Duval County Allocates $25,000 to Engage Inactive Voters Ahead of Critical Elections

The Jacksonville City Council has unanimously approved $25,000 to help the Duval County Supervisor of Elections better engage with the large portion of the electorate who are considered inactive and face potential removal from the voter rolls. This funding comes as a crucial amendment to the city's new $1.7 billion budget for the fiscal year starting October 1st.

Empowering Voters to Participate in Democracy

Addressing the Inactive Voter Challenge

According to reports, more than 90,000 voters in Duval County were considered inactive as of September 15th, representing approximately 15% of registered voters. Activists have been pressing the Supervisor of Elections, Jerry Holland, to take proactive steps to contact these voters ahead of the upcoming November elections, which are just 40 days away.The allocated funds will be used in two key ways to address this challenge. Firstly, $18,000 will be dedicated to emailing, calling, or texting voters who have provided their contact information. Secondly, $7,000 will be devoted to advertising in Spanish-language publications and Black-owned media to encourage voters to update their contact details. This targeted approach aims to reach the disproportionately high number of Black and Latino voters who are currently considered inactive.

Preventing Voter Disenfranchisement

It's important to note that no Duval County voters will be removed from the rolls prior to the November elections. However, the law states that if an inactive voter fails to vote, update their registration, or request a mail-in ballot in the two subsequent federal general elections, they can be removed from the voter rolls by the end of the calendar year.This funding allocation is a proactive measure to ensure that all registered voters in Duval County are aware of their status and have the opportunity to participate in the upcoming elections. Council member Jimmy Peluso, who sponsored the budget amendment, emphasized the importance of doing everything possible to encourage registered voters to exercise their democratic rights.

Addressing Disparities in Voter Engagement

The analysis of inactive voter data revealed that certain Jacksonville ZIP codes with high concentrations of Black and Latino residents, particularly on the Westside and in Northwest Jacksonville, have the highest numbers of inactive voters. This underscores the need for targeted outreach and engagement efforts to address the disproportionate impact on these communities.Civil rights lawyer Barbara Arnwine, who participated in a rally at the Supervisor of Elections Office, expressed anger at the high percentage of African American voters among the inactive population, stating that "it has to stop." The rally was motivated by the reporting from Jacksonville Today, which brought this issue to the forefront.

Bipartisan Support for Voter Engagement

Despite some initial grumbling from council members about the timing of the budget amendment, the entire City Council ultimately agreed that doing everything possible to encourage registered voters to participate in the democratic process is of utmost importance. Even council member Raul Arias, whose district includes the ZIP code with the highest number of inactive voters, acknowledged the need for this initiative.Earlier this month, Arias had also stressed the importance of engaging with Hispanic voters to address voter turnout gaps during a kickoff event for Hispanic Heritage Month. This bipartisan support for voter engagement demonstrates the shared commitment to ensuring that all eligible voters in Duval County have the opportunity to make their voices heard.

Encouraging Inactive Voters to Reactivate

The Duval County Supervisor of Elections is actively encouraging any voters who may be considered inactive to update their address information and take advantage of early voting opportunities. This proactive approach aims to empower these individuals to reestablish their active status and participate in the upcoming elections.Council member Peluso emphasized the importance of this initiative, stating that it "pretty much touches all 14 city council districts, the entire city at large." The goal is to ensure that no registered voter is turned away at the polls due to their inactive status, regardless of whether they may have missed previous municipal or primary elections.