Mainstreet Daily News
Election day for the Alachua County primary is August 18th – so it’s time to make some decisions. Did you request a vote-by-mail ballot? It should have arrived by now. If you have moved, you will need to call the Supervisor of Elections office as vote-by-mail ballots cannot be forwarded. If you have not requested a vote-by-mail ballot you have until August 7 to submit your request. You can request it on-line or call the office. Now is time to give serious thought to choosing your candidates. The League of Women Voters of Alachua County recorded our forum and it can be viewed by going to our Website https://my.lwv.org/floria/alachua and clicking on the graphic labeled Candidate Forum.
If you have a vote by mail ballot be sure you know where it is so you can complete it when you have decided how to cast your vote. When you are ready, follow the directions that came with the ballot. Be sure to: completely fill the oval by your choice of candidate, put the ballot in the secrecy folder and put it all in the envelope provided. For your vote to be counted you mustsign the back of the envelope. Below the signature line are places to put your phone number and email address. You do not have to supply this information, but It is there so if there is a problem with your ballot the SOE office can contact you to have you fix the problem.
You can return your ballot by mail, deliver it to an early voting site or deliver it to the SOE office. You cannot drop it off at your precinct on election day. If you mail it, you do not have to put a stamp on the envelop but it has to arrive by election day. To be sure it arrives on time you should get it in the mail at least one week before it is due. If you bring it to an early voting site there will be a labeled drop box. If you deliver it to the SOE office, you can bring it upstairs to the office (if open) or drop it in the white box in front of the building. Ballots, either mailed or hand delivered, must arrive by 7:00 PM on election day. You may ask a friend or neighbor to hand deliver your vote-by-mail ballot. The address is 515 North Main St., Gainesville 32601.
Two or three days after your ballot has arrived you should go on-line and check to see that your ballot has been counted. You can do this and get any more information you want by contacting the Alachua County Supervisor of Elections office. At www.VoteAlachua.com or call 352-374-5252.