DUVAL COUNTY, Fla. — Early voting in Duval County starts Wednesday for the August 20 Primary Election.
With umbrellas held high and rain jackets on a group of Duval County Public Schools parents, teachers, community members, the bunch gathered alongside a group called "Public School Defenders" Tuesday night to hold the 'Your Vote, Your Voice' rally. The rally's goal was to encourage people to vote in the upcoming primary.
Monica Gold teaches 7th grade language arts in the school district. One week before her students head back to class, Gold was outside DCPS headquarters talking about the primary.
"It is imperative that we elect good and just people into office," Gold told First Coast News. "I just want the public to understand how important this election is. All elections are important, but this one is crucial to our city."
Four Duval School Board seats will be filled in this school board election.
Jennifer Coward and Katie Hathaway are both mothers of DCPS students who want the right people in those seats.
"They are going to be making very tough decisions and listening to all members of the community," said Cowart. "I want to be sure they are keeping our community top of mind, front and center, and protecting those public schools and making them really great."
"It’s too critical of an election for people to sit out," Hathaway added. "They need to get out and vote. The future of public education is on the ballot."
Gold is thinking of the future for her students.
"I just want them to have the best conditions they can have and I want to have good conditions as well," said Gold. "And the people we put into these positions, affect those conditions."
Early voting runs until August 18. It was set to begin Monday, but was delayed due to Hurricane Debby.