Lake County Supervisor of Elections, Alan Hays, is once again warning citizens of Lake County about potentially misleading materials they could be receiving in the mail. These mail-outs often include Florida Voter Registration Applications with information pre-filled and are addressed to informal names, children under voting age, pets, and deceased family members.
These letters originate from the Center for Voter Information (CVI) and their sister companies, organizations not associated with the Florida Division of Elections or the Lake County Supervisor of Elections. The CVI generates address lists for these mailings from outdated and often incorrect data, which can lead to confusion regarding eligibility for voting, especially among voters who are already registered. Lake County voters who know they are registered are urged to confirm their voter record by using the Voter Information Lookup Tool on the Supervisor of Elections website: www.LakeVotes.com, or by calling their office at 352.343.9734, and to not rely on the information printed on these pre-filled mailed-out applications. Voters are also encouraged to contact the Center for Voter Information and ask to be taken off their contact list. Their address and phone number are as follows: 800 Ocala Road, Suite #318, Tallahassee, FL 32304 or call 866.290.1599.
For those wishing to register or update their record, the Florida Division of Elections online portal is available at www.registertovoteflorida.gov. Otherwise, applicants may access the Florida Voter Registration Application forms at the Lake County Supervisor of Elections office, area libraries, and at the tax collector’s driver’s license offices. Registering in person is the best way to confirm that the application is received, and information is correct.
Important registration deadlines are approaching for the 2020 Presidential Preference Primary slated for March 17, 2020. “Our registration books close on February 18th for the 2020 Presidential Preference Primary and we want to ensure that voters who plan to vote in the election are registered,” stated Hays. This election is a closed primary election, meaning only those registered with a major party will be eligible to vote. The exception is the cities of Eustis and Groveland will have initiatives on the ballot. Registered voters who live within the city limits of those two cities will be eligible to vote on those items regardless of party affiliation. Those wishing to register or update their party affiliation must do so by the book closing date. Polls will be open on Election Day from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. “It is so important for voters to utilize our office as a resource for accurate information regarding their record, instead of unaffiliated groups who may not have up-to-date information,” Hays further commented.
