Voter Guide for Monroe County Voters. ~~~ R. Joyce Griffin

Transcription

1 Vter Guide fr Mnre Cunty Vters ~~~ R. Jyce Griffin Supervisr f Electins Mnre Cunty, Flrida inf@keys-electins.rg Key West Office (MM 0) 530 Whitehead Street, Suite 101 Key West, Flrida ~~~ Marathn Office (MM 52.5) 100 Street Center Overseas Hwy. Marathn, Flrida Key Larg Office (MM 102) Overseas Hwy., Suite 137 Key Larg, Flrida January 16, 2014

2 Primary Electin August 26, 2014 Last date t register t vte r change party affiliatin befre the Primary Electin: July 28, 2014 Early Vting August 11 August 23 8:30 AM t 5:00 PM General Electin Nvember 4, 2014 Last date t register t vte befre the General Electin: Octber 6, 2014 Early Vting Octber 20 Nvember 1 8:30 AM t 5:00 PM Early Vting Early vting will begin Mnday the 15 th day befre an electin and end Saturday the 3 rd day befre an electin. Early Vting sites will be pen 8:30 am t 5:00 pm Early Vting Sites fr Cunty Electins: Supervisr f Electins Offices: 530 Whitehead Street, #101, Key West Overseas Hwy, Marathn Overseas Hwy #137, Key Larg Public Libraries: Big Pine Key Library lcated in the Winn Dixie Plaza 213 Key Deer Blvd. Islamrada Branch Library, U.S. Hwy. 1, MM Islamrada

3 1. Hw t Register and When Can Yu Register T register t vte, yu must fill ut a vter registratin applicatin. Vter registratin applicatins are available at any f the Supervisr f Electins ffices, the Mnre Cunty web site driver s license ffices, state agencies that prvide public assistance, state agencies that serve persns with disabilities, public libraries and many ther public lcatins. Yu will be ffered the pprtunity t apply t register t vte r change yur vter registratin when yu btain yur driver s license, when yu apply fr public assistance at state agencies, r when yu apply fr services at state agencies that serve persns with disabilities. A vter registratin applicatin is cmplete if it cntains: * Yur name. * Yur legal residential address. * Yur date f birth. * Yur valid Flrida driver s license number r Flrida identificatin card number. If yu d nt have either f these, yu must prvide the last fur digits f yur Scial Security number. If yu have nt been issued a Flrida driver s license, a Flrida identificatin card, r a Scial Security number, yu must indicate nne in the bx prvided fr this infrmatin. * A mark in the bx affirming that yu are a citizen f the United States f America. * A mark in the bx affirming that yu have nt been cnvicted f a felny r, if cnvicted, yu have had yur civil rights restred. * A mark in the bx affirming that yu have nt been adjudicated mentally incapacitated with respect t vting r, if s adjudicated, yu have had yur right t vte restred. * Yu must sign the ath printed n the frm swearing r affirming under the penalty fr false swearing that the infrmatin cntained in the registratin applicatin is true. (Pwer f attrney is nt accepted) Nte: An applicant wh fails t designate a plitical party affiliatin will be registered withut party affiliatin. Yu can apply t register t vte at any time either by mail r in persn. Hwever, the registratin bks will be clsed n the 29 th day befre each electin and will remain clsed until after that electin. Yu must be registered fr at least 29 days befre yu can vte in an electin. The date yur vter registratin applicatin is pstmarked r hand delivered t yur cunty Supervisr f Electins, the Divisin f Electins, a driver s license ffice, a vter registratin agency, r an armed frces recruitment ffice will be yur registratin date. If yur applicatin is cmplete and yu are qualified as a vter, a registratin infrmatin card will be mailed t yu. When the registratin bks are clsed fr an electin, vter registratin and party changes will be accepted, but nly fr the purpse f subsequent electins.

4 2. Register by Mail If yu register by mail and yu are a first-time vter in the State f Flrida and yu have nt been issued a Flrida driver s license number, Flrida I.D. number, r a Scial Security number, yu are required t prvide additinal identificatin. T assure that yu will nt have prblems when yu g t vte, yu shuld prvide a cpy f the required identificatin at the time yu mail yur vter registratin frm. If yu are vting an absentee ballt, yu must prvide the prper identificatin prir t 7 p.m. Electin Day r yur absentee ballt will nt cunt. Yu may prvide a cpy f a pht identificatin as utlined in What t Expect at the Plls r yu may prvide a cpy f a current and valid utility bill, bank statement, gvernment paycheck, r ther gvernment dcument cntaining yur name and current residential address. D nt send riginal identificatin dcuments t the Supervisr f Electins. The fllwing persns are nt required t prvide the identificatin required under the previus paragraph: Persns 65 years f age r lder. Persns with a temprary r permanent physical disability. Members f the unifrmed services n active duty, their spuses and dependents, wh by reasn f such active duty, are absent frm the cunty n Electin Day. Members f the Merchant Marine, their spuses and dependents, wh, by reasn f service in the Merchant Marine, are absent frm the cunty n Electin Day. 3. Change in Name, Address, Party Affiliatin r Update Yur Signature If yu mve yur residence within Mnre Cunty, yu must ntify the Supervisr f Electins ffice by phne r in writing with the change as sn as pssible. If yu change yur name by marriage r ther legal prcess, yu must ntify the Supervisr f Electins f such change by cmpleting a vter registratin applicatin r ther signed written ntice. Yur date f birth is required. If yu have nt prvided this infrmatin prir t ging t vte, yu will have t fill ut a name change frm at the plls befre vting. If yu want t change yur party affiliatin, yu must ntify the Supervisr f Electins f such change by using a vter registratin applicatin r ther signed written ntice. Yur date f birth is required. Yu cannt change yur party at the plling place. T be effective fr a primary electin, a party change must be made at least 29 days befre the primary electin. Vters mving frm ne Flrida Cunty t anther Flrida Cunty may reprt their change f address t their new cunty by phne, mail, , r fax. If yur signature has changed since the last time yu signed a vter registratin frm, yu shuld update yur signature. When yu return an absentee ballt r sign a petitin, yur signature is

