Good morning St. Johns County Voters,

While it may seem quiet around the Supervisor of Elections Office during this time of year, there is a lot going on behind the scenes. We're performing list maintenance, conducting poll worker recruitment, and updating poll worker curriculum and materials for the 2024 elections. In addition, constitutional amendments are being submitted and verified, candidates are filing for office and submitting petitions for verification, and our outreach staff is conducting voter education efforts at levels in the community and in schools not seen since 2019. And, voter registration is always a daily activity for us here at the Supervisor of Elections Office!

This month was also eventful as we said “see you later” to our distinguished Chief Deputy, Erika Ward. Erika retired from the St. Johns County Supervisor of Elections Office after 27 years of service, and 11 years as Supervisor Vicky Oakes’ “right hand.” Since 1996, Erika has provided incomparable support to the voters and candidates of St. Johns County. Erika handled vote-by-mail, human resources, finance, candidate services, and more, with an incredible knowledge of Florida Election Law. She is one of a kind and will be missed by all.

For more information on the 2024 elections, as well as local offices scheduled for election in 2024, please visit our website at www.votesjc.gov/election-dates.

Sincerely,

Vicky Oakes

St. Johns County Supervisor of Elections

Did you know that citizens may propose amendments to the Florida Constitution through an initiative petition process? The initiative petition process, in addition to other requirements, requires a specific number of petitions to be signed by registered Florida voters before a proposed amendment can appear on the ballot. Per the Florida Constitution, the number of signatures needed is based on 8% of the voters who cast votes in the last Presidential Election.

In addition, the signatures must also come from voters in at least one half of the congressional districts of the state. The statewide total valid signatures needed for the initiative to make it to your ballot in 2024 is 891,523. A proposed amendment requires at least 60% approval from Florida voters to pass. Statewide, groups often submit over a million signatures on the initiative petitions. In order to be valid, the signature must be that of a registered voter in the county to which the signature has been submitted, and the signature on the petition must match the signature on the voter’s record.

Throughout the year, the St. Johns County Supervisor of Elections Office verifies thousands of initiative petitions signed by St. Johns County voters. Pursuant to Florida Statute 100.371(11)(b), St. Johns County’s actual cost of signature verification of an initiative petition is $0.55. Since January 2023, our office has received and verified almost 19,000 signed petition forms. The most popular petitions currently circulating are “Adult Personal Use of Marijuana” and “Right to Clean and Healthy Waters.” Once a month, an Initiative Petition Summary is uploaded to our website for public viewing.

Petition circulators are also working in St. Johns County right now, so don’t be surprised if you are approached at a public library, government building, grocery store, or gas station by a circulator asking for your signature on a constitutional amendment petition. Initiative petitions must be filed no later than February 1, 2024 in order to obtain ballot position for the 2024 General Election.

The St. Johns County Supervisor of Elections Voter Outreach Team has been busy this month visiting high schools for voter education as well as conducting Student Government Elections. In April, we conducted elections for St. Augustine High School and Creekside High School. Between both schools, almost 1,000 students cast their ballots on our DS200s for their classmates.

When conducting a school election, we simulate a real election. Students check in to receive their ballot, then make their way to a privacy booth to mark their selections. After completing their ballots, they head over to the DS200 to cast their ballot for tabulation and receive an “I Voted” sticker. This experience allows students to gain confidence in the voting process for when their time comes to vote in real elections – They also have a blast doing it!

St. Johns County Supervisor of Elections

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