Hobe Sound Office (Hours 8:00 AM - 5:00 PM) SE Bridge Road, Hobe Sound, FL (772)

Transcription

1 Elections Center (Hours 8:00 AM - 5:00 PM) 135 SE Martin Luther King, Jr. Blvd., Stuart, FL (772) TTY (772) or South County residents (561) Hobe Sound Office (Hours 8:00 AM - 5:00 PM) SE Bridge Road, Hobe Sound, FL (772) Indiantown Office (Hours 8:00 AM - 4:30 PM) SW Warfield Blvd., Indiantown, FL (772) elections@martinvotes.com

2 MISSION STATEMENT As a gatekeeper of the democratic process, the Supervisor of Elections will uphold the election laws of the State of Florida and the Constitution of the United States. The mission of the Supervisor of Elections is to enhance public confidence; encourage citizen participation; and increase voter awareness and education for citizens of all ages. Click Here to View a Voting Equipment Demonstration

3 TABLE OF CONTENTS Dear Martin County Voter, Supervisor s Letter Election Dates & Deadlines... Registration Requirements... Where to Register to Vote... When to Register to Vote... Address Change... Name or Party Change... Government Officials... Primary Election... Universal Primary Contest... General Election... Voting on Election Day... Assistance in Voting... Early Voting... Vote By Mail... Become a Poll Worker... Polling Locations... Voter s Bill of Rights... Voter Responsibilities As Supervisor of Elections, my primary goals are to help inform and educate the voters of Martin County and to promote a higher voter turnout. This guide will provide answers to some of the most commonly asked questions about registration and voting procedures. I hope you will find it useful, and I encourage you to keep it handy. You can receive the most current voting information by visiting my official website or by contacting the Elections Center. I welcome your calls or visits to my main office in Stuart or to the satellite offices in Hobe Sound and Indiantown. Thank you for taking the time to read this voter information guide. I look forward to providing you with the information you need to be an active and informed participant in the elections process. Vicki Davis Vicki Davis Supervisor of Elections Martin County 1

4 TO BE ELIGIBLE TO REGISTER TO VOTE YOU MUST: 2008 ELECTION DATES Primary Election August 26, 2008 General Election November 4, 2008 BOOK CLOSING DATES (Last day to register or change party) Primary Election July 28, 2008 General Election October 6, 2008 EARLY VOTING DATES Primary Election August 11-23, 2008 General Election October 20 - November 1, 2008 Be a U.S. Citizen Be a Florida Resident Be 18 or older (you may pre-register at 17or 16 with a valid FL DL) Not be a convicted felon, or if you are, your civil rights have been restored Not have been adjudicated mentally incompetent, or if you have, your competency has been restored WHERE TO REGISTER TO VOTE You may register to vote at the following locations: Elections Center Public Libraries Department of Children and Families WIC Office Department of Motor Vehicles Armed Forces Recruitment Offices You may obtain an application at the following locations: Post Offices Chambers of Commerce Participating Banks Community Colleges Tax Collector s Office You may also call the Elections Center at or South County residents may call and request an application be mailed to you. WHEN TO REGISTER TO VOTE You may apply to register to vote at any time. However, the registration books close 29 days before each election. Therefore, to vote in an election, you must be registered at least 29 days prior to that election. 2 3

