FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Vote-By-Mail Ballot Envelopes for the 2022 Primary Election Will Not Be Pink; Will Have Pink Markings Instead
ALACHUA COUNTY, Fla. (July 7, 2022) — Envelopes for vote-by-mail ballots in the 2022 Primary Election will not be pink as they have been in previous elections due to a shortage of colored dye. The top and left borders of the envelopes will now have pink markings.
Though the vote-by-mail ballot envelopes will have a slightly different appearance than they have in previous elections, the vote-by-mail process continues to be secure and accessible. Vote-by-mail ballots will be mailed to domestic voters with an existing request on file by July 14. Overseas ballots will be mailed to voters with an existing request on file by July 8. Please contact the elections office at 352-374-5252 or by email at votebymail@alachuacounty.us with any questions.
The deadline to request a vote-by-mail ballot for the 2022 Primary Election is 5 p.m. on Saturday, August 13. Vote-by-mail ballots can be requested online, in person, or by phone, fax, mail or email. Until the deadline, vote-by-mail ballot requests will be filled as they are received. Any registered voter can sign up to vote by mail.
The Supervisor of Elections Office must receive domestic vote-by-mail ballots by 7 p.m. on Election Day (Tuesday, August 23). Voters who vote by mail are encouraged to mail their completed ballot well in advance of Election Day to give the ballot ample time to arrive at the Supervisor of Elections Office before the deadline. Voters should also verify that their voter information and signature are up to date before they return their ballot if they have moved or their signature has changed.
Additionally, when filling out and mailing a vote-by-mail ballot, voters are encouraged to adhere to the following instructions:
- Completely fill in the oval next to your choice on your ballot — do not circle or mark an “X” over the oval.
- If you make a mistake on your ballot, call the Supervisor of Elections Office at 352-374-5252.
- Be sure to sign your vote-by-mail ballot certificate envelope.
- Return your vote-by-mail ballot in the official envelope provided. Return postage is prepaid.
Any voter who does not sign their vote-by-mail ballot or whose signature on the vote-by-mail ballot certificate does not match the signature in their voter record will be contacted by the Supervisor of Elections Office and provided the opportunity to correct their ballot. Per Florida Statutes, voters have until 5 p.m. on Thursday, August 25 to complete an affidavit to correct a vote-by-mail ballot that does not have a signature or has a signature that does not match the voter's signature on file.
Voters can deliver completed vote-by-mail ballots to the Supervisor of Elections Office, located in Gainesville at 515 N. Main St. during normal business hours — 8:30 a.m. to 5 p.m., Monday through Friday. Voters can also use the Secure Ballot Intake Station located outside of the office’s main entrance. The Secure Ballot Intake Station will be available at the Supervisor of Elections Office from 9 a.m to 6 p.m. August 8 through August 22 and on Election Day (August 23) from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. Additionally, Secure Ballot Intake Stations will be available at all seven early voting locations from 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. during the early voting period (August 13-August 20). Voters have until 7 p.m. on Election Day (August 23) to return their vote-by-mail ballot to the Supervisor of Elections Office.
For more information, contact the Supervisor of Elections Office at 352-374-5252.
Sample of the Official Vote-By-Mail Ballot Envelope Style for the 2022 Primary Election:
