Your quarterly news & updates from the Supervisor of Elections Office |
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From Supervisor Chambless
"Any man worth his salt will stick up for what he believes right, but it takes a slightly better man to acknowledge instantly and without reservation that he is in error."
Andrew Jackson
They say the pen is mightier than the sword. But, in this day and age, perhaps it’s the keyboard...
Social media, smart phones, and the Internet have undoubtedly made accessing information easier than ever, but they’ve also become the quickest way to spread misinformation, disinformation, and mal-information too.
These terms are defined by Cybersecurity & Infrastructure Security Agency (CISA) below:
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Misinformation is false, but not created or shared with the intention of causing harm.
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Disinformation is deliberately created to mislead, harm, or manipulate a person, social group, organization, or country.
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Mal-information is based on fact, but used out of context to mislead, harm, or manipulate.
Collectively, they are referred to as MDM campaigns. When this type of content is released by foreign actors, it can be referred to as foreign influence. MDM campaigns are used to cause chaos, confusion, and division. The goal is to undermine our confidence in elections and erode national cohesiveness. Though political beliefs are often tied closely to emotions, I think most people agree this level of divisiveness and vehemence has rarely been seen before.
These foreign actors are skilled at what they do. MDM campaigns are deliberate both in their delivery and the use of emotional triggers. These tools are used to influence people and push them into action. They are meant to incite you, be it with anger, outrage, or fear. The intensity of those emotions tends to outweigh the more rational part of your brain.
Please understand, that’s not meant to be discouraging. Sharing information is at the heart of what we do and we count on others to help get our message out there.
What I’m asking, though, is that you make sure you’re getting information directly from the source. We encourage you to visit our website ClayElections.gov, call or visit us at the Elections Office, or stop by one of our Outreach events. If you see an article, video, document, or other content, always question the source. On its own, these can be extremely convincing, which is why you should check multiple sources to confirm its authenticity. For more tips, please view the infographic below.
I can assure you, we do everything possible to protect the integrity of elections. We are committed to holding fair, transparent, accurate elections. Despite multiple levels of security, training, and safeguards, voter confidence can be undermined with the click of a button. The next time you're about to share information, please take a minute to do your research. Remember, that the Elections Office is your local source for verified information and we're happy to answer any question you may have.
Chris
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Redistricting & Reapportionment
When writing the Constitution, the population, not land, was also chosen as the method to divide up political power. Every decade, the U.S. Census Bureau takes an official count of people in all U.S. households, gathering information about their age, race, and gender. But it’s not just counting people for the fun of it. The Census numbers impact everything from your representation in government, to how much funding and grant money your county receives, to how your community will plan for the future.
Redistricting is the process by which new congressional and state legislative district boundaries are drawn. District lines are redrawn every 10 years following completion of the census. The federal government stipulates that districts must have nearly equal populations and must not discriminate on the basis of race or ethnicity. In Florida, both congressional and state legislative district lines are drawn by the state legislature.
Reapportionment is the process of dividing the 435 seats in the U.S. House Of Representatives between all 50 states. According to the census, the increase in population means Florida gained an extra seat and will now have 28 U.S. Representatives.
On a local level, the impact of the Census remains to be seen, but we'll be sure to keep all our voters informed.
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Upcoming 2022 Election Dates
Municipal Super Tuesday- April 12, 2022
Primary Election- August 23, 2022
General Election- November 8, 2022
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Unsure if you're eligible to cast a ballot in the upcoming elections? Visit us
online to see!
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Need to Register to Vote? |
If you're new to Florida, or have never been registered to vote, now's the time!
Registering to vote only takes a few minutes, you can even do it online! Or pick up a paper registration form at any public library, Tax Collector's offices, or our office in Green Cove Springs.
We encourage all voters to check their status and make any changes or updates prior to voting.
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Handwriting changes over time. If you have noticed a change in your handwriting, and particularly your signature, please update your signature with the Elections Office. It's important that we have your current signature on file because it's used to verify your Vote by Mail ballot and/or candidate and initiative petitions. If your signature has changed, you may update it at any time by submitting a new Voter Registration Application.