5 ADDRESS CHANGE If you are a registered voter in Florida and have moved, you are required by law to update this information with the Supervisor of Elections. Please call or South County residents call NAME CHANGE OR PARTY CHANGE If you wish to change your party or have changed your name, it is required that the Supervisor of Elections have a new registration application on file. You may file a new application in person or by mail. Please call or South County residents call if you would like an application mailed to you. SIGNATURE CHANGE Vote By Mail ballots are verified by comparing a voter s signature on file to the signature on a ballot. If your signature has changed, it is required that the Supervisor of Elections have a new registration application on file. You may file a new application in person or by mail. Please call or South County residents call if you would like an application mailed to you. PRESIDENT GOVERNMENT OFFICIALS FEDERAL VICE-PRESIDENT GEORGE W. BUSH RICHARD CHENEY 1600 Pennsylvania Avenue NW 1600 Pennsylvania Avenue NW Washington, DC Washington, DC (202) (202) president@whitehouse.gov vice_president@whitehouse.gov U.S. SENATE 6 Year Term MEL MARTINEZ BILL NELSON 317 Hart Senate Office Bldg. 716 Hart Senate Office Bldg. Washington, DC Washington, DC (202) (202) OR OR 315 E. Robinson Street 500 S. Australian Avenue, Ste 125 Landmark Center 1, Ste 475 West Palm Beach, FL Orlando, FL (561) (407) Web: billnelson.senate.gov Web: martinez.senate.gov 16TH DIST. U.S. HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES 2 Year Term 23RD DIST. TIM MAHONEY ALCEE L. HASTINGS 1541 Longworth House Office Bldg Rayburn Bldg. Washington, DC Washington, DC (202) (202) OR OR 9 SE Osceola Street 5725 Corporate Way, Ste 208 Stuart, FL West Palm Beach, FL (772) (561) Web: Web: alceehastings.house.gov 4 5

6 GOVERNOR STATE OF FLORIDA OFFICIALS Executive Office of the Governor The Capitol Tallahassee, FL LT. GOVERNOR CHARLIE CRIST JEFF KOTTKAMP (850) (850) ATTORNEY GENERAL BILL McCOLLUM ALEX SINK (850) (850) CHIEF FINANCIAL OFFICER COMMISSIONER OF AGRICULTURE CHARLES H. BRONSON (850) FLORIDA SENATE STATE SENATE DISTRICT 28 KEN P. PRUITT Room 312 Senate Office Bldg SW Fountainview Blvd., Ste S. Monroe Street Port St. Lucie, FL Tallahassee, FL (772) (850) Fax: (772) FLORIDA HOUSE 2 Year Term STATE REPRESENTATIVE DISTRICT 78 RICHARD A. MACHEK 209 House Office Bldg. 100 N. U.S. Highway 1, 1st Fl. 402 S. Monroe Street Ft. Pierce, FL Tallahassee, FL (772) (850) STATE REPRESENTATIVE DISTRICT 81 GAYLE HARRELL Room 210 House Office Bldg S. U.S. Highway #1, Ste S. Monroe Street Port St. Lucie, FL Tallahassee, FL (772) (850) STATE REPRESENTATIVE DISTRICT 82 WILLIAM D. SNYDER 1101 The Capitol 2400 S. Federal Highway, Ste S. Monroe Street Stuart, FL Tallahassee, FL (772) (850) S. U.S. Highway 1, Ste 211 Tequesta, FL (561)

