Supervisors of elections in Palm Beach County and Treasure Coast counties report an increase in mail-in voting this August primary, and a decrease in in-person early voting, likely due to coronavirus concerns.

So far this primary election, Palm Beach County has received 168,829 mail-in ballots, marking a dramatic increase since the last August primary during a presidential election year. According to the Palm Beach County elections office, the county received just 54,267 mail-in ballots during the August 2016 primary.

There has been a decrease in early voting this year compared to the August 2016 primary by about 4,000 votes.

Similar trends are observed in Treasure Coast counties.

In Indian River County, the elections office received 22,427 mail in ballots for this primary, up from 12,811 mail-in ballots during the August 2016 primary.

Early, in-person voting fell by about 1,000 votes this primary compared to 2016.

In Martin County, the elections office received 22,438 mail-in ballots compared to 18,269 in August 2016. Early voting fell by about 800 votes this August primary compared to 2016.

According to Palm Beach County Supervisor of Elections Wendy Link, people are interested in vote by mail this year and they want to have confidence in the system.

That’s why her office added a new feature to its website this year that allows mail-in voters to track their ballot once they request it. There’s a “My Status” button on the Supervisor of Elections website. All you have to do is enter your information.

That site will show you where your ballot is in the process.

Once the elections office processes your ballot, it will say “received.”

It will not say “counted” until tabulations are run on Election Day.