Signature updates can be made at any time, but must be received before Vote by Mail ballots are canvassed in order to be accepted for an election. (F.S. 98.077)
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Practice Makes Perfect Labs |
Even though the next Election isn't until 2022, we like to take advantage of non-election years to offer some refresher courses to our Election Workers. Our Practice Makes Perfect labs gives them the chance to brush up on procedures and to learn more about the equipment.
So if you've been a Tabulator, but have always been curious about what an EViD Inspector does, this is your chance! Contact Stacey Whitehead, our Election Worker Coordinator, and sign up for a Practice Makes Perfect lab today!
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In August, we learned of the passing of Melissa Church (pictured here in front). Melissa was a devoted Election Worker, Train the Trainer, volunteer, and friend of our office. She proudly served the citizens of Clay County for over two decades.
Along with her passion for helping her community, Melissa was active in her church, and especially loved children. She was well-know for her kind spirit and her dedication to others, both human and animal.
Melissa will be greatly missed by all of us. She embodied everything we could hope for in an Election Worker, and most importantly, a friend. Our thoughts and prayers are with her family as they navigate this difficult time.
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Hammer & Hope
On July 23, the Elections Office participated in Hammer & Hope at Wilkinson Elementary in Middleburg. The event, organized by the Sheriff's Office, was aimed to bring resources to families and individuals battling drug addiction.
Dozens of other organizations, such as the Quigley House, Impact Clay, Kids First of Florida, and Clay Fire & Rescue came together to offer services to residents. Children received backpacks, stuffed animals, and school supplies, while adults were able to get information about voter registration, reinstating an expired license, the county's paramedicine program, and much more.
Hammer & Hope was a great opportunity to partner with other Elected Officials and agencies to connect with the community and offer important resources to those who may be struggling.
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I Voted Sticker Contest
The "I Voted" sticker has become an icon of modern day voting. It serves as a symbol for those who've done their civic duty- and encouragement for others to do the same.
To increase a sense of community among both current voters and the next generation, the Clay County Elections office will be hosting an "I Voted" sticker design contest for the upcoming 2022 Election Season.
This contest is open to all Clay County students in grades 9-12. Students are asked to create an original piece of art representing the themes of Clay County, elections, and democracy. The winner will receive a grand prize, and the piece will be used to create a unique "I Voted" sticker for both the Primary and General Elections.
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Summer has been a busy time for our office. In non-election years, this time is used to review new legislation, reorganize, cross-train staff, and update our procedures.
We've already had several candidates file for next year, and we're working our way through about 500 petitions. Though we're nearly finished with them, we're preparing to receive many more in the coming months. To verify the identity, we compare each signature on a petition to the one in your voter record. We're also preparing for a special election that will be held for the Lake Asbury Municipal Service Benefit District.
Our other big project is our mailout with the Electronic Registration Information Center (ERIC). Last year, we joined ERIC, a multi-state, non-profit organization whose mission is to assist states in improving the accuracy of voter roles and increase access to voter registration for all eligible citizens. ERIC analyzes data from participating states, simultaneously and intelligently comparing records from sources like the Unites States Postal Service, DMV, voter registration, and Social Security Administration. The old state is notified if a voter has moved and is able to reach out to confirm the move, while the new state can contact the voter to register to vote there. You can watch the video below to learn more about how ERIC works.
The Elections Office received our first report of voters who may have moved to other states this summer. We then sent out 4,600 notices to those voters who were still actively registered in Clay County, to give them a chance to confirm the move or to update their address if needed. Thank you to the 1,150 responses we've received, which helps keep our voter roles accurate.
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Happy Retirement Lisa!
In July, we celebrated the retirement of our Voter Services Manager & Candidate Qualifying Officer Lisa Hogan.
Lisa began with our office as an Election Worker, quickly becoming our Election Worker Trainer, before moving into a full-time administrative position. While her role kept her very busy, Lisa was always willing to lend a hand. Her hard work and dedication to voters, staff, and the elections process itself, was evident.
