St. Augustine Record Editorial: Early voting begins Friday

Editorial: Early voting begins Friday
Posted: August 14, 2014 - 12:00am

“Elections belong to the people. It’s their decision. If they decide to turn their back on the fire and burn their behinds, then they will just have to sit on their blisters.”

— Abraham Lincoln

Supervisor of Elections Vicky Oakes may be a little close to this issue, but she sees no reason why any St. Johns County voter shouldn’t exercise the right to vote.

It’s crowded, you say, on the Aug. 26 election day?

Vote early. Beat the crowds. Early voting begins Friday. It’s an easy thing to do. There are six locations in the county, all open from 8 a.m. to 6 p.m. through Aug. 23.

Locations are the Supervisor of Elections Office off Lewis Speedway, the Julington Creek Annex, The Ponte Vedra branch library, the Southeast branch library, St. Augustine Beach City Hall and the Hastings Town Hall.

You work hard all week? Up before 8 and home after 6? The staff at the elections office has got you covered. The early voting locations are open all weekend long this Saturday and Sunday — and will be waiting to see you Aug. 23 as well. Nine days in all folks. Nine chances to do what’s right. Bonus days.

Hard to make up your mind? Do a little up-front work. The Record published a special section, last week: “Primarily Speaking.” Missed it? It’s online at staugustine.com, and includes short bios of each primary candidate.

Ballots confusing to you? Oakes says that every registered voter in the county was mailed or emailed a sample ballot this week (unless you requested an absentee ballot). Take it out. Think it over. Fill it out. Bring it to the precinct with you. It’s all so much clearer that way.

Oakes reminds voters that Florida is a closed primary state, so voters can cast ballots only within their respective parties. But that is not the case in nonpartisan races. Primary voters could be deciding three school board seats and three circuit judgeships. If you live within the St. Augustine city limits, you could be deciding a mayor and a city commissioner.

There’s a lot at stake.

Oakes encourages every county voter not to forget “one of the most important rights we celebrate as Americans, our right to vote ... our communities are stronger when everyone participates in the elections process. Voting has never been easier or more accessible than it is today.”

If you can think of another reason you’ll not be able to vote, the staff at the elections office says “call us” — 823-2238.

They’ll work it out.