Quarterly Newsletter
April 1 - June 30, 2021
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Happy Summer!
Recently myself and several of my staff attended the Florida Supervisors of Elections (FSE) Summer Conference to expand upon our knowledge in Election Administration and prepare for the 2022 election cycle.
During conference, I was honored to be sworn in as the President of FSE. It has been a goal of mine since becoming Supervisor, and I am genuinely humbled by the opportunity. I am also extremely proud of our Marion County Elections team members who were recognized for earning their Master Florida Certified Elections Professional (MFCEP) designation.
The 2021 Florida Legislature recently passed SB 90, an Election Administration bill revising certain sections of Florida’s Election Law including voter registration, vote-by-mail, and mail ballot drop boxes among others. We are taking all possible steps to comply with the new law and educate our voters of these changes. While there are pending legal challenges with SB 90, we will continue to keep our voters informed of legislative developments.
Looking forward, we are preparing to conduct the City of Ocala General and Special Election on September 21, 2021. Eligible voters registered within the city limits will elect a Mayor and City Council Seats 1,3, 4, and 5. For additional information, please visit my website www.VoteMarion.Gov.
Honored to serve Marion County citizens,
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Wesley Wilcox, CERA
Supervisor of Elections ∙ Marion County, Florida
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Supervisor Wilcox Installed as FSE President |
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Last month, Florida Supervisors of Elections (FSE) installed their 2021-
2022 Executive Committee and Board of Directors during Summer Conference.
Marion County Supervisor of Elections Wesley Wilcox was sworn in as President of FSE, and has served on the Executive Committee since 2017. He also serves as the liaison for the Florida Voter Registration System (FVRS).
The 2021-2022 FSE Executive Committee Officers are as follows:
President - Wesley Wilcox, Marion County
President-Elect - Mark Earley, Leon County
Vice-President - Ron Turner, Sarasota County
Secretary - Charles Overturf III, Putnam County
Treasurer - Travis Hart, Lafayette County
Past President - Craig Latimer, Hillsborough County
The Executive Committee is elected by FSE membership and serve as additional standing committee members. Officers take office on the Monday following installation at Summer Conference and serve a one-year term.
About FSE
The Florida Supervisors of Elections (FSE) is a professional membership organization representing the Supervisors of Elections of Florida’s 67 counties. Their goal is to support fair, honest and accurate elections in the state of Florida.
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Supervisor of Elections Staff Earn
MFCEP Certification
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On June 15, seven members of the Marion County Elections team earned their prestigious Master Florida Certified Elections Professional (MFCEP) designation, awarded at the Florida Supervisors of Elections (FSE) Summer Conference.
The nationally-awarded FCEP program, developed in 2005 and organized by FSE, provides Florida elections officials, their staff, and vendors the opportunity to receive additional election education on topics such as voter registration, media relations, and election workers, to name a few. The FCEP mission is to provide and support continuing education and certification programs that encourage the highest level of professionalism. FCEP is presently coordinated through a collaborative effort with Florida State University (FSU) and consists of 30 core courses and 120 hours of classroom content instructed by field experts.
Congratulations to MFCEP recipients: Starley Ard, Penny Burns, Candee Cotton, Pam Fencl, Dan Gloger, Nancy Greene-Singleton, and Chris Kyle.
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Senate Bill 90 Election Law Changes |
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In late April, the Florida Legislature passed Senate Bill 90, an Election Administration bill revising certain sections of Florida’s Election Law. Governor DeSantis signed the bill into law on May 6, with immediate effect. As part of our efforts to educate voters of these changes, we published a fact sheet that is available on our website www.VoteMarion.Gov/News or at the link below. To read the full bill text, visit http://laws.flrules.org/2021/11. |
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In 2019, Governor DeSantis announced Florida's membership to the Electronic Registration Information Center (ERIC), a multi-state partnership to improve the accuracy of America's voter rolls, and increase access to voter registration for all eligible citizens. ERIC is currently comprised of 30 member states plus D.C., and continues to grow.
