Florida presidential primary is on, as Volusia, Flagler elections offices mail ballots
And just like that, the Florida Presidential Preference Primary has begun.
Voters across Florida, including Volusia and Flagler counties, will soon be able to cast their ballots, which are only going to Republicans who ordered them. Florida Democrats submitted just one name: President Joe Biden.
“Our staff mailed over 25,000 vote-by-mail ballots to those that requested them. Voters should see them in their mailbox any day now,” said Lisa Lewis, Volusia County's supervisor of elections.
Likewise, Flagler County Elections Supervisor Kaiti Lenhart said her staff mailed 6,333 ballots on Thursday.
Who's on the ballot?
Seven names appear on the 2024 Republican primary ballot, although just three consider their campaigns still active: Donald Trump, Nikki Haley and Ryan Binkley.
Trump is a former president. Haley served as United Nations ambassador and South Carolina governor. And Binkley is a Texas pastor and business consulting CEO.
The others − Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis, former New Jersey Gov. Chris Christie, former Arkansas Gov. Asa Hutchinson, and Vivek Ramaswamy, who founded a pharmaceutical company − have all stopped campaigning.
Is it safe to use vote-by-mail?
Yes, Lenhart says.
"Unfortunately, voters are faced with negative information and myths pertaining to the mail ballot process in Florida," she wrote in an FAQ section of her website. "Election after election, even after thousands of Flagler County voters successfully cast their ballots by mail, we are defending the security of mail ballot voting again this year."
Voters in Volusia and Flagler may also track their mail ballots by registering to receive phone, email or text updates.
Is it too late to get a mail-in ballot?
It's not too late to request a sample ballot, or, for that matter, to change parties in order to vote in the GOP primary.
If you are non-partisan or a Democrat, you can update your political party by Feb. 20.
To request a vote-by-mail ballot in Volusia County, go to www.VolusiaElections.gov or call 386-736-5930. In Flagler County, go to www.FlaglerElections.com or call 386-313-4170.
Unlike previous presidential elections, a 2021 Florida law now requires voters to request mail-in ballots for each election cycle. So even if you got a mail-in ballot in 2022, you must request one for 2024. A request for a mail ballot for the presidential primary will also count for the primary election on Aug. 20 and the general on Nov. 5.
When and how must I return my mail-in ballot?
In-person voting for the presidential primary is March 19. All vote-by-mail ballots must be recieved in supervisors' offices by 7 p.m. that day.
Voters can either mail their ballots back or drop them off in person at the elections offices during normal business hours. They may also return mail ballots at Early Voting sites during hours of operation.
Early Voting in Volusia County will be from Saturday, March 9, through Saturday, March 16, from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. at seven locations. Flagler County will have Early Voting on the same days, but from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. at three sites.
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This article originally appeared on The Daytona Beach News-Journal: Volusia, Flagler mail ballots to Republicans. How can I get one sent?
