Q: Do we have a Primary Election this year?
A: Yes. The Primary is scheduled for August 23.
Q: Have candidates that are running for office filed their papers?
A: Yes. Candidate qualifying ended June 17 and the Primary Election ballot is finalized.
Q: How can I find out who will be on my ballot?
A: A sample ballot will be mailed, or emailed, to every registered voter unless you requested a vote-by-mail ballot. Sample ballots are mailed three weeks prior to an election and are also available on our website. You can access yours by using My Voter Status and looking up your voter record. A list of Primary Election candidates is also available on our website along with a full list of candidates who qualified with our office.
Q: When will vote-by-mail ballots be mailed?
A: Vote-by-mail ballots go into the mail on July 9 for overseas and military voters. They are the first to be mailed their ballots, 45 days prior to the election. The ballots for all other voters who requested vote-by-mail ballots will be mailed around July 18.
Q: I don’t remember if I requested a vote-by-mail ballot. How can I check?
A: Visit www.votesjc.gov and use My Voter Status to look up your voter record. You can verify your address on file with the Elections Office, update it if you need to, and see if you have a request on file. If you haven’t requested a ballot, it’s not too late. You have up until 10 days before the election to request a ballot be mailed to you.
Q: Will there be early voting for the Primary?
A: Yes. Early voting is available from 9 a.m. – 6 p.m., Aug. 13 – 20, at these six locations: Ponte Vedra Branch Library, Julington Creek Annex, Supervisor of Elections Office, St. Augustine Beach City Hall, Southeast Branch Library, and the Hastings Branch Library.
Q: I heard some election day polling locations have changed. Will I be notified if mine changed?
A: Yes. Due to the 2020 Census and the 2021 redistricting process, we have new voting districts, new precinct lines, and some new polling locations. All registered voters were mailed new voter information cards in June to notify them of the changes. If you did not receive your new card, visit www.votesjc.gov and use My Voter Status to look up your registration and verify the address on file with the Elections Office is correct. Your polling place is also listed.
Q: A candidate I want to vote for is registered in a different party than I am. What do I have to do in order to be able to vote for them?
A: Due to Florida’s closed primaries, you received the ballot of the party in which you are registered. Unless the candidate is from your same party, you must change your party in order to be able to vote for them. The only exception is nonpartisan races on the Primary ballot, such as County Judge and School Board. These races appear on all ballots.
Q: Is there a deadline for registering to vote or changing my party for the Primary?
A: Yes. The deadline for new registrations and party changes is 29 days prior to an election. In the case of the Aug. 23 Primary, the deadline is July 25.
Be sure to visit votesjc.gov often for updated election information. The Frequently Asked Questions provide answers to questions asked most often, and there is a special section for vote-by-mail questions. My staff and I are here to serve you, and we will make it easy for you to vote. Sign up for my newsletter by visiting our website or call the office for assistance at (904) 823-2238.
