Cord Byrd

[Kevin Sorbo @ksorbs]

Florida counted all their ballots in a few hours.

California took weeks.

Make that one make sense.

[Cord Byrd @CordByrd]

It’s great to see all the comparisons between the way Florida conducts elections compared to California. Election integrity with timely results and access to the polls is not a binary choice, Florida proves you can have both.
Florida also prioritizes competence at every level of government including our elections. From my team at the @FLSecofState to the 67 county supervisors of elections and the thousands of staff and volunteers we work very hard to make the elections look effortless but I can assure you a lot of blood, sweat and late nights goes in it.
There are no perfect elections, but our election code has built in contingencies that when problems arise we can swiftly pivot to have the least amount of impact to the voter.
You are only ever as good as the last election so we are already on to the general election in November. 🇺🇸🗳️

[MAGA Voice @MAGAVoice]

Let me get this straight. Florida ALREADY counted 80% of their vote in under an hour… but California needs weeks and months to finish theirs

This is why we want SECURE elections

NO MORE CHEATING

[Spencer Pratt @spencerpratt]

Wait. How did Florida count all their votes already?

I was reliably informed democracy takes 5 weeks.

[Florida Department of State @FLSecofState]

On this day in 1822, Florida’s territorial Legislative Council passed its first act establishing Duval and Jackson counties. Jackson County was named after Andrew Jackson, Florida’s first territorial governor. Duval County was named for William Pope Duval, Florida’s first civilian governor who established local court systems and selected Tallahassee as the capital city.
To learn more about Florida’s history, visit https://t.co/OMQgOCX0hd.

[Florida Department of State @FLSecofState]

Before refrigeration, salt was a necessary preservative for food throughout the United States. In the 19th century, the St. Andrews Bay Saltworks was one of the largest producers of salt, fish, and cattle to southern troops during the Civil War. This made them a prime target for Union forces who continually attacked the saltworks in an effort to cripple the Confederate forces. To learn more about St. Andrews Bay Saltworks, check out this historical marker, https://t.co/RqeFikF5nC

[Florida Department of State @FLSecofState]

Florida has long celebrated our military veterans and their contributions to our state. In 2024, the Florida Legislature created the Major John Leroy Haynes Florida Veterans’ History Program, which collects, preserves, and shares the stories and sacrifices that veterans have made for our great state. If you are a veteran that is interested in participating, or would like to learn more about the program, visit https://t.co/o3kdEFBKIS

[Florida Department of State @FLSecofState]

What’s your plan to vote in the August 18 Florida Primary?
Early voting is August 8 through August 15. If you’re voting in person on election day, polls open at 7 a.m. (local time) on August 18, 2026. Check dates, times, and locations from trusted sources like your Supervisor of Elections and the Florida Division of Elections:
https://t.co/g1wb8nqWnK

[Florida Department of State @FLSecofState]

Get ready for a new school year, Florida! As students head back to class this August, help them warm up their minds with the @America250FL edition Exploring Florida activity book—packed with fun facts, puzzles, and Florida history. From the @MuseumFLHistory, it’s a fun way to get your student reengaged with learning. Download it here: https://t.co/H60PyjIAVv

[Cord Byrd @CordByrd]

The state along with our federal partners are doing tremendous work to arrest and prosecute those committing business and benefits fraud. However, my main takeaway from the roundtable is that there are just too many federal government programs and that the money is too easy to get. There is not enough oversight which makes it far too easy for the criminals. We cannot arrest our way out of this problem. Congress needs to end zombie programs instead of continuing to pour billions of dollars into them.

[Florida Department of State @FLSecofState]

To protect taxpayer dollars from being used by fraudsters, Secretary of State @CordByrd signed a data-sharing agreement with the Department of Justice and Assistant Attorney General Colin M. McDonald allowing streamlined access to publicly available business data. Secretary Byrd was also part of a multi-state roundtable, along with Florida’s Chief Financial Officer Blaise Ingoglia (@GovGoneWild) and Florida’s Statewide Prosecutor Brad McVay, focused on ways to combat fraud.
“Florida leads the nation in business formations with 3,000 new businesses registered daily. Our volume means we are a target for criminal activity, so I appreciate @DOJFraudDiv helping states tackle this issue,” Secretary of State Cord Byrd.

