League of Women Voters

Election Information: Alachua County

When, Where, and How to Vote

• Election Dates, Registration Deadlines
• 3 Ways to Vote - By Mail, Early, or At Your Precinct

How to Register to Vote or Update Your Registration

• Be Ready to Vote! Get Registered to Vote or Update Your Voter Registration

What will my ballot look like? Sample Ballots

• Sample Ballots for November 6, 2012 General Election

Voter Guides: Understanding Your Ballot

• LWVF State Voter Guide w/ Proposed Amendment Information
• Local Candidate and Race Information
• Alachua County Ballot Questions - Roads & Education
• Information on 2012 Judicial Races/ Merit Retention of Judges

Need More Help?

• Call the League Voter Hotline!

County & State Election Offices

• Alachua County Supervisor of Elections - Local Election Information
• Florida Division of Elections - Statewide Election Information
  

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Election Dates, Registration Deadlines

Upcoming Election Dates - 2012

General Election                     November 6, 2012  

Last Day to Register to Vote or Update Registration

General Election                    October 9, 2012

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3 Ways to Vote - By Mail, Early, or At Your Precinct

• Vote by Mail ("Absentee Voting")

  Any voter may request an absentee ballot and vote by mail.

• Vote in Your Precinct

  Florida law requires that you vote in the precinct of your legal residence.

  To find your precinct, click here

  Polls are open from 7:00 AM to 7:00 PM on Election Day.

  Voters must present picture and signature identification.

• Vote Early

  Beat the crowds on Election Day - VOTE EARLY!

  Any voter may vote early. Early voting is available during an 8-day period before an election. Picture and signature identification required.

  Early Voting Dates

  Saturday, October 27, 2012 - Saturday, November 3, 2012
  8:00AM - 8:00PM

  Early Voting Locations:

  Supervisor of Elections Office
  County Administration Building Location
  12 SE 1st Street, Gainesville, FL 32601

  Millhopper Branch Library
  3145 NW 43rd Street, Gainesville, FL 32606

  Tower Road Branch Library
  3020 SW 75th Street, Gainesville, FL 32608

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BE READY TO VOTE!

Are you registered to vote? Do you need to update your registration?

Have you moved? Has your name changed? Has your signature changed?

Have you renewed your mail-in ballot request?

LWV says Be Ready To Vote!

Try this easy, new way to check your registration status!

www.VoteAlachua.com, My Voter Information Page
Alachua County Supervisor of Elections

Complete the form to see:

• Where to vote on election day
•  Sample ballots
• Upcoming elections

You can also:

• Fill out an online form to register to vote
• Request a mail/absentee ballot
• Review/update your voter registration information
• Check the status of your mail/absentee ballot
• Review your voting activity for the past 12 months

Other ways to update your registration, or register to vote: online, phone, fax, in person:
http://elections.alachua.fl.us/index.php?id=4&spanish=N

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Sample Ballots

Sample Ballots for November 6, 2012 General Election:
http://elections.alachua.fl.us/index.php?id=68

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Voter Guides are here!

Non-partisan voter guide includes information on Proposed Florida Constitutional Amendments, Florida Supreme Court Justices on the ballot and more!

Click here to download LWVF Voter Guide

To request printed copies of the Voter Guides, in English or Spanish, please contact: Jim Galloway JBG1942 AT cox.net OR Marjorie Alexander marj1994 AT gmail.com

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Alachua County Ballot Questions

Two local funding initiatives will appear on the November 6 ballot for Alachua County voters. Information on the two initiatives is below, and can also be downloaded in this 1-page PDF:

Click here to download LOCAL BALLOT INITIATIVES INFO SHEET

ALACHUA COUNTY QUESTION 1
FIX OUR ROADS ALACHUA COUNTY:
FUNDING ROAD IMPROVEMENTS BY LEVYING A ¾% SALES SURTAX

Key Points:

• 3/4-cent (0.75%) sales tax in Alachua County for 15 years
• Money raised would fund an estimated $337 million in road improvements
• Funding can be used for Maintenance, Operations, Paving/Repaving, Constructing/Reconstructing of Roads
• Funding cannot be used for transit/ bus projects
• Distributed to All Municipalities within Alachua County

A YES VOTE is FOR the transportation sales tax
A NO VOTE is AGAINST the transportation sales tax

The LWV of Alachua County/Gainesville has no position on Fix Our Roads.

For more information, see:

Alachua County Fix Our Roads Website (Supporting the Tax)

City of Gainesville Fact Sheet (Opposing the Tax)

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ALACHUA COUNTY QUESTION 2
RENEWAL OF THE EXISTING ONE MIL AD VALOREM TAX FOR
SCHOOL DISTRICT OPERATING EXPENSES

Key Points:

• Renews the existing one mil ad valorem (property) tax for public school funding
• NOT a tax increase, but a renewal of an existing tax
• Renewal will last four years: from July 1, 2013 – June 30, 2017
• Original one mil was passed by Alachua County voters in 2008
• Funding supports: school nurses, elementary music and art programs, K-12 school library programs, K-12 guidance programs, middle and high school bands and chorus programs, academic/career technical magnet programs and classroom technology updates
• An independent citizens’ committee reviews expenditures and reports to School Board

A YES VOTE is FOR the one-mil for school funding
A NO VOTE is AGAINST the one-mil for school funding

The LWV of Alachua County/Gainesville recommends
a YES VOTE FOR the one-mil tax for school funding.

For more information, see Alachua County School Board Info Sheet

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Local Candidate and Race Information

Click here for responses to LWV Candidate Questionnaires

Click here for Candidate and Race Information from the Alachua County Supervisor of Elections.

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Information on 2012 Judicial Races - Merit Retention!

The 2012 ballot will include judges' races, and Supreme Court and apellate judges up for merit retention. What does that mean? How can you get information for voting in these races?

Here are three great resources for information on Judicial races and merit retention:

• Florida Bar Voter Guide on Judges and Merit Retention.

  The LWV of Florida has partnered with the Florida Bar Association to help distribute a nonpartisan voter's guide to the FL judiciary system and merit retention.

  Click here to download the Florida Bar Voter Guide on Judges and Merit Retention

  To request a hard-copy, email: vote@lwv-alachua.org

  For more information, see the Florida Bar Association's website:
  http://www.floridabar.org/thevotesinyourcourt

• Democracy At Stake's website

• LWV of Florida Information on Merit Retention