Quarterly Newsletter
June 30 - September 30, 2020
|
|
There are 34 days until the November 3 General Election and we want to ensure Marion County's voters are informed and prepared!
The first step is getting registered. The voter registration deadline is Monday, October 5. If you are already registered, verify your voter information is up-to-date and make updates before Election Day.
Next, you should decide if you will be Voting by Mail, during Early Voting or on Election Day.
On September 24, my office began mailing vote-by-mail ballots to voters with a request on file. We received a record of 82,311 requests compared to 45,426 requests received in the 2016 General Election. As your Supervisor of Elections, I am a proponent of vote-by-mail and have complete confidence in our vote-by-mail process. I vote-by-mail and so does my family. If you choose to vote-by-mail, I encourage you to vote and return your ballot early.
If you prefer to vote in person and avoid crowds on Election Day, I encourage you to Vote Early at any one of our nine Early Voting locations! Early Voting in Marion County begins Monday, October 19, and continues through Saturday, October 31. Polls will be open from 8 a.m. to 6 p.m.
If you decide to vote in person on Election Day, you must vote in the precinct in which you reside. On Tuesday, November 3, polls will be open from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. at all of Marion County's 122 precincts. Lookup your assigned voting location before Election Day at www.VoteMarion.Gov/MyPrecinct.
Now is the time to study your sample ballot and start researching the candidates and issues. The General Election ballot is 17" long and includes federal, state, and local contests as well as six Constitutional Amendments. View your sample ballot at www.VoteMarion.Gov/MySampleBallot.
On a final note, be assured that your vote is secure. Florida is one of the most, if not the most, engaged state working with DHS on securing election systems infrastructure. The greatest threat to America's elections is to undermine voter confidence in the electoral system. Don't fall prey to spreading misinformation and disinformation. Voters should rely only on trusted sources for election information, from your state and local election officials.
All the best,
|
|
Wesley Wilcox, CERA
Supervisor of Elections ∙ Marion County, Florida
|
|
Florida's Voter Registration Deadline is October 5 |
|
The deadline to register to participate in an upcoming election is 29 days before the election. Monday, October 5, 2020, is the deadline to register to vote for the General Election. Previously registered voters do not need to re-register but are encouraged to verify their information is up-to-date to avoid delays on Election Day.
Register or update your voter information online at www.RegisterToVoteFlorida.Gov or in person at the Elections Office or any public library or tax collector office. |
|
First Statewide Voter Registration Campaign Launched for Over 2 Million Floridians |
|
On September 11, the Florida Department of State in partnership with the Electronic Registration Information Center (ERIC) launched a campaign encouraging over 2 million potentially eligible but unregistered Floridians to register. The partnership with ERIC will also allow the Department and Supervisors of Elections to cross-check voter information with 29 other member states to ensure more accurate and up-to-date voter rolls.
|
|
Plan Ahead for the November 3 General Election |
|
Vote-by-Mail
Easy and Secure.
No Lines or Crowds.
Request Deadline:
October 24 by 5 p.m.
|
|
Early Voting
At any one of our
9 convenient sites
October 19 - 31
Polls open 8 a.m. to 6 p.m.
|
|
Election Day
At your assigned
Voting Location
Tuesday, November 3
Polls open 7 a.m. to 7 p.m.
|
|
Sign up to Receive Mail Ballot Status Notifications |
|
For added voter confidence, Marion County Supervisor of Elections Wesley Wilcox is pleased to announce the launch of a new system allowing voters to sign up for mail ballot status alerts.
Voters can continue to check their mail ballot status on the Supervisor of Elections website www.VoteMarion.Gov but now have the option to sign up for email, SMS (text), or voice call alerts at www.MarionBallotTrax.com.
Marion County is the first in the state to use BallotTrax, a secure communication system designed to send voter notifications by integrating with the elections office and USPS.
|
|
Secure Mail Ballot Drop Box Locations |
|
|
|
Vote-by-mail ballots must be received by the Supervisor of Elections office by 7 p.m. Election Day to be counted. The United States Postal Service recommends that ballots be mailed to the Elections Office at least one week prior to Election Day. Mail ballots can also be returned to a Secure Mail Ballot Drop Box.
Ballot Drop Box locations:
- Marion County Election Center located at 981 NE 16th Street, Ocala, FL 34470 - available 24/7
- At each early voting location, available only during early voting hours.
|
|
Beware of Voter Registration Text Message Scams |
|
Marion County Supervisor of Elections Wesley Wilcox warns voters of text message scams regarding their voter registration. Voters have reported receiving unsolicited texts with a suspicious link asking them to register to vote, request a mail ballot, or indicating that there has been an update to their voting location. Recipients of these texts are advised NOT to click the link or provide any personal information. As your trusted source of election information, please visit www.VoteMarion.Gov to check your registration status, request a mail ballot, and verify your voting location. |
|
|
|
Vote-by-Mail Ballots Mailed for the General Election |
On September 24, our office began mailing ballots to voters with a vote-by-mail request for the November 3 General Election! Want to be notified once your ballot has been printed, mailed, and counted? Sign up for mail ballot status alerts at www.MarionBallotTrax.com
|
|
North Marion Awarded High School Voter Registration Challenge Trophy |
Supervisor Wilcox had the honor to recognize North Marion High School as the winner of the 2019-2020 High School Voter Registration Challenge during the September 22 Marion County School Board meeting.
|
|
|
|
|
Election Worker Training
in Session
|
Nearly 800 Marion County citizens have been assigned to work the upcoming General Election. All needed positions have been filled and training classes began the first week of September. |
|
Supervisor Wilcox Interviewed for PBS NewsHour |
Supervisor Wilcox was interviewed by PBS NewsHour for a televised production highlighting Marion County's Vote-by-Mail system, produced by Miles O'Brien and Kate Tobin. |
|
|
|
|
United Way
Workplace Campaign
|
Our team successfully completed our annual United Way workplace campaign in July! We continued our streak of 100% employee giving and contributed nearly $4,000 to help fight for the education, financial stability and health of every person in Marion County. |
|
Official Election Information |
Over the next few weeks, voters will continue to receive election-related mailers, texts, automated calls, and emails from third-parties. Want to know if a mailing was from us? Look for either our seal or the Official Election Mail logo. |
|
|
|
FBI Public Service Announcement |
|
General Election
Deadline to register: October 5
Vote By Mail: Due by 7 p.m., November 3
(Request deadline: October 24 by 5 p.m.)
Early Voting: October 19 - 31, 8 a.m. - 6 p.m.
Election Day: November 3, 7 a.m. - 7 p.m.
|
|
Are you connected with us on social media? Be sure to like and follow us to receive frequent updates and accurate information from your trusted source of voting and election information in Marion County. #TrustedInfo2020 #Protect2020
|
|
Marion County Supervisor of Elections, 981 NE 16th Street, Ocala FL 34470
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