7 MARTIN COUNTY CONSTITUTIONAL OFFICERS CLERK OF CIRCUIT COURT SHERIFF MARSHA EWING ROBERT L. CROWDER P.O. Box SE Monterey Road Stuart, FL Stuart, FL TAX COLLECTOR PROPERTY APPRAISER LARRY C. O STEEN LAUREL KELLY P.O. Box U.S. Highway #1., Ste 330 Stuart, FL Stuart, FL office@mctc.martin.fl.us info@pa.martin.fl.us SUPERVISOR OF ELECTIONS SUPERINTENDENT OF SCHOOLS VICKI DAVIS P.O. Box 1257 DR. SARA WILCOX Stuart, FL SE Ocean Blvd., Bldg Stuart, FL elections@martinvotes.com X wilcoxs@martin.k12.fl.us MARTIN COUNTY COMMISSIONERS DISTRICT #1 DISTRICT #2 DISTRICT #3 DOUG SMITH SUSAN VALLIERE LEE WEBERMAN Office: Office: Office: dsmith@martin.fl.us svallier@martin.fl.us leew@martin.fl.us DISTRICT #4 DISTRICT #5 SARAH HEARD MICHAEL DI TERLIZZI Office: Office: sheard@martin.fl.us mditerli@martin.fl.us SCHOOL BOARD MEMBERS DISTRICT #1 DISTRICT #2 DISTRICT #3 LORIE SHEKAILO SUSAN HERSHEY LAURIE GAYLORD Home: Home: Cell: Office: DISTRICT #4 DISTRICT #5 NANCY KLINE DR. DAVID L. ANDERSON Home: Home: STATE ATTORNEY 19th Circuit BRUCE H. COLTON (772) PUBLIC DEFENDER 19th Circuit DIAMOND R. LITTY (772) COUNTY JUDGES 6 Year Term DAVID HARPER STEWART R. HERSHEY KATHLEEN H. ROBERTS ADDRESS FOR EACH OF THE ABOVE: 500 SE Ocean Blvd., Bldg. 17, Stuart, FL CIRCUIT JUDGES - 19th Circuit 6 Year Term SHERWOOD BAUER, JR. ROBERT E. BELANGER BARBARA BRONIS BEN L. BRYAN, JR. BURTON CONNER CYNTHIA COX ROBERT HAWLEY PAUL B. KANAREK STEVEN J. LEVIN ROBERT R. MAKEMSON JAMES W. MC CANN F. SHIELDS MC MANUS ELIZABETH A. METZGER LAWRENCE MIRMAN BOB PEGG WILLIAM L. ROBY LARRY SCHACK GARY L. SWEET DAN L. VAUGHN ADDRESS AND FAX NUMBER FOR EACH OF THE ABOVE: 2401 SE Monterey Rd, Stuart, FL Fax: (772)

8 PRIMARY ELECTION A Primary Election is held before a General Election. In Florida, Primary Elections are closed. This means that a qualified elector is allowed to vote the official ballot of the political party in which he or she is registered. DEMOCRATS If you are registered as a DEMOCRAT (at least 29 days before a primary election), you are allowed to vote for DEMOCRATIC candidates, NON-PARTISAN candidates, UNIVERSAL primary contest candidates, and REFERENDUMS. REPUBLICANS If you are registered as a REPUBLICAN (at least 29 days before a primary election), you are allowed to vote for REPUBLICAN candidates, NON-PARTISAN candidates, UNIVERSAL primary contest candidates, and REFERENDUMS. MINOR PARTY or NO PARTY AFFILIATION If you are registered in a minor party or without party affiliation (at least 29 days before a primary election), you are allowed to vote for NON-PARTISAN candidates, UNIVERSAL primary contest candidates, and REFERENDUMS. UNIVERSAL PRIMARY CONTEST If all primary election candidates have the same party affiliation and the winner will have no opposition in the general election, it is a universal primary contest. All qualified voters, regardless of party affiliation, may vote in the primary election for that office. The winner of a universal primary will be the final winner and will not need to run in the general election. GENERAL ELECTION General elections are always in November of an even-numbered year. Every registered voter, regardless of his or her party affiliation, is allowed to vote for any candidate, regardless of the candidate s party affiliation. VOTING ON ELECTION DAY The polls open at 7:00 am and close at 7:00 pm. At your polling place, you are required to show a signed photo ID. The following forms of identification have been approved by the Department of State and will be accepted by election officials: Florida Driver s License Florida Identification Card (issued by Dept. of Motor Vehicles) U.S. Passport Employee Badge or ID Debit/Credit Card Military or Student ID Retirement Center ID Neighborhood Association ID Public Assistance ID (Social Security or other social services) If you do not have signed photo identification, you will be required to vote a provisional ballot. The canvassing board shall determine the validity of the ballot. Once your identity has been established, you will be asked to sign the precinct register. You will be issued a voter I.D. slip to take to the voting booth. ASSISTANCE IN VOTING Upon request, a need for assistance at the polls may be designated on a voter's registration record. The voter may designate someone of his or her choice, other than an employer or an officer or agent of that person's union. Election officials may also provide assistance

