Vote in Duval County: Everything to know ahead of the 2024 presidential primary election

Hanna Holthaus, Jacksonville Florida Times-Union
Updated ·3 min read
A student places a ballot into the voting box during a mock election at a school in Gainesville in 2020.

Florida Republicans can soon head to the polls to place their vote in the presidential preference primary after an election season that has already narrowed the field.

Florida operates a closed primary, meaning only registered members of each party can weigh in on primary elections. The Florida Democratic Party already named Biden the automatic winner of the state’s primary.

Meanwhile, the Republican field has dwindled as the state’s primary approaches, most recently with Gov. Ron DeSantis exiting the race after a second-place finish in the Iowa Caucus.

Ahead of the March 19 election, here’s everything to know about how you can vote:

More: Vote-by-mail ballots in Florida could soon be limited to absent voters only

How can I vote in the Florida presidential primary?

  • Vote by mail: The deadline to request a ballot to be mailed is March 7 by 5 p.m. Requests can be made in person, by mail, fax, phone call to 904-255-8683 or through electronic ballot request on the elections office website.

  • Early voting: March 8 - March 16 from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. Find a list of early voting sites on the elections office website.

  • Vote on election day: Polls are open March 19 from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. Find your voting precinct using the elections office polling location finder.

What elections are on the primary ballot in Duval County?

The only race on the ballot March 19 is the Republican presidential primary. There is no Democratic primary race in Florida as President Joe Biden is already the candidate in Florida.

How do I change my party affiliation in Duval County?

If voters choose to change their party affiliation, they must do so before Feb. 20 to be valid for the March 19 election.

Voters can fill out an online form or go to the elections office to re-register under their preferred party. They can also fill out a voter registration form and mail it to the elections office.

How do I vote by mail in Duval County?

Florida changed their vote-by-mail policies, and every voter must re-register for their mail-in ballot for the 2024 election cycle.

Voters can request their mail-in ballot through the county’s Electronic Ballot Request Service, by phone at (904)255-8683 or in-person.

All ballots must be requested before March 7, 2024 by 5 p.m. Ballots can be returned to the Supervisor of Elections office on election day or at early voting locations during operating hours. If mailing the ballot in, the elections office recommends sending it at least one week ahead of the election.

If the voter decides to vote in person, they must bring the mail-in ballot with them in order for it to be canceled before voting using a standard form.

The Supervisor of Elections must receive the ballot by 7 p.m. on election day to be counted.

How do I vote early in Duval County?

Early voting happens between March 9 and March 16, with polls open from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m.

Voters can visit any early voting polling location – which can all be found at the elections website. They must bring at least one form of identification with a signature, such as a Florida driver’s license or passport.

This article originally appeared on Florida Times-Union: What to know to vote in Duval County presidential primary election