Submitted by Suanne Z. Thamm
Reporter – News Analyst
October 23, 2016 6:34 p.m.
Election Day is Tuesday, November 8, 2016, but Early Voting in Nassau County, Florida for the 2016 General Election cycle begins on Monday, October 24, 2016, and closes on Saturday, November 5, 2016. All registered Nassau County voters may early vote at any one of the four locations below during the hours of 7:00 a.m. to 7:00 p.m. daily:
To date, more than 4,600 of 61,000 registered county voters have already voted by mail ballot.
This year’s ballot is double-sided and includes multiple races throughout all levels of government, in addition to four proposed Florida constitutional amendments. Fernandina Beach voters will also be asked to vote on housekeeping matters for the City Charter.
There are 6 slates of candidates running for President and Vice President of the United States. Seven men are running for United States Senator, a position currently held by Marco Rubio, who seeks reelection. Three men are competing to replace retiring U.S. Representative Ander Crenshaw in Dustrict 4. Write-in candidates have also filed to run in these three races.
In the race for Public Defender for the 4th Judicial Circuit, Charlie Cofer faces a write-in candidate. In the race to replace retiring state Representative Janet Adkins (District 11), Cord Byrd also faces a write-in candidate.
There are five county races to be decided in this election. Incumbent Sheriff Bill Leeper faces challenger Carol Batchelor. Incumbent Tax Collector John Drew has a write-in opponent. Kathy Knight Burns and Cheryl Reynolds James are contesting the Superintendent of Schools office. Robert Sturgess and Coleman Langshaw face off for the position of District 1 Commissioner, Ocean Highway and Port Authority. Thomas Ford and Halston Nelson are competing for Group 4 Nassau Soil and Water Conservation District.
With respect to the judiciary, voters are being asked whether to retain 3 state Supreme Court Justices and 6 judges in the First District Court of Appeals.
Fernandina Beach voters will choose between former commissioner Eric Childers and incumbent John Miller for a 4-year term on the Fernandina Beach City Commission. Fernandina Beach voters will also participate in a straw ballot to select the city’s next mayor from among the following three sitting commissioners: Len Kreger, Vice Mayor Robin Lentz, and Roy G. Smith.
Five candidates are running for seats on the Hilliard Town Council: Jack Bailey, Lee Pickett, Kenny Sims, Patricia Webb and Jerald Wollitz.
For complete infomation on voting requirements, polling places, and candidates, visit the Nassau County Supervisor of Elections website at www.VoteNassau.com.