Election down to the wire

Vote-by-mail ballots continue to be accepted at the Supervisor of Elections Office, but at 6:00 p.m. today, early voting ended for the August 28, 2018 Primary Election.  Supervisor Vicky Oakes reported to Historic City News that just over 13,000 of St Johns County’s 183,699 eligible voters took advantage of the opportunity to vote at any one of six early voting locations, regardless of their home precinct.

Nearly 26,000 total ballots have been cast, either by mail or in person, as of the close of business today.  There will be no more “in person” voting until Election Day.

A total of 7,719 Democrat voters have cast their ballot.  3,989 ballots were mailed in, 3,729 voted in person early, and 1 provisional ballot was cast.  A total of 16,471 Republican voters have cast their ballot.  7,647 ballots were mailed in, 8,820 voted in person early, and 4 provisional ballots were cast.  A total of 1,568 voters with no party affiliation have cast their ballot.  1,084 ballots were mailed in, 483 voted in person early, and 1 provisional ballot was cast.  A total of 77 other voters have cast their ballot.  56 ballots were mailed in, 21 voted in person early, and no provisional ballots were cast.

Supervisor of Elections

If you still have your vote-by-mail ballot and you have not already placed it in the United States mail, it may already be too late to do so.  All voted ballots must be in the Supervisor of Elections Office by 7:00 p.m. on Election Day to be counted.  Ballots received on the 29th will not be counted regardless of the postmark date.

Your vote-by-mail ballot cannot be turned in at the polls on Election Day; however, there is a 24-Hour Drop Box in place at the Elections Office; located at 4455 Avenue A, Suite 101 St. Augustine.  You may also drop off a completed absentee ballot at any of the designated red drop boxes at all St Johns County Public Libraries, Tax Offices in Ponte Vedra or Julington Creek, or St. Augustine Beach City Hall.

In-office requests for a vote-by-mail ballot on Election Day can only be made in the event of a personal emergency and only by the voter.  To request a vote-by-mail ballot on Election Day, the voter must complete and sign FORM DS-DE 136.  The form must be presented by the voter or their immediate family member at the time the request is made.

The voter registration books closed July 30, 2018 for Tuesday’s election.  Voters who missed the deadline to participate in the Primary Election, will continue be able to register for the November 6, 2018 General Election until October 9, 2018.