Make your vote count – late ballots do not

St Johns County Supervisor of Elections Vicky Oakes told local Historic City News reporters that about 100 absentee ballots were not counted in the August 14 Primary Election because they were not received in the Elections Office until after the election.

According to the Supervisor, most of these un-counted ballots were not postmarked until the day before, or, in fact, on Election Day.

“We have so many options available for St Johns County voters that there is no good reason to miss the opportunity to make your ballot count,” Oakes told Historic City News. “In order to be counted, Florida law requires absentee ballots to be received in the Elections Office by 7:00 P.M. on Election Day.”

As these late ballots arrived during the days following the Primary Election, Oakes said that she felt frustrated.

“One-day local mail deliveries no longer exist,” Oakes told reporters. “It actually takes 2-3 days — even from St Augustine.”

Oakes is determined not to have the same problem with the November 6 General Election.

The last day to register to vote in the General Election is October 9, 2012.

The last day to request that an absentee ballot be mailed from the Elections Office is Wednesday, October 31, 2012. “It is very important that, if you cast an absentee ballot, you mail it in plenty of time to reach the Elections Office by Election Day,” the Supervisor said.

Voters may cast ballots at any early voting location between October 27 and November 3, 2012.

Voters may cast ballots at their assigned precinct location between 7:00 A.M. and 7:00 P.M. on Election Day November 6, 2012.

Overseas voters who are temporarily residing outside the territorial limits of the United States are eligible to request and receive absentee ballots by e-mail or fax. For a downloadable guide specifically for Overseas or Military absentee voters, Click Here