5 verified against the signature we have n file. If the signatures d nt match, yur absentee ballt may nt be cunted r yur petitin may nt be accepted. Vters may update their signature by cmpleting a vter registratin applicatin. Applicatins may be btained at libraries, municipal city halls, driver s license ffices, state public assistance, and disability ffices, armed services recruitment ffices, r by calling the Mnre Cunty Supervisr f Electins ffice. Vter Infrmatin Cards are mailed cnfirming new registratin, vter updates r changes in plling sites. 4. Vte by Mail All qualified vters are permitted t vte by mail under Flrida Law. A vter, r if directly instructed by the vter, a member f the vter s immediate family r the vter s legal guardian may request an absentee ballt frm the Supervisr f Electins in persn, by mail, submit yur nline request, r by telephne. One request can cver all electins thrugh the next tw regularly scheduled general electins. The persn requesting an absentee ballt must disclse: * The name f the vter fr whm the ballt is requested; * The vter s address; * The vter s date f birth; * The requester s name; * The requester s address; * The requester s driver s license number, if available; * The requester s relatinship t the vter; and, * The requester s signature (written request nly). If yu have nt received yur ballt tw weeks befre an electin, cntact yur cunty Supervisr f Electins. Request fr a vte by mail ballt t be mailed must be received prir t 5:00 pm the Wednesday befre the electin. Absentee ballts will be mailed by nn-frwardable mail. If yu request the vte by mail ballt t be mailed t an address ther than an address n file in the Flrida Vter Registratin System, yu must submit a signed written request, unless yu are an absent unifrmed services vter r an verseas vter. Once yu receive yur vte by mail ballt, carefully fllw the instructins sent t yu with yur vte by mail ballt r yur ballt may nt cunt. Sign and date the ballt certificate t ensure that yur ballt is cunted. Return the vted ballt s that the Supervisr f Electins ffice receives it n later than 7 p.m. n Electin Day. D nt return yur vted vte by mail ballt t a plling place.

6 Yu can track the status f yur vte by mail ballt request and the ballt thrugh the nline vter registratin lkup link at: Signature updates fr prvisinal and vte by mail ballt verificatin purpse must be submitted n later than the start f the canvassing f absentee ballts. Canvassing may start as early as 15 days befre Electin Day. T update yur signature, yu must use a vter registratin applicatin and submit it t the Supervisr f Electins. If yu return a vte by mail ballt but fail t sign the Vter s Certificate n the ballt envelpe, yu may still have time t cure the defect by executing an affidavit t have yur ballt canvassed and cunted. The affidavit must be received by the Supervisr f Electins n later than 5:00 p.m. the day befre the electin. The affidavit must be accmpanied by a cpy f ne f the fllwing frms f identificatin: One that includes yur name and phtgraph, which may be a U.S. passprt, debit r credit card, military ID, student ID, retirement center ID, neighbr assciatin ID, r public assistance ID; r One that includes yur name and current residence address, which may be a current utility bill, bank statement, gvernment check, paycheck, r gvernment dcument (excluding vter ID card). Instructins and the frm fr the affidavit are available at: 5. Vter s Bill f Rights Each registered vter in this state has the right t: 1. Vte and have his r her vte accurately cunted. 2. Cast a vte if he r she is in line at the fficial clsing f the plls in that cunty. 3. Ask fr and receive assistance in vting. 4. Receive up t tw replacement ballts if he r she makes a mistake prir t the ballt being cast. 5. An explanatin, if his r her registratin r identity is in questin. 6. If his r her registratin r identity is in questin, cast a prvisinal ballt. 7. Written instructins t use when vting, and upn request, ral instructins in vting frm electins fficers. 8. Vte free frm cercin r intimidatin by electins fficers r any ther persn. 9. Vte n a vting system that is in wrking cnditin and that will allw vtes t be accurately cast. 6. Vter Respnsibilities Each registered vter in this state shuld:

