By St. Johns County Supervisor of Elections Vicky Oakes
The Nov. 8 General Election is quickly approaching. Early Voting started this week and continues through 6 p.m. on Saturday, Nov. 5. For your convenience, you may vote at any of the eight early voting locations around the county. Early voting dates include two Saturdays and one Sunday. All locations are open daily from 8 a.m. to 6 p.m. You may cast your ballot in person or use a secure ballot intake station inside each of our early voting locations if you need to drop off your vote-by-mail ballot.
There is no early voting on Sunday, Nov. 6 or Monday, Nov. 7 before Election Day.
The ballot is long with many federal, state, judicial, and local races, plus three constitutional amendments and a local referendum. Your sample ballot will help you prepare for voting. You can also visit our website at www.votesjc.gov, click the “General Election 2022” quick link on the front page, and access an abundance of election research materials. Doing your research in advance and being prepared to vote when you arrive to vote can be a real time saver.
Bring a photo and signature ID with you when you vote; Florida law requires it. There are 13 acceptable forms of photo ID that can be used. A complete list is available on our website. If you do not have a current and valid ID, you will be allowed to vote a provisional ballot.
The deadline for requesting a vote-by-mail ballot has already passed. If you still have your ballot in hand, you MUST return your ballot to the Elections Office no later than 7 p.m. on Election Day in order for it to count. If your ballot is late, it will not count. First class mail takes three to five business days, so you may want to personally deliver your ballot to ensure it is counted. You can drop off your ballot during early voting hours at one of our early voting locations through 6 p.m. on Nov. 5. Vote-by-mail ballots cannot be turned in at the polls on Election Day; however, you can surrender your ballot and vote in person.
Many voters will cast ballots early or vote-by-mail, but for those of you still planning to vote on Election Day or wondering what options you have, here are a few tips:
Know where you vote before you go! Due to the 2020 Census and the 2021 redistricting process, many changes have occurred since the 2020 elections. We have new voting districts, precinct lines, and some new polling places. In addition, voters move all the time, but don’t always update their address with the Elections Office before going to vote. Knowing where you vote before you go can save you a lot of time.
Visit our website www.votesjc.gov and use the tools available to you. By using “My Voter Status” under the quick links, you can check your record, verify your address, locate your polling place, view your sample ballot and track your vote-by-mail ballot. If you have moved, give the office a call at (904) 823-2238. We will update your address and send you to your correct Election Day polling place the first time. This can also be a real time saver. Many voters have to be rerouted on Election Day because they go to an incorrect polling location.
Additional information is available in our ad in this newspaper. My staff and I are always ready to serve you and we will make it easy for you to vote. Visit our website or call the office at (904) 823-2238 if you have any questions or need assistance. See you at the polls!
