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

-Fatos Nano

Living in Florida, hurricane season often coincides with election season. Luckily, being prepared isn’t a new concept to us. In elections, you learn to pivot quickly and to always have a backup plan (or two) just in case. We know it’s better to have contingency plans that are never needed, rather than be caught unaware.

With the 2026 Primary Election less than a year away, our team is taking comprehensive measures to ensure we’ve considered every possible scenario. Training, upgrading equipment, and revising procedures- we’ve been busy! We'll also be debuting a new website soon, which we're so excited for. We feel confident users will enjoy both a streamlined design and easier navigation. Stay tuned!

Off season gives us the opportunity to make sure our records are up to date and accurate. Over the summer we sent a mailing to any voter whose signature had not been updated with our office in five years or more. Why is it important to keep your signature updated?

When an “update your signature” request is processed, the acceptance ratio increases during signature verification on petitions and the envelope for Vote by Mail ballots. Signatures are compared every time you vote a Mail ballot or sign a petition.

So far, we've received over 13,000 responses back. There is no deadline, so keep them coming! If you didn’t receive a letter but want to update your signature, or anything else in your record, go to RegistertoVoteFlorida.gov and take care of it in a few easy steps.

The majority of what makes election season run smoothly happens long before a single ballot is cast. While we can’t predict every hiccup that may happen along the way, you can rest assured that our team will always go above and beyond to ensure your vote is safe, secure, and accurate.

Chris

New ID? Don't Forget to Update Your Voter Registration!

On July 31, 2024, a new law went into effect requiring the Florida Department of Highway Safety and Motor Vehicles to assign more secure numbers to driver’s licenses and state ID cards. Since that day, anyone who has renewed or replaced a license or ID has received a new number. The objective, according to the FLHSMV, is to improve security and enhance identity protection. Ultimately, as people replace their driver’s licenses or FL ID cards, everyone will be assigned new numbers.

How does this affect your voter registration?

When registering to vote in Florida, people are asked to provide either the last four digits of their social security number or their FL driver’s license or ID card. The numbers on file are also used to verify a voter’s identity for Vote by Mail requests, on petitions, and address changes.

While in-person voting may not be impacted, those attempting to request a Vote by Mail ballot online will encounter an error message if the number does not match what is in the voter’s record.

So, how can you prevent an issue?

When you renew or replace your driver’s license or FL ID, don’t forget to check the box that says “yes” to updating your voter information, even if you’re not making any other changes. Or if you prefer, you can fill out a voter registration application in person at the Clay County Supervisor of Elections Office or online at RegistertoVoteFlorida.gov

Get Reminders Straight from the Source



We're always looking for new ways to connect with our voters and make sure they are getting timely, accurate election information. That's why we're excited to announce that we've launched TextMyGov! Simply text "CLAYVOTES" to 91896 and opt-in to receive reminders about important election dates and voting info directly to your phone!

Election Worker Appreciation

On August 12 we celebrated Poll Worker Recruitment Day! Established by the U.S. Election Assistance Commission, this day aims to address the continued need for poll workers. Below is a video from Secretary of State Cord Byrd and EAC Commissioner Don Palmer highlighting the important contributions of poll workers.

Poll Workers are the backbone of democracy. Our office would not be as successful without their hard work and dedication to our community. Thank you again for all that you do, and we look forward to seeing you in 2026!

A Fresh Look for Election Worker Training



Election Worker training and scheduling is getting a fresh update! Not only do we have a new online portal for election workers to interact with our office, Sandy and Sheliah are working to redevelop the election worker training program. This program will include a new and improved online learning experience and several in-person experiences throughout each year. New election workers will be taken down a separate training path and established election workers will get to practice and upskill through our new training experiences. Look for this new program to be introduced in the Spring of 2026, as we prepare for the Gubernatorial Elections.

Clay County League of Women Voters Visit

In July, the Elections Office hosted several visitors from the League of Women Voters. After an office tour and an overview of the voting process, Supervisor Chambless took time to answer their questions regarding elections and voting in Clay County.

We're always happy to educate voters on the Florida elections process and appreciate those willing to invest their time learning more about it!

Memorial Day Riverfest

We joined the community in Spring Park for the 37th Annual Riverfest Memorial Day Celebration! It was a day of family fun, food, music, and fireworks to honor the brave men and women who gave their lives in service to our nation.

Clay High School Class Officers Election

Just before the end of the school year, our Elections Services Team visited Clay High School to hold its class officers election. They helped students cast their ballots for Class President, Vice President, and more, on actual election equipment. What a great turnout!

Thank you to the staff and students. We had a blast- and we love to see our future voters in action!

2025 Legislative Wrap Up

At the beginning of August, Supervisor Chambless attended the 2025 Legislative Wrap Up Luncheon. Congressman Aaron Bean, Florida Senator Jennifer Bradley, Florida House of Representatives Sam Garrison and Judson Sapp were all in attendance, while Rob Bradley acted as the program’s moderator.

Guests heard from the Clay delegation about important policy and state budget highlights, plus future plans. A prevailing theme among the legislators is the effectiveness of their collaboration as they advocate for Clay County and continue to move our community forward. 

Our Team is Growing!

We've welcomed two new members to our team! Sheliah Brown is our new Election Worker Operations Specialist and Shauntai Arrington is our new HR/Administrative Coordinator.

We're excited to welcome you both to the best Elections Office in the state!

All About Education!

In August, Supervisor Chambless gave a training presentation for the Florida Certified Election Professionals (FCEP) program, organized by Florida Supervisors of Elections (FSE). FCEP provides continuing education classes taught by professionals in the field. Supervisor Chambless spoke to participants on Outreach & Community Engagement and Election Worker Management.

The objective of the FCEP program is to increase the knowledge and skill levels of elected officials and staff in elections offices across the state of Florida. Also in attendance from our office were Anthony Manzano and Kayla O’Neal.

Update Your Signature with the SOE Office

At the end of July, our office sent a letter to all voters who hadn’t updated their signature in the last five years. Included with the letter is a registration form, as well as a postage-paid return envelope for those voters to complete and return to our office. This gives voters the opportunity to update their signature- or any other information- with our office before the next election season. The letter was not mandatory, just a way to help us ensure our records are as up to date as possible.

A few quick facts:

1. If you vote in person, you're asked to sign the signature pad, but that signature does NOT update in your record.

2. Your signature is used to verify your identity on Vote by Mail ballots, petitions, and provisional ballots.

3. Your handwriting may change over time due to age, injury, or illness.

Nearly 62,000 letters were sent to Clay County voters. As of September 8, we had received 15,366 completed applications! As our Voter Services staff diligently processes them, voters will receive a new Voter Information card in the mail. If you have questions, please contact our office!

Happy birthday to our May birthday Jill!

June is a busy birthday month around here with Jim, Anthony, and Leslie all celebrating!

We celebrated Chris' birthday on July 5!