PONTE VEDRA BEACH, Fla. — More than 30,000 registered voters in St. Johns County have already cast their ballots this election and Supervisor of Elections Vicky Oakes believes a record number of people will participate in early voting.
"Please be patient," Oakes said ahead of the start of early voting.
Early voting goes from 8 a.m. to 6 p.m. on Oct. 19 and continues through Oct. 31. Those dates include Saturday, Oct. 24; Sunday, Oct. 25; and Saturday, Oct. 31.
Even if the line moves fast, you will have to wait outside. If you’ve received a vote-by-mail ballot but decided you’d rather vote in person, you can vote in person as long as you haven’t sent your ballot in yet.
You can also drop off your vote-by-mail ballot at the early voting location. There will be a drop box outside each location staffed by a poll worker.
There are 10 locations for early voting in St. Johns County. That’s three more than previous years.
St. Johns Convention Center at World Golf Village
500S. Legacy Trail • St. Augustine, FL 32092
Shoppes of St Johns
(Old Earth Fare Location)
120 Shops Blvd • St Johns, FL 32259
Solomon Calhoun Community Center
1300 Duval St, St. Augustine, FL 32084
Ponte Vedra Concert Hall
1050 A1A N, Ponte Vedra Beach, FL 32082
Supervisor of Elections Office
4455 Avenue A #101 • St. Augustine, FL. 32095
Julington Creek Annex - Conference Room
(St. Johns County Service Center)
725 Flora Branch Boulevard • Saint Johns, FL. 32259
Ponte Vedra Branch Library
101 Library Boulevard • Ponte Vedra Beach, FL. 32082
Southeast Branch Library
6670 US 1 South • St. Augustine, FL. 32086
St. Augustine Beach City Hall
2200 A1A South • St. Augustine, FL. 32080
Hasting Branch Library
6195 S. Main Street • Hastings, FL. 32145
“My favorite part about early voting is there is no wrong place to go. That you can just pick a location that is most convenient for you and go and vote," Oakes explained.
She says there are a lot of elections and amendments to vote on in St. Johns County. Voters will be looking at a two page ballot and they’ll want to be prepared. Sample ballots are available online here.
“If voters are ready and prepared to vote, then that will help them cut down on the time they spend in our voting sites as well," Oakes said.
Voters will need a current and valid photo ID with your signature as well as an extra accessory this year: a mask.
Masks are encouraged at all locations, but Oakes explains they are required at 8 out of 10 locations because they are county-run facilities. There are signs on the doors about face coverings.
Oakes say poll workers can provide you a mask if you forget one. Poll workers will also be wearing masks as well as face shields.
Oakes says every location has cleaning supplies and will wipe down areas periodically throughout the day.
She says the goal is to keep everyone safe and makes sure no voter is turned away.