"Organizing free and fair elections is more important than the result itself."

-Fatos Nano

The new year is upon us. For some, that means a fresh start. For others it means setting new goals. For myself and my team, it means gearing up for the busy election year ahead.

Make no mistake, an off year does give us the chance to breathe and reset, but there is still plenty of work to do. Between law changes, launching a new website, updating procedures, and testing equipment- We've stayed busy!

This newsletter highlights key election dates, registration and Vote by Mail reminders for the upcoming elections, plus a look at what we've been up to. With that in mind, here’s a preview of Clay County's 2026 election season.

Chris

Vote by Mail ballots must be requested each election season. Need to request your Mail ballot? Visit us online or give our office a call at (904) 269-6350.

High School Registration

In the month of October, we visited seven high schools to conduct voter registration (and pre-registration for 16- and 17-year-olds) and education. We had a great time with all of the students and answered lots of questions. Thank you to the teachers and staff for all their help and hard work!

Naturalization Ceremony

We attended a Naturalization Ceremony held at Green Cove Springs Junior High. The audience of family and friends, elected officials, community partners, and the school's civics classes, watched as 25 applicants from 15 countries were sworn in as new U.S. citizens. Afterwards, the new citizens were given the opportunity to register to vote.

To earn citizenship takes years of interviews, tests, plus a knowledge of American history and government. Congratulations to everyone and thank you for inviting us to be part of such an amazing moment!

FSE Scholarship Application Now Open

Our office is now accepting applications for the 2026 Florida Supervisors of Elections (FSE) scholarships. Each year, the FSE awards scholarships to deserving Florida college students majoring in the fields of political science, public administration, business administration, journalism or mass communication. This year, three $1200 scholarships will be awarded.

Additional eligibility requirements and the application can be found at ClayElections.gov. Don't wait too long! The deadline is March 6!

Happy Retirement Leslie!

After 18 years with the Elections Office, we said goodbye to Leslie at the beginning of January. She began in a part-time position in 2007 and transitioned to full-time in 2012. Working in the front office, Leslie was responsible for a variety of tasks like researching voter eligibility, processing voter registration forms, Vote by Mail requests, and petitions.

Leslie was known for her friendliness at the front counter and her ability to stay calm and collected, no matter the situation. And as our resident animal lover and proud grandma of two, she was quick to share a sweet picture of her cats or grandkids!

Leslie was always willing to help out other staff and go above and beyond. She has a deep understanding of the overall elections process, having earned her Master Florida Certified Election Professional certificate. Her dedication and kind spirit will certainly be missed, but we're excited to see what this next chapter brings her!

2025 FSE Winter Conference

Supervisor Chambless and Voter Services Manager Kemie Mahan attended the annual Florida Supervisors of Elections (FSE) Winter Conference in Daytona Beach.

This annual event is an opportunity for election officials across Florida to collaborate and exchange ideas and processes. Best practices were also shared, Supervisor Chambless even spoke on a panel addressing Records Retention, as we all prepare for the 2026 Gubernatorial election cycle.

We're committed to expanding our knowledge and finding innovative ideas to better serve our voters each election.

FCEP Classes

Michelle and Heather attended Florida Certified Election Professionals (FCEP) classes for several days in October, held at the Duval County Supervisor of Elections office.

Duval County Supervisor Holland, along with Brevard County Supervisor of Elections Tim Bobanic, and several other presenters taught courses to elections staff from all across Florida. The FCEP program helps strengthen their knowledge, share best practices, and stay up to date on the latest in election administration.

Holiday Fun

Every holiday season, the county holds a decorating contest. This is the second year that our office has participated. It's so fun to find out the theme (this year's was Gingerbread) and to let the creativity flow!

Welcome to our crazy bakery- filled with yummy treats and a bit of chaos! From life-size gingerbread houses to remedial baking classes to falling gingerbread pieces to Claire the Bear cranking out cookies, we had a great time coming up with a fun concept. We hope your holiday was packed with just as much fun, laughter, and festivity!

Happy birthday Sheliah and Michelle!