7 1. Familiarize himself r herself with the candidates and issues. 2. Maintain with the ffice f the Supervisr f Electins a current address. 3. Knw the lcatin f his r her plling place and its hurs f peratin. 4. Bring prper identificatin t the plling statin. 5. Familiarize himself r herself with the peratin f the vting equipment in his r her precinct. 6. Treat precinct wrkers with curtesy. 7. Respect the privacy f the ther vters. 8. Reprt any prblems r vilatin f electin laws t the Supervisr f Electins. 9. Ask questins, if needed. 10. Make sure that his r her cmpleted ballt is crrect befre leaving the plling statin. NOTE TO VOTER: Failure t perfrm any f these respnsibilities des nt prhibit a vter frm vting. 7. What T Expect At the Plls Plls will be pen 7 a.m. until 7 p.m. n Electin Day. T determine yur plling place, check yur vter infrmatin card, the Supervisr f Electins ffice, r the Supervisr f Electins web site: Yu will be asked t shw a pht and signature identificatin when yu g t the plls t vte. Acceptable frms f pht identificatin include: Flrida driver s license Flrida identificatin card issued by the Department f Highway Safety and Mtr Vehicles United States passprt Debit r credit card Military identificatin Student identificatin Retirement center identificatin Neighbrhd assciatin identificatin Public assistance identificatin If yur pht identificatin des nt cntain yur signature, yu will be required t shw additinal identificatin that prvides yur signature. If yu d nt have the prper identificatin, yu will be allwed t vte a prvisinal ballt. If yu vte a prvisinal ballt because yu did nt have the prper identificatin, yur ballt will be cunted if yur signature n the prvisinal ballt Vter s Certificate and Affirmatin matches the signature n yur registratin recrd and if yu vted in the prper precinct. Yu will nt need t prvide further written evidence t the Supervisr f Electins.

8 Once yur identity has been established, yu will be asked t sign the precinct register r electrnic device and then yu will be given a ballt and allwed t vte. If yu need assistance marking yur ballt, please infrm the pll wrker. If yu make a mistake when vting a paper ballt, ask fr a replacement. Yu may receive up t tw replacements, r a ttal f three ballts. If yur eligibility t vte cannt be determined, yu will be allwed t vte a prvisinal ballt. A persn casting a prvisinal ballt may present written evidence supprting his r her eligibility t vte t the Supervisr f Electins n later than 5 p.m. n the secnd day fllwing the electin. 8. Paper Ballts After receiving a paper ballt, take yur ballt t the privacy bth where yu vte by filling in the val next t yur chice f candidate r issue. If yu wish t vte fr a write-in candidate, yu must write in the name f the candidate and fill in the val next t the name fr the write-in vte t cunt. Make sure that the val is filled in cmpletely. Take yur ballt (inside the secrecy flder prvided) t the ICE tabulatr. Insert yur ballt int the slt f the ICE tabulatr. After the ballt drps int the ballt bx, leave yur secrecy flder with the ballt bx attendant and exit the plls. 9. Electrnic Ballts Are Available Fr Thse Vters with Disabilities The Help America Vte Act (HAVA) requires all jurisdictins t have ne tabulatr in each precinct s vters with disabilities may vte in secret and withut assistance. After yu sign the precinct register and have been given a ballt, prceed t the ICE tabulatr. Hand yur ballt t the ICE clerk wh will assist yu with instructins and setting up the tabulatr. 10. Primary Electins & Universal Primaries Flrida is a clsed primary state. If yu wish t register t vte in a partisan primary electin, yu must be a registered vter in the party fr which the primary is being held. All registered vters, regardless f party affiliatin, may vte n issues and nnpartisan candidates. Hwever, Article VI, Sectin 5(b), Flrida Cnstitutin, prvides that if all candidates have the same party affiliatin and the winner will have n ppsitin in the general electin, all qualified electrs, regardless f party affiliatin, may vte in the primary electin fr that ffice.

9 Nnpartisan judicial and schl bard ffices, special districts and lcal referendum questins are included in primary electins. All registered vters, including thse withut party affiliatin and minr plitical party vters are entitled t receive and vte these ballts. At general electins, all vters receive the same ballt and may vte fr any candidate r questin n the ballt. 11 Change in Name, Address r Party Affiliatin Whenever yu change yur residence within the State f Flrida, yu shuld update yur vter registratin recrd. If yu cntact yur Supervisr f Electins in the cunty f yur new residence directly, yu can make that change in persn, by phne, by fax, by , r by ther signed written ntice (including a vter registratin applicatin), prvided it includes yur date f birth. If yu submit yur change t any ther Supervisr f Electins in the state, t the Divisin f Electins, t the Department f Highway Safety and Mtr Vehicles, r any vter registratin agency, yu have t use a vter registratin applicatin. 12 Change in Plling Place Any time there is a change t yur precinct lcatin r plling place, yu will receive ntice r a new vter infrmatin card at least 14 days prir t the electin. Ntice will als be psted at least nce in the newspaper, n sner than 30 days befre, but n later than 7 days befre an electin. A plling place r precinct change will als be psted n the Supervisr f Electins' website. In the case f an emergency and when time des nt permit, the ntice f the new plling place will be psted at the ld plling place.