9 EARLY VOTING Any registered voter may vote early at the Elections Center, or other identified locations throughout the county. Early voting starts 15 days prior to an election and continues through the Saturday before an election. You must provide a signed photo I.D. VOTE BY MAIL Any registered voter may Vote By Mail. Vote By Mail ballots can be mailed to voters or picked up at the Elections Center approximately three weeks before an election. However, the ballots may be requested as early as January 1st of any election year. The request may be made in person, by mail, by telephone, or at Only the voter or a designated member of his or her immediate family or legal guardian can request a Vote By Mail ballot for the voter. Immediate family means the voter s spouse or the parent, child, grandparent, or sibling of the voter or of the voter s spouse. DELIVERY TO DESIGNEE A voter may designate, in writing, another person to obtain a Vote By Mail ballot for the voter. Carry-out ballots are available to a designee four (4) days prior to the day of the election. The designee may obtain only two (2) ballots per election other than his or her own, except for ballots obtained for members of his or her immediate family. The designee must provide the written (signed) authorization by the voter, provide a picture identification of the designee and complete an affidavit. To request a Vote By Mail ballot, the following must be provided: Name of the voter for whom the ballot is requested Address where ballot is to be mailed *Ballots are not forwardable Voter s date of birth Voter s signature (if request is in writing) If the voter has designated an immediate family member or legal guardian to request a ballot, that designee must provide the above information in addition to the following: Requester s name Requester s address Requester s driver s license number, if available Requester s relationship to the voter Requester s signature (if request is in writing) In order to mail Vote By Mail ballots, requests must be received by 5:00 p.m. the Wednesday before an election. Voted ballots must be received at the Elections Center no later than 7:00 pm election night. Vote By Mail ballots may not be turned in at the polling place. NEVER give your voted absentee ballot to someone you don't know! Elections office staff DO NOT go door-to-door collecting voted ballots

10 WANT TO GET INVOLVED ON ELECTION DAY? Become a Poll Worker... Poll workers are needed to work the polls on election day. Poll workers are registered voters, appointed by the Supervisor of Elections to make up the Election Board for each precinct. They are responsible for the administration of election procedures in the polling place on election day. Poll workers are sworn to see that the election process is administered fairly, efficiently, and according to Florida Statutes. As a poll worker you are required by law to be at your precinct by 6 a.m. and to remain there until you are dismissed by the clerk. You will be paid for your time. You may become a poll worker by calling or South County , completing the form below, or by visiting MARTIN COUNTY POLLING LOCATIONS POLLS OPEN AT 7:00 A.M. AND CLOSE AT 7:00 P.M. **Precincts have been renumbered or relocated. Please call the Elections Center or visit to verify your precinct. 1. Langford Park 2369 NE Dixie Hwy, Jensen Beach 2. Reassigned to Pct 41 for 2008 Elections 3C. The Elks Lodge 1001 S. Kanner Hwy, Stuart 4C. Stuart Recreation Center 201 SW Flagler Ave, Stuart 5. Redeemer Lutheran Church 2450 SE Ocean Blvd, Stuart 6. The Meadows Clubhouse 2550 SW Waterfall Blvd, Palm City 7. Hidden Harbour Estates Clubhouse 4300 SE St Lucie Blvd, Stuart 8. Hobe Sound Civic Center 8980 SE Olympus St, Hobe Sound 9. First United Methodist Church of Hobe Sound SE Federal Hwy, Hobe Sound 10. Sewall s Point Town Hall 1 S. Sewall s Point Rd, Stuart 11. Palm City Community Center 2701 SW Cornell Ave, Palm City 12. Knights of Columbus 7251 SW Gaines Ave, Stuart 13C. Unitarian Universalist Church 21 SE Central Pky, Stuart 14. Ocean Breeze Park 3000 NE Indian River Dr, Jensen Beach 15. Rio Civic Center 1255 NE Dixie Hwy, Jensen Beach 16. Martin County Fairgrounds Building A 2616 SE Dixie Hwy, Stuart 14 15

