Windermere resident serves as one of Florida's 30 electoral votes

As Windermere’s Erin Huntley signed and printed her name on the ballot for President-elect Donald Trump as one of Florida’s 30 electors, she knew she was making a difference. 

She stood in the senate chambers of the Florida capitol in Tallahassee and watched the Electoral College process unfold. 

Huntley, chair of the Orange County Republican Party, was one of 30 people selected to be an elector and cast a ballot on behalf of Florida residents for the 47th president of the United States. 

“We worked so hard on the election, and just to be part of the final process was exhilarating and downright amazing,” Huntley said. “I had never expected to be selected for that ever in my life, so it was a cherry on top of a lot of amazing things that have happened here in Orange County over the last few years.”

When Huntley received a call in August from the state party chairman notifying her she was selected as an elector, Huntley said she was “thrilled and even more motivated to get Trump across the finish line.”

Huntley was at the convention center in West Palm Beach for Trump’s victory party when the election results were announced. She recalled thinking Trump would win as she saw his staff and election team calmly walking around and mingling. 

“The whole family came for the speech, and we all linked arms together,” Huntley said. “Politics is a team sport, and it takes a lot of workers, volunteers but also the family members behind you. It was amazing to see the president’s family with him as he gave a speech and I was with my family that night, as well.”

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The 2024 election was only the second time a candidate had won two non-consecutive terms. Knowing she was responsible for voting on behalf of a majority of residents who voted for Trump made her responsibilities as an elector all the more meaningful, she said.

“(The election) meant we were returning our country back to the constitutional values of smaller government and empowering people to make change in their local communities and in different ways,” Huntley said. “President Trump is not a politician. He’s a businessman, and he sees many different opportunities of how to change our country for good, and we’re aligned with that. We can’t wait to see how he will enact his policies — especially the ones people are most concerned about, including inflation, border security and schools.”

Six weeks later, Huntley traveled to Tallahassee Monday, Dec. 16, for the elector welcome reception to be a part of history once again. 

On Tuesday, Dec. 17, the electors were lined up alphabetically and asked to print and sign their names on ballots voting for the president. It was confirmed all 30 electors voted for Trump. The process was repeated for Vice President-elect JD Vance. 

“It felt like a dream come true,” Huntley said. “I’ve always loved learning about government and how our government is designed around people. It’s the culmination that we, the people, choose our leaders. Every little part of the process involves people. It’s not just a behind-the-scenes process. It involves the people who really made the election happen in each state. I’m really grateful to be a part of the process and represent all the people who put in countless hours of volunteering, supporting the party and our candidates throughout the election process.”

Voting for Trump and being a part of the process was emotional as it made her think about previous elections, Huntley said. She thought about Trump’s election in 2016 followed by the election of President Joe Biden in 2020, then of Trump’s victory on Tuesday, Nov. 5. 

“It was the ultimate comeback story of (Trump) coming back to winning the presidency, surviving an attempted assassination, all of the lawfare against him and his family; it’s really been unprecedented,” she said. “Putting my pen to paper for the man who has sacrificed so much personally and professionally was just the honor of a lifetime.”

Afterward, each elector had to sign six certificates of electors. Two went on to Congress for certification, two went to the National Archives and the last two went to a judge, Huntley said. 

On Monday, Jan. 6, 2025, Congress will certify the election based on the results from the Electoral College.  

Being a part of the Electoral College process was an honor, she said, because she was able to see how the founders designed elections to be free and fair. 

Huntley also met Secretary of State of Florida Cord Byrd, Florida CFO Jimmy Patronis, state Sen. Randy Fine and Florida Attorney General Ashley Moody. 

Huntley said each elector was able to have five guests sit in the gallery to watch the electors cast their ballots and provide their signatures. 

A day after the Electoral College process for Florida on Tuesday, Dec. 17, Huntley said it all still felt like a dream. 

“It’s kind of a quick process. It was done within an hour, so it was really quick but a significant part of our history and just another step to getting us closer to Jan. 20 and the great opportunities for our country we have ahead of us,” Huntley said.