VOTE-BY-MAIL: Over 90,000 vote-by mail ballots were requested for the General Election this year, and over 58,000 of those ballots have already been returned and processed. Statutorily, the last day our office could mail ballots was Monday, October 26th. For a voted mail ballot to be counted for the General Election, it must be RECEIVED (NOT POSTMARKED) in the Elections office before 7 pm on Election Day (November 3, 2020). 

At this point, voters are encouraged to return their mail ballot via our 24/7 drop box located in our parking lot at 1898 E. Burleigh Blvd. in Tavares or voters may deposit their voted mail ballot at any Early Voting site during the Early Voting period. Sites are open from 10 am to 6 pm daily, including this Saturday, October 31st. Please remember to sign the voter’s certificate on the return envelope when returning your voted mail ballot. “We encourage you to provide your email and phone number, so we can reach you promptly if there is a missing or mismatched signature on the return envelope,” Hays commented. 

EARLY VOTING: More than 60,000 voters have taken advantage of the convenience of Early Voting since Early Voting began on October 19th. The last day of Early Voting is Saturday, October 31st. All twelve sites will be open from 10 am to 6 pm daily. Noted below is a listing of all Early Voting Locations: 

Lake County Early Voting Locations 

Cagan Crossings Community Library, 16729 Cagan Oaks, Clermont, FL 34714 

Clermont Arts and Recreation Center, 3700 S. U.S. Highway 27, Clermont, FL 34711* 

Cooper Memorial Library, 2525 Oakley Seaver Drive, Clermont, FL 34711 

Eustis Service Center, 301 W. Ward Avenue, Eustis, FL 32726 

Lady Lake Public Library, 225 W. Guava St, 2nd Floor, Lady Lake, FL 32159 

County Administration Building, 315 W. Main Street, 2nd Floor, Tavares FL 32778 

Leesburg Public Library, 100 E. Main St., Leesburg, FL 34748 

Minneola City Hall, 800 N. U.S. Highway 27, Minneola, FL 34715 

Sorrento Early Voting, 24019 S.R. 46, Sorrento, FL 32776* 

Southside Umatilla Community Center, 17107 Ball Park Road, Umatilla, FL 32784 

Supervisor of Elections Office, 1898 E. Burleigh Blvd., Tavares, FL 32778 

W.T. Bland Public Library, 1995 N. Donnelly St., Mount Dora, FL 32757 

*indicates a new location 

ELECTION DAY VOTING: Voters who wish to vote in person on Election Day, must do so at their assigned precinct/polling location. On Election Day polls are open from 7 am to 7 pm. Voters are encouraged to check their precinct/polling location before heading out to vote. Some polling locations may have changed since they last voted. Voters were mailed updated voter information cards if their precinct/polling location changed. “To find your assigned Election Day voting location, click https://www.lakevotes.com/Voter-Information/Find-My-Precinct or call 352.343.9734 and our office will be happy to assist you,” added Hays. Please note mail ballots may not be deposited at your Election Day precinct. 

If voting in person at an Early Voting site or at the polls on Election Day, please be sure to bring photo and signature ID with you. For a list of acceptable ID’s visit: https://www.lakevotes.com/Voter-Information/How-To-Vote. Voters are welcome to mark up their sample ballot and bring it with them to the polls, they can use it as a guide when marking their actual ballot. 

Lake County voters with any election-related questions are encouraged to visit www.LakeVotes.com or call 352.343.9734 

The post Lake County Supervisor of Elections Reviews November 3, General Election Statistics And Provides Voters With Reminders appeared first on South Lake Tablet.

General Election is less than a month away. We are right on schedule with our preparations. Our election worker training is completed, our Early Voting supplies are organized and ready for deployment, our vote-by-mail department is steadily working to verify ballots as they arrive back in our office, and our registration department is very busy with all the registration applications that came in on or before the October 5th and 6th deadlines.

For those of you who choose to vote in person, please remember to thank those dedicated election workers who make it possible. They are the backbone of good elections!

We would like everyone to take the action needed now to ensure they are prepared for the November 3rd General Election. In the various sections, you will be able click on the appropriate link to update your voter record, request a vote-by-mail ballot, request a replacement voter information card, and/or track the status of your vote-by-mail ballot.

We encourage everyone to act now. Decide the option in which you plan to cast your ballot whether by mail, during Early Voting, or at your assigned precinct on Election Day. Map out your plan, know how to get to your precinct polling location. If you choose to vote early, find the site most convenient for you. Find out if your polling location has changed since you last voted. We make it easy for you with our direct links in this publication.

We know that a lot of information is buzzing around about this upcoming election.  We are approaching our tasks with the same methodical approach we have with other elections. We have a heightened sense of awareness regarding cybersecurity and misinformation campaigns designed to create distrust in our election systems. We are working closely with our national and community partners to assure the integrity of our elections.

Our goal is to conduct a safe, secure, and accurate election. I have every confidence that we will do just that. As always, thank you for allowing me to serve as your Supervisor of Elections. If I can be of assistance in any way, please do not hesitate to contact me.

For additional information, visit LakeVotes.

Sincerely,

Alan Hays, DMD, MFCEP
Lake County Supervisor of Elections

The post A Message From Alan Hays, Lake County Supervisor of Elections appeared first on South Lake Tablet.

Voters who wish to register for the first time or update their party affiliation prior to the Primary Election must do so by Monday, July 20th.

“During the Early Voting period, voters may choose any one of the 11 Early Voting sites in which to cast their ballot,” Hays shared. “We hope to avoid lines this year and encourage voters to take advantage of Early Voting instead of waiting to vote at their assigned precinct on Election Day,” Hays further commented. We are taking all the necessary measures to ensure voter and election worker safety. All equipment will be sanitized throughout the day and election workers will be wearing the appropriate personal protective equipment. 

Lake County Early Voting Locations 

Cagan Crossings Community Library, 16729 Cagan Oaks, Clermont, FL 34714 

Clermont Arts and Recreation Center, 3700 S. U.S. Highway 27, Clermont, FL 34711* 

Cooper Memorial Library, 2525 Oakley Seaver Drive, Clermont, FL 34711 

Eustis Service Center, 301 W. Ward Avenue, Eustis, FL 32726 

Lady Lake Public Library, 225 W. Guava St, 2nd Floor, Lady Lake, FL 32159 

County Administration Building, 315 W. Main Street, 2nd Floor, Tavares FL 32778 

Leesburg Public Library, 100 E. Main St., Leesburg, FL 34748 

Minneola City Hall, 800 N. U.S. Highway 27, Minneola, FL 34715 

Southside Umatilla Community Center, 17107 Ball Park Road, Umatilla, FL 32784 

Supervisor of Elections Office, 1898 E. Burleigh Blvd., Tavares, FL 32778 

W.T. Bland Public Library, 1995 N. Donnelly St., Mount Dora, FL 32757* 

*indicates a new location. 

Voters who wish to register for the first time or update their party affiliation prior to the Primary Election must do so by Monday, July 20th.

Sample ballots will be mailed to all voters who have not opted to vote by mail. We encourage voters to mark up their sample ballot and bring it with them to the polls so they can easily transfer their selections to the actual ballot. If voters are already prepared with their selections, it will minimize the amount of time spent in the privacy booth and therefore improve wait times and help the elections run more smoothly. 

“We would like to encourage everyone to participate in this year’s Primary Election and to please be patient as we navigate the system during these uncertain times,” commented Hays. 

The post Early Voting Dates And Times For August 18th Primary Election (Reminder: Monday, July 20th to Register or Change Party Affiliation) appeared first on South Lake Tablet.