News
By Deb Boelkes, We The People, 6-5-25
| To We the People – Thanks to our Nassau County Supervisor of Elections (SOE), Janet Adkins, I am happy to share the latest news shared today with the SOE Advisory Council: So far, the SOE office has received 4,596 Vote-by-Mail requests for the 2026 election as follows: 1,423 from Democrats, 981 from NPA/Other, and 2,190 from Republicans. Nassau County needs 50 to 70 more election workers for the 2026 elections, primarily in West Nassau communities (where our population is growing). Orientation classes for new election workers are scheduled for the following dates: July 16, 2025, October 15, 2025, January 14, 2026, March 18, 2026, and May 6, 2026.No elections scheduled to be held in 2025. Sample ballots for the November 2026 General election will go out in late September 2026.The cost of mailing ballots and other elections materials is expected to be 98% higher in 2026 than in 2024 (due to the number / timing of mail drops and the cost of 1st-class postage going up to $.90). In April 2025, the SOE office revised our county precinct maps.In May 2025, the Board of County Commissioners approved the capital expense funding to acquire new voting tabulation equipment (DS 950 and DS 300s).In July 2025, the new tabulation equipment will be installed. In August 2025, the SOE plans to release a new smartphone-based messaging app for Nassau County Candidates––to streamline communications with candidates and provide what they need & want to know 24/7. This phone-based application will provide the same information available to candidates on the VoteNassauFL.gov website. In September 2025, a new generator will be installed for the new tabulation equipment.The first candidate planning to run for office in Nassau County in 2026 has already submitted their Candidate Application to the SOE office. The possibility of creating an aerial map to indicate the 150′ radius from every Nassau County polling place is under consideration–to make it easier for candidates to know where they can legally post their candidate signage. During the 2025 Legislative Session in Tallahassee (still technically underway), NO election-related bills passed (including 831, 1330, 1381, 1383, and 1414).HB 1205 (AMENDMENTS to the State Constitution regarding ballot summaries for Initiative Petitions) PASSED, but a lawsuit was filed the day after DeSantis signed it.Our SOE has submitted a budget request of $3.146M to the BOCC for the 2025/2026 election cycle, up 7% from the last election year, primarily to increase election worker pay (in accordance with a newly approved ballot measure) and to cover anticipated postage cost increases. Dates for 2026 elections: The Florida primary election will be held on August 18, 2026. The general election will be held on November 3, 2026.General trends: Vote-By-Mail numbers are going DOWN. Early voting numbers are going UP. According to FL statutes, we have the ability to add two additional days of early voting if needed to accommodate growth in early voting demand. On the west side of the county, more voters tend to vote on election day. |
