Published on March 22, 2024 at 2:10 pm
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Q. A Jacksonville Today reader, who wanted to remain anonymous, wants to know why they can’t vote at any polling location on Election Day, the same as voters can during early voting.
The reader points out that a lot of people go to early voting sites on Election Day and get turned away because it isn’t their assigned polling place.
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“Knowing human nature, I doubt most of them take the time and effort” to go to the proper place, the reader says.
“The machines are very sophisticated — they could (and do) count by precinct for reporting and analysis purposes, regardless of where the vote is cast,” the reader states. “It would reduce a lot of confusion and frustration, and allow citizens to exercise their right to vote … and for their vote to be counted regardless of where it was cast.”
“Why can’t a voter vote in any official polling place on Election Day?”
A. Current Florida law does not allow for voting at a location other than someone’s assigned polling location on Election Day.
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This is how the system works: Supervisors of election establish dates and sites for early voting. During that period, a person can vote at any early voting location. But on Election Day, voters who wish to vote in person have to do so at their specified polling location, which might be diferent from their early voting site.
Florida Statute 101.045 states, “A person is not permitted to vote in any election precinct or district other than the one in which the person has his or her legal residence and in which the person is registered.” Criteria were added for voting by mail and early voting.
Early voting sites generally must be in publicly funded buildings. Election Day sites do not, so that’s why a precinct’s early voting site sometimes differs from the Election Day site.
Clay County Supervisor of Elections Chris Chambless said he could see a time when the state Legislature might change the rules.
The Legislature could get rid of precinct voting on Election Day because the same equipment is used during early voting and on Election Day, Chambless said.
“We are such a mobile society now that throughout our day, when we go across from area to area within the county, we may pass by in Clay County a total of seven early voting sites, all of which can serve you that voter,” Chambless said.
One method of changing the voting process would be to create vote centers that would be available for all eligible voters similar to how early voting works, Chambless said.
“Supervisors of elections in the state of Florida, as a professional association, have advocated for vote centers. Now, that technology affords it because it’s the same technology that we utilize in early voting. We (could) just extend that to Election Day,” Chambless said.
Under that system, a supervisor’s office would establish a centrally located center that would be open for all eligible voters during an early voting period and would remain open through Election Day.
Chambless said this method would have many benefits, including more flexibility for voters, no breaks in the times and days people can vote, and lower operating costs for governments.
At this time, that is just an idea. Any change would need approval from the state Legislature and the governor.
In the meantime, for the two remaining major elections this year, the voting process will remain the same. You will be able to vote by mail, vote during the early voting period, or vote on Election Day.
The next election in Florida is the primary election on Aug. 20.
Have a question you’d like the Jacksonville Today team to look into? Email news@jaxtoday.org with #AskJAXTDY in the subject line, and you might see your answer soon.
