If you are not a registered voter, did you know that you cannot vote in the Flagler primary elections, unless you register to vote by Monday, July 28, 2008.
The primary election is when the local residents will be selecting local candidates for the subsequent election in Flagler County for positions such as Clerk of Courts, Board of County Commission, School Board, Supervisor of Elections, and the Sheriff. The primary election in Palm Coast and Flagler County will take place on Tuesday, August 26, 2008.
BE ELECTION READY:
Make sure you are registered to voteIf you have not registered to vote by July 28, you can't vote in local primaries. If you are not a registered voter, you can pick up a voter registration application at the Library in Palm Coast, or do that from the comfort of your home or office, as you can print out a blank application online at: http://election.dos.state.fl.us/RegToVote/webappform.pdf. Make sure your application is processed by July 28.
Update your address and other registration informationIf the only change in your record is the change of your address within Flagler County, then you can contact the Flagler Supervisor of Elections Office at 386.313.4170 or complete the reverse side of your voter registration card. However if it is a name change, party affiliation change, or address change from or to another county in Florida, then you must complete a new voter registration application.
Find Your Early Voting Site or Your Election Day Polling PlaceEarly voting for primaries begins Monday, August 11. Hours for early voting are 8:30 AM to 4:30 PM, Monday through Saturday. Early voting will end on Saturday August 23rd. Naturally, if you did not vote early, you can always go to the polls on Tuesday, August 26 --the day of the primary election. Keep in mind though, early voting is a convenient and probably a faster way to cast your vote. When you have a 15-day window to cast your vote, there is no excuses such as "something came up" or "I got busy" when the Primary Day comes. Early voting locations include:
- Flagler County Public Library (2500 Palm Coast Pkwy, Palm Coast) - Flagler Beach City Commission Room (105 S. 2nd St, Flagler Beach) - Flagler County Elections Office (1769 E. Highway 100, Bunnell)
Request Your Absentee ballot in Time for the PrimaryAn absentee ballot is a vote cast by someone who is either unable or unwilling to attend the official polling stations. If you are not sure how your schedule is going to work out, then perhaps you should request your absentee ballot. You can do so online, as simple as 1-2-3: http://www.flaglerelections.com/absentee.htm For complete information on Voter Registration, visit: http://election.dos.state.fl.us/voter-registration/voter-reg.shtml You can also call the Florida Voter Registration Hotline, toll-free at 1-866-308-6739. If you are suspicious of frauds by any group or individual regarding voter registration, call the Voter Fraud Hotline 1-877-868-3737
In Flagler County contact the Supervisor of Elections at 386.313.4170 (or visit www.FlaglerElections.com).
Please note that the July 28 deadline (and other information listed above) are related to the Flagler County Primaries only. The General Election voter registration deadline is different, and not until Fall: October 6 is the last day to register to vote in the general elections.
One of the best ways to understand who is who in the local elections, is through opportunities to meet the candidates and listen to them.
Here are some of those opportunities:
Meet the Candidates NightNAACP will host a Meet the Candidates Night on July 23rd, between 6:00 PM and 8:00 PM at the African-American Cultural Society (4422 North US 1, Palm Coast). Candidates running for Sheriff and County Commission will participate in the forum, and the new DEC Chair Dan Parham is expected to be moderator. For details, call NAACP at 386.446.7822 (source Flagler Times & NAACP)Online Town Hall MeetingsAlso scheduled are online town-hall style debates by FlaglerChat.com. Registration is free, and you will be able to access and participate from the comfort of your home. If you are already registered on FlaglerChat.com (and if you are not, registration is free) all you have to do is to log on to www.FlaglerChat.com, submit your questions to the local candidates. On the respective debate night, candidates will answer the questions and debate in a true Town Hall fashion, which will be available for all to see. The online debates are sponsored by FlaglerChat.com, Rotary Clubs of Flagler, Flagler Home Builders Association, African-American Cultural Society, and Palm Coast Civic Association. Schedule is as follows (source FlaglerChat.com) :On Mon, July 28 - Clerk of Court CandidatesOn Wed, July 30 - Board of County CommissionOn Thu, August 14 - School BoardOn Mon, August 18 - Supervisor of ElectionsOn Wed, August 20 - Sheriff
Meet the Candidates NightNAACP will host a Meet the Candidates Night on July 23rd, between 6:00 PM and 8:00 PM at the African-American Cultural Society (4422 North US 1, Palm Coast). Candidates running for Sheriff and County Commission will participate in the forum, and the new DEC Chair Dan Parham is expected to be moderator. For details, call NAACP at 386.446.7822 (source Flagler Times & NAACP)
Online Town Hall MeetingsAlso scheduled are online town-hall style debates by FlaglerChat.com. Registration is free, and you will be able to access and participate from the comfort of your home. If you are already registered on FlaglerChat.com (and if you are not, registration is free) all you have to do is to log on to www.FlaglerChat.com, submit your questions to the local candidates. On the respective debate night, candidates will answer the questions and debate in a true Town Hall fashion, which will be available for all to see. The online debates are sponsored by FlaglerChat.com, Rotary Clubs of Flagler, Flagler Home Builders Association, African-American Cultural Society, and Palm Coast Civic Association. Schedule is as follows (source FlaglerChat.com) :
On Mon, July 28 - Clerk of Court CandidatesOn Wed, July 30 - Board of County CommissionOn Thu, August 14 - School BoardOn Mon, August 18 - Supervisor of ElectionsOn Wed, August 20 - Sheriff
Both are good opportunities to learn about the local politics and issues, and more importantly about the candidates and their positions on matters which concern us as Flagler county residents. I hope this information will be of use to you and/or to people you may know.
Looking forward to an election that is civil, respectful, and just...
Let the best candidates for the county, country and the world win.
Best regards, Kayhan EkinciPalm Coast Residentand Obama Supporter
______Note: Information above is correct to the best of my knowledge, as of the date this has been posted online (July 20, 2008). Compilation of the information and deadlines have been based on several sources which are deemed reliable. Dates and information may be subject to change. Author is not responsible for any typos, errors or omissions. You should verify the locations, dates, and deadlines with the respective group in charge.