11 17. South County Fire Station SE County Line Rd, Tequesta 18. The Grace Place 1550 SE Salerno Rd, Stuart 19. Jensen Beach Community Church 3900 NE Skyline Dr, Jensen Beach 20. VFW. Post SE Dixie Hwy, Stuart 21. VFW. Post NE Savannah Rd, Jensen Beach 22. Hutchinson Island Fire Station 801 NE Ocean Blvd, Stuart 23. Peace Presbyterian Church 4881 SE Cove Rd, Stuart 24. Aldersgate Methodist Church 5200 SW Martin Hwy, Palm City 25C. Stuart/Blake Library 2351 SE Monterey Rd, Stuart 26. Booker Park Fire Station SW 169th Ave, Indiantown 27. Indiantown Civic Center SW Osceola St, Indiantown 28. Jupiter Island Town Hall 2 Bridge Rd, Hobe Sound 29. Costella Williams Learning Center 4455 SE Murray St, Stuart 30. Palm City Presbyterian Church 2700 SW Martin Hwy, Palm City 31. Ridgeway Clubhouse 8347 SE Swan Ave, Hobe Sound 32. Robert Morgade Library 5851 SE Community Dr, Stuart 33. Trinity United Methodist Church 2221 NE Savannah Rd, Jensen Beach 34. Indiantown Fire Station SW Warfield Blvd, Indiantown 35. Crossroads Community Church 1484 SW 34th St, Palm City 36. Palm City Fire Station 3290 SW Mapp Rd, Palm City 37. Hobe Sound Library SE Federal Hwy, Hobe Sound 38. Boys & Girls Club of Hobe Sound SE Lares Ave, Hobe Sound 39. Port Salerno Church of God 4605 SE Cove Rd, Stuart 40. Martin Downs Main Clubhouse 3801 SW Greenwood Way, Palm City 41. Prince of Peace Lutheran Church 2200 N. Federal Hwy, Stuart 42. Tropical Farms Baptist Church 1555 SW Kanner Hwy, Stuart 43. Palm City Civic Organization 770 SW 34th St, Palm City 44. County Line Civic Center SE County Line Rd, Tequesta 45. Covenant Fellowship Baptist Church 2880 SE Aster Ln, Stuart 46C. 10th Street Recreation Center 724 SE 10th St, Stuart 47. Bethel Lutheran Church 7905 SE Federal Hwy, Hobe Sound 48. Monarch Country Club 1801 SW Monarch Club Dr, Palm City 49. Immanuel Lutheran Church 2655 SW Immanuel Dr, Palm City 50. Pinelake Gardens Clubhouse 6854 SE Morningside Dr, Stuart 51. St. Lucie Falls Clubhouse 9000 SW Pennsylvania Ave, Stuart 52. Port Salerno Community Center 4950 SE Anchor Ave, Stuart 53C. Stuart Congregational United Church of Christ 3110 SE Aster Ln, Stuart 16 17

12 VOTER S BILL OF RIGHTS ( (2), F.S.) Each registered voter in this state has the right to: 1. Vote and have his or her vote accurately counted. 2. Cast a vote if he or she is in line at the official closing of the polls in that county. 3. Ask for and receive assistance in voting. 4. Receive up to two replacement ballots if he or she makes a mistake prior to the ballot being cast. 5. An explanation if his or her registration or identity is in question. 6. If his or her registration or identity is in question, cast a provisional ballot. 7. Written instructions to use when voting, and, upon request, oral instructions in voting from elections officers. 8. Vote free from coercion or intimidation by elections officers or any other person. 9. Vote on a voting system that is in working condition and that will allow votes to be accurately cast. Each registered voter in this state should: VOTER RESPONSIBILITIES ( (2), F.S.) 1. Familiarize himself or herself with the candidates and issues. 2. Maintain with the office of the supervisor of elections a current address. 3. Know the location of his or her polling place and its hours of operation. 4. Bring proper identification to the polling station. 5. Familiarize himself or herself with the operation of the voting equipment in his or her precinct. 6. Treat precinct workers with courtesy. 7. Respect the privacy of other voters. 8. Report any problems or violations of election laws to the supervisor of elections. 9. Ask questions, if needed. 10. Make sure that his or her completed ballot is correct before leaving the polling station. NOTE TO VOTER: Failure to perform any of these responsibilities does not prohibit a voter from voting. 18