections Amy Pennock notified 378 registered voters after an internal audit identified signatures submitted by the same paid petition circulator who was arrested in August 2025 on allegations of unauthorized use of personal identifying information. The signatures were connected to petition activity tied to a proposed 2026 marijuana legalization initiative, prompting the county to alert potentially affected residents and coordinate with law enforcement.

Pennock's office said the notifications followed the county's routine review of petition materials and were sent after officials confirmed the link between the contested signatures and the arrested circulator. The office worked with the Seminole County Sheriff's Office while preparing the notices and provided voters with guidance on next steps if they believe their information was misused. The county released a sample notification letter alongside its announcement so recipients can compare the official message with any other communications they may receive.

The arrest in August 2025 involved allegations of unauthorized use of personal identifying information tied to petition circulation activity. County officials did not announce criminal charges against Seminole voters; instead, the focus has been on informing residents whose signatures may have been collected improperly and on safeguarding the integrity of the petition process that underpins citizen-initiated ballot measures.

For local voters, the immediate impact is practical and procedural. Recipients of the county notification should review the sample letter and follow the instructions provided by the Supervisor of Elections office. The county's release directed voters who suspect misuse of their personal data to contact the Office of Elections Crimes and Security and to coordinate with the Seminole County Sheriff's Office; the Supervisor of Elections office can also assist with verification questions and next steps.

The development raises broader questions about signature collection practices for ballot initiatives and the oversight of paid petition circulators. Paid circulation is a common element of statewide and local initiative campaigns, but incidents like this spotlight vulnerabilities in how signatures are collected and verified. For the proposed marijuana legalization initiative, challenges to the authenticity of collected signatures could affect the timeline and signature totals required to place the measure before voters in 2026.

Seminole County officials said the notifications were precautionary and rooted in audit findings, and they emphasized coordination with law enforcement as they monitor any potential criminal investigation. Voters in Seminole County who receive a notice should treat it as official guidance, retain the sample letter for their records, and contact the Supervisor of Elections or the Office of Elections Crimes and Security for assistance. The county's actions aim to protect individual voters and preserve public confidence in the petition and ballot qualification processes as the community prepares for the 2026 initiative cycle.