Prior to joining ERIC, Supervisors could not crosscheck voter registration data against out of state voter registration systems. ERIC allows states to maintain accurate voter rolls by comparing voter registration data with other member states and the Department of Motor Vehicles (DMV), Social Security Administration (SSA), and the Postal Service's National Change of Address (NCOA) registry.
Each member state receives reports that show voters who have moved within their state, voters who have moved out of state, voters who have died, duplicate registrations and citizens who are potentially eligible to vote but are not yet registered.
Since last Fall, Florida Supervisors of Elections have received numerous reports from ERIC, and are nearly complete with the bulk processing of voter registration updates and voter outreach. Continuing forward, ERIC will frequently provide reports to Supervisors to perform list maintenance and ensure voter records are accurate and up-to-date for the 2022 election cycle and beyond.
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2021 City of Ocala General Election Update |
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The City of Ocala General and Special Election is scheduled for Tuesday, September 21, 2021. The voter registration deadline is Monday, August 23, 2021. Only voters registered within the City of Ocala limits will be eligible to vote.
Voters have the option to Vote-by-Mail or at their assigned voting location on Election Day between 7:00 a.m. and 7:00 p.m.
Qualifying for the City of Ocala is noon, July 12 thru noon, July 16. Candidates qualify with Angel Jacobs, City Clerk.
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Let us Know if you have Moved! |
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Did you know that Summer is the peak season for moving? If you have recently moved or are planning to, please be sure to update your voter registration with your current address. The address on your voter record determines where you vote on Election Day and the candidates and issues available for you to vote on in any election. Address changes can be made at anytime by visiting www.RegisterToVoteFlorida.Gov or submitting a Florida Voter Registration Application. |
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BallotTrax receives an Image Award from FPRA Ocala Chapter |
On April 15, our office received an Image Award for BallotTrax at the FPRA Ocala Chapter Mid-Local Image Awards. BallotTrax bolsters voter confidence by sending mail ballot status notifications to voters, and was used by over 16K Marion County voters in the 2020 General Election. The FPRA Image Awards recognize the best in research, strategy, implementation and execution in the public relations profession. |
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On April 21, we hosted a blood drive at our office to help save lives in our community. Our lifesaving efforts resulted in 9 units of blood, which could benefit 27 patients in need. Consider sharing your power to save lives, and visit www.oneblood.org to find a blood drive near you. |
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Ocala Candidate Workshop Held |
On April 22, our office hosted an informative Ocala Candidate Workshop for current and potential candidates, and those interested in learning about the candidate process. We plan to host another workshop on January 11, 2022 for county candidates. Mark your calendars and visit www.VoteMarion.Gov for updates. |
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Forest High School Recognized as Registration Challenge Winner |
On May 11, Supervisor Wilcox was honored to recognize Forest High School as the 2020-2021 High School Registration Challenge winner at the School Board meeting. This year's challenge was offered virtually at each of Marion County's high schools. Overall, 2,000 seniors were educated on the elections process and 679 students submitted a voter registration application.
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Supervisor Wilcox Instructs MTP Class on Vote-by-Mail Safeguards |
On May 20, Supervisor Wilcox instructed a class at Master the Possibilities (MTP) located On Top of the World, educating Voters on the Vote-by-Mail Safeguards in Marion County. Participants submitted positive feedback and were more confident in the elections process. |
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Mock Election Held for Center for Independent Living Expo |
On May 26, we partnered with the Center for Independent Living of North Central Florida for the 4th Annual Emergency Preparedness Expo for people with disabilities, to administer an unofficial election collecting feedback from participants. Participants also received the opportunity to register to vote and demo the voting equipment used in Marion County.
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Secretary Lee Tours Election Center Operations |
On June 7, Supervisor Wilcox had the honor of hosting Florida Secretary of State Laurel Lee for a tour of our operations and to discuss preparations for the 2022 election cycle. We are grateful for our strong partnership and shared commitment to Florida's successful elections. |
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Senator Perry Tours Election Center Operations |
On July 6, Senator Keith Perry received a guided tour of our operations, highlighting our election processes and preparation - including vote-by-mail drop boxes and election security. |
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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. |
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Marion County Supervisor of Elections, 981 NE 16th Street, Ocala, FL 34470
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