We'll miss Lisa, and her stash of chocolate, but we know she's excited to have more time to spend with her family and to travel. We wish her the best in this new adventure!
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Kemie Mahan has been promoted to our new Voter Services Manager/ Candidate Qualifying Officer. She has been with the Elections Office since 2014 and her deep knowledge of the elections process and adaptability are an incredible benefit to our office. |
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Kayla O'Neal is our Administrative Coordinator, and as Kemie takes over as Voter Services Manager, she'll be taking on more responsibilities . Kayla started in January 2019, but quickly proved to be a great asset to our office with her intense focus and her eagerness to learn. |
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Leslie Robey was promoted to Clerk II. Leslie began part-time at the Elections Office in 2007 and then went full-time in 2012. She always goes above and beyond to help voters, and her friendliness and professionalism make her an invaluable part of our team. |
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All three of these ladies do an outstanding job, and each one plays an important role in ensuring we continue our tradition of fair, transparent, and secure elections. Thank you and congratulations to each of you! |
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Summer Conference
Supervisor Chambless and several members of the Elections Office team attended the Florida Supervisors of Elections (FSE) Summer Conference in Tampa.
Meeting colleagues from across the state allows us to collaborate and share best practices. Other highlights included watching the 2021- 22 FSE Executive Officers and Board of Directors sworn in, Florida Division of Elections Director Maria Matthews and Florida Secretary of State Laurel Lee both gave updates and answered questions on the new legislation, and presenting Clay County's Emily McCarthy her scholarship from the FSE. Supervisor Chambless conducted the Historian Interview of recently retired Bradford County SOE Terry Vaughn.
Pictured is Kemie Mahan, who was presented with her Master Florida Certified Elections Professional (MFCEP) certification. The MFCEP designation is only achieved by individuals who successfully complete a multi-year study of 30 core FCEP courses. These classes, taught by professionals in the field, range from voter registration, ethics and elections law, to management processes and organizational development. Way to go, Kemie!
Overall, Summer Conference was a busy time for our office. This annual conference gives our staff the opportunity to expand their knowledge in Election Administration, and prepare for a successful 2022 Election Season!
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CERA
In July, Kemie Mahan and Holly DePaul attended the Summer Session of the Election Center's Professional Education Program in Denver, Colorado.
The Professional Education Program is the only program of continuing professional education which specializes in voter registration and elections administration. Participants receive continuing education units (CEUs) from Auburn University, and Election Center credit towards the achievement of the profession's highest designation of Certified Elections Registration Administrator (CERA).
They had a packed schedule of classes ranging from facilitating voter participation to ethics to information management and technology that help develop strategies and professional knowledge pertaining to elections and voter registration.
Changing technology, increasing participation, security concerns, and a variety of other factors have impacted every part of how elections are administered. The need for educated, well-trained professionals is more evident than ever in the increasingly complex field. Clay County Elections Office takes advantage of every opportunity to learn, to challenge ourselves, and to sharpen our skills.
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There's a running joke in the Elections Office that we USED to have off years. While we may not have the same timelines and stressors that come during an Election, it doesn't mean we're sitting back and relaxing.
Marti and Phyllis have been working to create to-scale diagrams of each precinct. This will ensure a smoother process for new Election Workers and staff, or those who are working a new location, when they go to set up the equipment.
We've got several projects to organize, prep, and test equipment. By the time we officially test equipment in a Logic and Accuracy Test ahead of Election Day, every piece has gone through rigorous checks and assessments.
We've also been ordering supplies like paper and cleaning supplies, updating signs, tweaking procedures, revamping training, and a myriad of other tasks to be ready for Election Season. So much of our success is in the details. We work very hard to ensure nothing falls through the cracks. So, whether it's meticulously labeling diagrams, color-coding boxes for supplies, or testing new equipment, we realize the hard work now will pay off later.
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Happy Birthday
Leslie........6/11
Jim............6/19
Rick...........6/26
Anthony.....6/29
Chris..........7/5
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Happy Anniversary
Chris.........23 years
Lynn.........13 years*
Jim.............9 years
Heather......3 years
*Denotes full-time employment
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