[Florida Department of State @FLSecofState]

#OTD in 1763, Spain traded Florida to the British in exchange for Havana, Cuba, which was captured during the Seven Years’ War. British Florida, split into the East and West Florida colonies, only lasted for 20 years, however, as the Spanish regained control of the territory following the American Revolution. To learn more about Florida’s history under British rule during the Revolution, visit the @MuseumFLHistory website https://t.co/XPQW5tEo45

[Florida Department of State @FLSecofState]

The deadline to make a request for a Vote-By-Mail ballot to be mailed for the primary election is August 6, 2026. A request must be made to the Supervisor of Elections in your county of registration. Visit the Division of Elections’ Vote-By-Mail webpage for more information about making a request: https://t.co/KmOEaEW6bE

[Florida Department of State @FLSecofState]

If you're in Tallahassee Saturday, check out The Grove Museum!
Secretary Byrd Announces Back-to-School Field Day at The Grove Museum
“This year’s Back-to-School Field Day is an opportunity to celebrate America250FL before school starts,” said Secretary of State @CordByrd. “The event offers a fun way for families to create lasting memories together while discovering more about our nation’s rich heritage and Florida’s unique and vital role in shaping our shared history.”
More information here: https://t.co/fEvizTz6Mx

[Florida Department of State @FLSecofState]

. @NASA was created #OTD in 1958. The Division of Library and Information Services, has compiled a list of STEM and space activities for space lovers from elementary to high school and beyond. Learn how to build your own rocket or make a bedroom planetarium. Read about solar flares and explore information about planets and stars. This free resource is great for parents, teachers, and homeschoolers: https://t.co/2VcEHSZyzC

[Florida Department of State @FLSecofState]

Born on July 26, 1776, artist George Catlin created a lithograph of Seminole leader Osceola in 1837 at Fort Moultrie, just months before Osceola’s passing in early 1838. 150 years later, his lithograph inspired quilter Rita Denenberg to stitch this Osceola Quilt which is in the collections of the @MuseumFLHistory. Learn more about the hand sewn quilt here: https://t.co/h6ATVhcCdL

[Florida Department of State @FLSecofState]

In honor of America’s 250th anniversary, Secretary of State @CordByrd presented British Consul General to Miami @rufusdrabble with a framed copy of this 1776 map of the Southern British Colonies featuring Florida. On his last day serving as Consul General, the gift was a token of his friendship and in recognition of his hard work in advancing the Florida UK relationship. Secretary Byrd, along with @FLSecofCommerce J. Alex Kelly, @FDOT_Secretary Jared W. Perdue, and @SpaceFlorida President and CEO @RobLongSF made the presentation as part of the @SelectFLA Leadership Mission to the United Kingdom earlier this week.

[Florida Department of State @FLSecofState]

Secretary of State @CordByrd spoke about the enduring concepts of Adam Smith this week when he visited the historic Panmure House in Edinburgh as part of the @SelectFLA International Business Development Mission. During the visit, Florida signed a Letter of Friendship between @FIU and Heriot-Watt University establishing a framework for academic cooperation.

“Our commitment to economic freedom, world class education, research, and business-friendly policies proves that Florida is leading on the global stage. As we remember the legacy of Adam Smith, this academic partnership will pass these important principles onto the next generation,” Secretary of State Cord Byrd.
@FLACommerce

[Florida Department of State @FLSecofState]

#OTD in 1950, the Bumper 8 rocket launched from Cape Canaveral, beginning Florida’s long and storied history with space. Created as a hybrid between a German V-2 and an American WAC Corporal rocket, this launch would lay the groundwork for the thousands of other rockets that would hail from Cape Canaveral in the decades to come. For more information about the Bumper 8 rocket, go to https://t.co/haG3UueEn3.
Photo credit: first missile launch - Cape Canaveral, Florida. 1950-07-24. State Archives of Florida, @FLMemory
@SpaceFlorida

[Florida Department of State @FLSecofState]

On day two of the @SelectFLA Leadership Mission to the United Kingdom, Secretary of State @CordByrd joined @FLSecofCommerce Secretary J. Alex Kelly, to meet with officials as part of the 5th UK-Florida MOU working group focused on space and financial sector collaboration. Following the meeting, Secretary Byrd had the opportunity to tour the Churchill War Rooms and Museum.

[Florida Department of State @FLSecofState]

When summer heats up, Floridians head to the springs to cool down. Florida boasts the largest concentration of freshwater springs in the world, pumping out 19 billion gallons of ground water every day. Springs are an important ecosystem that supports manatees. More learning materials from the Exploring Florida activity book, can be downloaded here from the @MuseumFLHistory: https://t.co/GAuHy09OK7
Photo credit: The Spring of Life, painting by Christopher Still