Q: Can you explain list maintenance as it pertains to the voter rolls?
A: To comply with Florida Statute 98.065, all Supervisors of Elections must conduct a general voter registration list maintenance program to protect the integrity of the electoral process by ensuring the maintenance of accurate and current voter registration records in the system. We have a number of processes in place to keep accurate and current voter rolls. 

Q: What are examples of these processes?
A: Quarterly, we check our voter rolls against the National Change of Address (NCOA) list from the US Post Office. In this way, we can mail notices to voters who have moved to other Florida counties or out of state. Also, the Department of Highway Safety and Motor Vehicles provides us with information on voters who have received a driver’s license in another state and we receive address change information from the Clerk of Courts based on jury notices.

Q: What is ERIC?
A: Florida joined the non-profit consortium of member states known as ERIC (Electronic Registration Information Center) in 2019. Its mission is to assist states in increasing voter participation and improving the accuracy of America’s voter rolls. The consortium is governed and managed by the member states, of which there are currently 30. Our state laws actually had to be changed to allow us to become a part of ERIC, and I’m thankful that our legislators did this.

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Q: What is the benefit?
A: It has greatly assisted our efforts in identifying and conducting list maintenance activities. For instance, this was the first year we received CrossState maintenance from ERIC. In St. Johns County in July, we sent out approximately 4,000 notices to voters who had moved to another state. I was surprised how many voters had moved out of state since the election.

Q: Is there a timetable for performing list maintenance?
A: We have to stop all list maintenance processes 90 days prior to any federal election; therefore, we send out most notices during off election years. 

Q: What happens if a voter does not respond to one of the notices?
A: If they do not respond to an Address Confirmation Final Notice, they are placed on an inactive status. Florida Statute 98.065 (4) (c) allows for voters on the inactive list to be restored to the active list upon the voter updating their registration, requesting a vote by mail ballot, or appearing to vote; however, if they do none of these things by the second general election after being placed on the inactive list, the voter’s name will be removed from the statewide voter registration. The voter would have to reregister to become active again at this point. 

Q: What is the best way for our readers to contact you?

A: Readers can email me at voakes@votesjc.com or call me at (904) 823-2238. Our website, www.votesjc.com also has a wealth of information.

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