PBC Elections Report: August 2021 Edition

With students across Palm Beach County starting a new school year this month, our August 2021 edition of the Elections Report Newsletter has exciting updates and information for our young and future voters! You’ll also find details regarding the upcoming Special Election for Congressional District 20, including Primary voting dates and deadlines, as well as additional Elections Office highlights.

Read below to get the latest from your Elections Office. Have questions? Contact us to learn more at (561) 656-6200 or [email protected]. We also encourage you to visit www.VotePalmBeach.gov and join our social networks @VotePalmBeach.

Special Election for U.S. House of Representatives, District 20

It’s official! There are 17 candidates who qualified to run in the Special Election for U.S. House of Representatives, District 20. The deadline to qualify ended at noon on Tuesday, August 10, 2021.

The Special Primary Election is scheduled for Tuesday, November 2, 2021.

IMPORTANT: Florida is a "closed primary" state. That means that only the voters registered within that political party may vote in that party's Primary Election. The voter registration/party affiliation change deadline to vote in the Special Primary Election is October 4, 2021. You can change your party affiliation by submitting an updated Voter Registration Application.

Our Elections Office will begin mailing out Vote-by-Mail ballots to Palm Beach County voters on September 18, 2021.

There will be 5 convenient Early Voting locations open 10:00 a.m. – 7:00 p.m. from Saturday, October 23, through Sunday, October 31, 2021:

SOE West County Branch Office

2976 State Rd. #15, 2^nd Floor

Belle Glade

Loxahatchee Groves –

Palm Beach State College

15845 Southern Blvd.

Loxahatchee Groves

Belle Glade Branch Library

725 NW 4th St.

Belle Glade

Summit Main Library

3650 Summit Blvd.

West Palm Beach

Wells Recreation Comm. Center

2409 Ave. H West

Riviera Beach

Please note that Vote-by-Mail ballots may be returned at any Early Voting location during Early Voting hours, as well as secure drop boxes located at one of our 4 SOE offices. Your Vote-by-Mail ballot must be received by the Supervisor of Elections office by 7:00 p.m. on Election Day for it to be counted.

Not sure if you live within Congressional District 20? Visit the “My Status” page of our website, enter your information, and then select “Upcoming Elections” or “View Office Holders” under the voter information tab.

REMINDER: Express Vote Pilot Program - Making voting easier, faster & more secure! Typically reserved for voters with disabilities or needing assistance, ExpressVote equipment will now be available to every eligible voter during Early Voting at all five Early Voting sites in the upcoming Special Election for U.S. House of Representatives, District 20.

For more information about voting in the Special Primary Election and important deadlines, please visit VotePalmBeach.gov or call (561) 656-6200.

LIVE! Election Headquarters Phone Bank September 21

We are excited to partner with WPBF-25 News to host a live phone bank to help voters who wish to request a mail ballot, update their voter registration and answer any questions about voting or your Palm Beach County Elections Office. The Elections Team will be taking your calls on-the-air on Tuesday September 21, from 9:00 a.m. to 6:30 p.m. Make sure you tune-in (or give us a call during the segment) – you’re not going to want to miss this! Watch the live broadcast on the WPBF-25 News channel.

Office Closed in Observance of Labor Day

Monday, September 6

Our Elections Offices will be closed on Monday, September 6, 2021 in observance of Labor Day. We wish you a wonderful time as we pay tribute to the contributions and achievements of workers in our society. All of our offices will resume regular operating hours on Tuesday, September 7, 2021.

New Branch Office Hours

Please note our branch office hours of operation will be Monday - Friday, from 8:00 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. until further notice (with the exception of Early Voting hours at our West County Branch Office).

Students Welcome! SOE Internship Program

School is back in session, and the Palm Beach County Supervisor of Elections welcomes local high school and undergraduate students to sign up for our Internship Program. In addition to normal office duties, interns will attend weekly voter education and outreach events, volunteer at special events, and participate in scheduled open houses and guided tours.

To be considered, students must be committed to public service, demonstrate leadership in our community, and be committed to integrity, accountability and service. Please email [email protected] or call (561) 656-6200 to learn more!

RISE to the Occasion Back to School Bash

Rainy weather didn’t keep our Elections Team from taking part in the RISE to the Occasion Back to School Bash on August 4. We were proud to partner with several local organizations to provide free school supplies, activities, and information to help local families get ready for the new school year.

Students Participate in Elections Experience Tour

We were excited to open our Voting Equipment Service Center doors once again – this time for young voters, their friends and their families. Our 3^rd Open House and Guided Tour took place on August 4, giving participants an exclusive behind-the-scenes look at how ballots are processed, tabulated, verified, and counted. If you missed your chance to take a tour, you may email [email protected] for times and availability.

Votes & Vibes: The Summer Edition

Bringing a youthful approach to voter education, our Elections Office partnered with the City of Westlake to showcase election voting equipment, register new voters, and verify voting information for young voters at the Riviera Beach Municipal Complex on August 22. We want to thank Vice Mayor Katrina Long-Robinson for helping to organize this exciting event!

If you want to join or host an outreach event with the Elections Team, please contact us at (561) 656-6200 or email [email protected].

Share Your Story & Vote in Honor of a Veteran

Our Elections Office is proud to participate in the Vote in Honor of a Veteran program that encourages voter participation among students, while educating younger voters about the sacrifices local veterans have made to preserve our right to vote. With over 85,000 brave men and women residing in Palm Beach County who fought to protect our freedoms, let us honor their stories together and increase civic engagement. Tell us about a veteran in your life and why you believe it’s important for young people to vote at VotePalmBeach.gov or email [email protected].

The Results Are In!

100% Surveyed Recommend

“The Elections Experience Tour”

After hosting three separate Elections Experience Tours, where we invited the public and media to an open house to learn more about our voting equipment and processes, we were pleased to hear the feedback we received from folks who participated. Here are some interesting highlights from a survey of those who participated.