Thank you for subscribing to the new St. Johns County Supervisor of Elections Newsletter! Each month we will provide timely updates on upcoming elections, important dates and deadlines, and other elections-related topics.

Free and fair elections are the cornerstone of our democracy, and Florida’s open and transparent elections are no exception. As your Supervisor of Elections, I have 100% confidence in our voting equipment and our processes, and you can too. Want to learn the facts about how elections are conducted in St. Johns County? Please contact our office at 904-823-2238 to schedule a tour of the facility so you can learn about the security of our equipment and see how diligently my staff and I work every day to secure your vote.

Our newsletter is a work in progress that will evolve with each edition. Please let us know if there are any specific election-related topics you would like for us to cover.

New St. Johns County Precincts and Polling Places Coming Soon!

St. Johns County and the State of Florida recently completed the redistricting process. The following Frequently Asked Questions will help voters prepare for the upcoming elections.

Is the redistricting process complete?

The Board of County Commissioners and the School Board adopted their new voting districts on December 9, 2021. A map of the new districts is also available on our website at votesjc.gov. The largest changes in district lines occurred in District 1 and District 4, which have both been greatly reduced in size. Districts 2, 3, and 5 increased in size to balance the population across the districts. The state legislature ended the 2022 Legislative session on March 14. New Florida Senate and House districts were adopted and have been approved by the Florida Supreme Court. The new boundaries for congressional districts were adopted by the House and Senate; however, legal challenges have already occurred and Gov. DeSantis has stated he will not sign the legislation; so time will tell. This may delay finalization of precincts and distribution of information to St. Johns County voters.

What is the Supervisor of Elections’ role in the redistricting process?

Since our voting precinct lines are based on County Commission and School Board district lines, precinct lines must now be redrawn based on the new districts. Many precinct numbers will be changing, and polling places are also under review. Due to population growth in our county, we anticipate adding precincts and polling places in preparation for busy elections in 2022 and 2024. Staff is working to finalize new precinct lines and polling places. The Board of County Commissioners must also approve the new precinct lines, so I will be scheduling a meeting soon to request Board approval.

How does that affect me as a voter?

District lines affect representation of your elected officials, the races that appear on your ballot, and who you vote for in an election. Your precinct number and polling place may also change.

When and how will I be notified of these changes?

Once the work has been finalized, all voters in St. Johns County will be mailed a new voter information card. The card will reflect your new districts, precinct, and polling place. Our goal is to mail these in May, but it may be June depending upon what happens with the congressional districts.

Will these new changes affect the 2022 elections?

Yes. Candidates who wish to run for office must file their paperwork with the Elections Office, or the Division of Elections in Tallahassee, to obtain a position on the ballot. The deadline to file to run for office in the 2022 elections is noon on June 17, 2022.

How can I keep up with the changes and other pertinent election information?

Stay updated on the redistricting process by reading our newsletter monthly, visiting votesjc.gov, emailing me at [email protected], or calling our office at 904-823-2238.

2022 Poll Worker Orientation Classes

We began conducting poll worker orientation classes this month for the newest voters who signed up to work the polls this year. Public service and working the polls is not for everyone, so I felt it was important to meet and talk with the applicants. It is my opportunity to educate them on the responsibilities and my expectations for workers, as well as making sure they can meet all the requirements:

• Be a citizen of the United States and a registered voter in St. Johns County

• Be able to clearly speak, read and write the English language

• Physical requirements include standing, bending, stooping, lifting approximately 20+ pounds, normal vision, and manual/physical dexterity

• Be available to work at 6 AM and work up to a 14+ hour day (election day); hours vary during early voting

• Complete an online training class as well as attend a minimum of 3 to 4 hours of poll worker training

• Have transportation to and from assigned voting locations

It's very important that our new workers understand the importance of what it means to be a poll worker and the time commitments that come with the job. As with every year, some of our longtime workers retired following the 2020 elections. With the redistricting process, increase in population, and addition of new polling locations this year, we continue to be in need of new workers to add to our existing workforce. I am specifically looking for workers who share in our mission: As a public servant, the St. Johns County Supervisor of Elections provides voter education, encourages citizen participation, and conducts safe, secure, transparent, and accurate elections. Please help spread the word! Voters who are interested in serving as a poll worker can sign up on our website or contact Tina Rodriguez, Poll Worker Coordinator, at 904-823-2238 if they have any questions.

Supervisor of Elections Team Spotlight - Jennifer Reis

My name is Jennifer Reis, and I’m very excited to be your new Elections Services Specialist! I was born and raised in a small town in Long Island, New York. I graduated from Adelphi University with a degree in History and began working for the Nassau County Board of Elections in 2009. It was an ideal opportunity for someone who was always interested in government and politics!

I also decided to pursue graduate school, and received my Masters of Adolescent Education after student teaching in New York City. I maintained my position at the Nassau County Board of Elections and traveled around Nassau County to teach voters how to use our new machines. I spent time over the next 13 years in each department learning all areas of the Board of Elections, including Front Desk, Absentee Ballots, Scanning, Data Entry, Voter Education, and on special projects. I became back-up Supervisor of Data Entry, Supervisor of Scanning, and eventually the Chief Project Coordinator.

I enjoyed every single day of working in elections and am extremely thrilled to continue down that same path in St. Johns County! Thank you so much for welcoming me to your office.

St. Johns County Supervisor of Elections

4455 Avenue A #101 • St. Augustine, FL 32095 | 904-823-2238