By Vicky Oakes
It’s Election Time! Are you ready to vote? Visit our website at www.votesjc.gov and use My Voter Status to access your voter record and view your sample ballot. Sample ballots are currently available online and will be mailed to every registered voter on Aug. 2, so look for yours to arrive in your mailbox soon. There are three ways to vote: By mail, during early voting, or at your precinct on Election Day.
Vote-by-Mail: The deadline for requesting a vote-by-mail ballot to be mailed is 5 p.m. on Aug. 13. The law has changed for vote-by-mail drop boxes. Now called Secure Ballot Intake Stations, they are monitored by an Elections Office staff member at all times and are available at early voting locations only during voting hours. The secure ballot intake station in front of the Elections Office is no longer available. If you wish to return your ballot to the Elections Office, it may only be returned during the regular business hours of 8:30 a.m. to 5 p.m., Monday through Friday. In order to be counted, vote-by-mail ballots must be in the Elections Office no later than 7 p.m. on Election Day, Aug. 23.
Early Voting: There are eight days of early voting between Aug. 13 and Aug. 20, including two Saturdays and a Sunday. All six locations are open daily from 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. The best thing about early voting is there is no wrong place to vote as long as you vote within your county. Pick the location and time which is most convenient for you.
Election Day: Many changes have occurred since the last election. The 2020 Census and the 2021 redistricting process brought us new voting districts, new precinct lines, and some new polling locations. If you plan to vote on Election Day, please verify your voting location before going to vote as your polling location may have changed since the last election.
Are you a prepared voter? Ensure a smooth voting experience by making sure your address is current on your voter record. You can update it prior to voting with a quick call to the Elections Office before heading out to vote. This is especially important for voters who choose to vote on Election Day. Staff can process your address change on the phone and route you to your correct polling location the first time. This can be a real time saver. View and mark your sample ballot before going to vote so you are ready to vote when you arrive. Be sure to have a photo and signature ID ready to hand workers when entering the polling room.
For more information on the August 23 Primary Election, please see our ad in this paper, visit our website at www.votesjc.gov, or call the office at (904) 823-2238 for assistance with any questions. Looking forward to seeing you at the polls!
