Thursday, May 05, 2022

Record prints SoE press release rather than report the news on new precincts

GANNETT's stinky, incredible shrinking St. Augustine Record does not do its homework. 

With no byline, its "staff report" is a re-write of St. Johns County Supervisor of Elections VICTORIA OAKES' press release (below on the new voting precincts. 

Under staff cutbacks, the few remaining reporters not allowed to do their jobs. 

In this instance, there are serious issues about the process and secrecy of the decennial process of picking voting precincts. 

At the Record, it's not about "all the news that's fit to print.

It's about "let's just print County government handouts." 

From St. Augustine Record:



New St. Johns County voting precincts approved; new voter cards coming in June

Most voters will use same polling places

From Staff Reports
St. Augustine Record USA TODAY NETWORK

St. Johns County has approved new voting precincts, and all registered voters will receive a new voter information card in the mail.

Supervisor of Elections Vicky Oakes said she expects the new cards, which "will reflect the new districts, precincts and Election Day polling places in preparation for the Aug. 23 primary election," to be mailed in the first week of June. 

Voting precincts in St. Johns County were OK'd Tuesday

The St. Johns County Commission unanimously adopted the new voting precincts on Tuesday. Oakes is required by law to request the board's approval of new precinct lines after a census count, according to a press release from her office. The County Commission and St. Johns County School District adopted new district lines in December.

"The new precincts are effective immediately, with the number of precincts increasing from 48 to 53," according to the release. "In addition, new precinct lines initiate the need to update St. Johns County polling places, with polling places increasing from 39 to 41. Of the 39 previous polling places, 33 will remain in use for the 2022 elections, and approximately 78% of St. Johns County voters will continue to vote on Election Day at the same location they utilized in the 2020 elections."

The Supervisor of Elections will post the new precinct map and draft polling location list at votesjc.gov, in the Supervisor of Elections newsletter, on social media and through traditional media.

A court case is in progress about Florida's congressional districts.

"If the court makes no decision by May 20, the Supervisor of Elections will move ahead with implementing the congressional districts as adopted.

Once the districts are confirmed, the mailing of voter information cards can occur and the voter lookup tool on the supervisor of elections website will be updated with new districts, precincts and polling places," according to the release. 

All voters should review their new voter information cards because some precincts and Election Day polling places have changed. 

For details, visit votesjc.gov or call the supervisor of elections office at 904-823-2238.


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SoE press release:


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Media Release

May 3, 2022

St. Johns County Adopts New Voting Precincts After 2020 Census and 2021 Redistricting Process

St. Augustine, FL - The St. Johns County Board of County Commissioners voted unanimously today to adopt new voting precincts for St. Johns County residents after a redistricting process presentation by the Supervisor of Elections. The Supervisor of Elections is required by law to request that the new precinct lines be approved by the Board of County Commissioners subsequent to a census count. The 2020 US Census concluded in 2021 and the Board of County Commissioners and the St. Johns County School District adopted new district lines in December 2021.

4465 Avenue A, Suite 101 St. Augustine, Florida 32095 904.832.2238 elections@votesjc.gov

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The new precincts are effective immediately, with the number of precincts increasing from 48 to 53. In addition, new precinct lines initiate the need to update St. Johns County polling places, with polling places increasing from 39 to 41. Of the 39 of previous polling places, 33 will remain in use for the 2022 elections, and approximately 78 percent of St. Johns County voters will continue to vote on election day at the same location they utilized in the 2020 elections.

The Supervisor of Elections will release the new precinct map and draft polling location list to the public though the media, on the St. Johns County Supervisor of Elections website at www.votesjc.govin the Supervisor of Elections newsletter, and on social media. The Supervisor of Elections scheduled to mail new voter information cards to all registered voters in early June. However, a court decision regarding Florida’s congressional districts is pending. If the Court makes no decision by May 20, the Supervisor of Elections will move ahead with implementing the congressional districts as adopted.

Once the districts are confirmed, the mailing of voter information cards can occur and the voter lookup tool on the Supervisor of Elections website will be updated with new districts, precincts, and polling places. Updated voter information cards will reflect the new districts, precincts, and election day polling places. All voters are advised to review their new voter information cards carefully as some precincts and election day polling places have changed. Voters are encouraged to visit www.votesjc.gov or contact the Supervisor of Elections Office at 904-823-2238 for additional information regarding the new precincts and voting locations.

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About the St. Johns County Supervisor of Elections

The St. Johns County Supervisor of Elections office serves St. Johns County, Florida. St. Johns County’s residential population is approximately 275,000 and the Supervisor of Elections office has documented approximately 210,059 registered voters. Primary duties of the Supervisor include voter registration, ensuring safe and secure federal, state, county, municipal, special district and community development district elections in St. Johns County, qualifying candidates for county, municipal and special district offices, and providing voter outreach education and information.

St. Johns County Supervisor of Elections | 4465 Avenue A, Suite 101 | St. Augustine, Florida 32095 | 904.832.2238


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