PAGE 8 - August 8, 2012
THE NEWSCASTER-Nature Coast News
Information for Registered Voters, From Dawn's Front Porch
Florida Primary Election, August 14 A Superhighway in the Swamp – A survey was circulated last week that appears to try
By Newscaster Contributor Dawn Clary
to determine the amount of interest in the Inglis area to sign up for the proposed broad-
Registered Voters, don’t forget the Florida Primary Election, which will be a Uni-
band internet service that the town of Inglis has been working on. The project proposes
versal Primary in Citrus County in three County Commission races and the Public De-
to do this in conjunction with an organization called North Florida Broadband Authority
fender in the 5th Judicial Circuit. Polls will be open from 7:00 a.m. to 7:00 p.m.
(NFBA). The group was formed after a $30 million dollar grant was given in 2009 as part
If you are unsure of your voting location or have questions about voting, please
of the federal government‘s stimulus package. The point of the grant was to bring broad-
contact the Supervisor of Elections Office (SOE) in the county in which you are registered
band accessibility to the supposed underserved rural areas of north Florida who didn’t have
to vote. Information for contacting the area SUPERVISOR OF ELECTIONS OFFICES:
good options for getting the capability. By improving service it was thought to promote
Citrus County SOE is located at 120 N. Apopka Ave., Inverness, FL 34450 - phone 352-
economic improvement because of such things as businesses being more prone to relocate
341-6752 and website www.votecitrus.com * Levy County SOE is located at 421 S Court
to the areas. The service is to be accomplished by creating a network of towers (Inglis’s
St. , Bronson, FL 32621; phone 352-486-5163 and website www.votelevy.com * Marion
tower is proposed to be atop the water tower). The NFBA would be what is called a
County SOE is located at 981 NE 16th St. (P.O. Box 289), Ocala, FL 34478; phone 352-
“middle mile provider”. This has been explained to me as similar to a tanker truck that
620-3290 and website www.votemarion.com
picks up fuel at the refinery and delivers it to the gas station. The gas station then provides
WHEN YOU VOTE AT YOUR POLLING LOCATION, you must present one of
it directly to the customer or user. The gas station is what Inglis would be, the “last mile
the following current and valid picture identifications: Florida Driver’s License or Florida
provider”. The thing would supposedly work like any other governmental utility like water
Identification Card (issued by the Department of Highway Safety and Motor Vehicles),
or garbage with the Inglis government essentially being your internet provider.
United States Passport, a debit or credit card, military identification, student identification,
There has been a lot of confusion concerning the deal. Some people thought it was going
retirement center identification, neighborhood association identification or public assis-
to be free due to an erroneous email sent out. Unfortunately it is not going to be free but at
tance identification. Under Florida State Statutes 101.045, no person shall be permitted to
this time there does not seem to be a cost estimate. The lack of cost information has made
vote at any precinct other than the one in which the person has his or her legal residence
it hard for some to decide whether they are for it or against it.
and in which the person is registered. If you are unable to produce proper identification, a
Some communities have dropped out of the program. In April the town of Perry
provisional ballot will be issued.
voted to withdraw from NFPA citing lack of progress by the agency and also stating that
EARLY VOTING: Levy County - Early voting is available only at the Levy
Perry already had multiple providers of broadband in the area. Bradford County has also
County SOE Office located at 421 S Court St. in Bronson, FL during Aug. 4 - 11 (Monday
withdrawn. Levy County’s position is unknown by this writer at this time. Commissioner
- Saturday 8:30 a.m. - 4:30 p.m. and Sunday, 10:00 a.m. - 4:00 p.m.) * Marion County (for
Chad Johnson seems to have the most comments on the subject. The agency has also been
the Dunnellon area) - Dunnellon Public Library, 20351 Robinson Rd., Dunnellon, FL; Sat.
plagued with allegations that they have not managed their funding properly. Overpayment
and Sun., Aug. 4-5 10:00 a.m. - 4:00 p.m.; and Mon. - Sat., Aug. 6-11, 10:00 a.m. - 6:00
of employees has been alleged. An allegation of a conflict of interest between the private
p.m. * Citrus County (4 locations) - August 4 - 11, 10:00 a.m. - 6:00 p.m. - Beverly Hills -
company supervising the building of the network and a grant administrator was also made.
Central Ridge Library, 425 W. Roosevelt Blvd.; 352-746-6622; Inverness - Inverness City
The NFBA has a web site if you want more technical info on this, www.nfba.net. The
Hall, 212 W. Main. St.; 352-726-2611; Homosassa - Homosassa Public Library, 4100 S.
Inglis Commission member who seems the main burner on this is Ms. Drinda Merritt.
Grandmarch Ave.; 352-628-5626; and Crystal River - Supervisor of Elections Office, 1540
Ain’t a darn thing going on in Yankeetown – Council is still working on the budget.
N. Meadowcrest Blvd.; 352-564-7120.
but other than that its really quiet. Good Night and Good Luck
ABSENTEE VOTING: Call, write, fax, or email your area’s Supervisor of Elec-
tions Office to receive an absentee ballot by mail. One request can cover all elections
within a calendar year. Immediate family can order an absentee ballot. The information
required by law is requester’s name, address, relationship to the elector and signature (if a
written request is made). Your absentee ballot will be mailed from your Supervisor of Elec-
tions office. The voter’s signature is required. The Absentee Ballot can be mailed to, or
dropped-off at, your area Supervisor of Elections office and must be received before 7:00
p.m. on election day. If you have obtained an absentee ballot, but decide to vote in your
precinct on election day instead, you MUST take the ballot with you to the polls, whether
or not it has been marked.
MILITARY PERSONNEL AND FAMILIES: Military personnel may apply for
voter registration or request absentee ballots with a Federal Post Card Application (FPCA),
which may be obtained from the Unit Voting Officer or online at http://www.fvap.gov/ If
the FPCA is not available, then phone, email, write, or fax a request to your Supervisor
of Elections Office. Spouses and dependents are considered to be of the same category of
Absentee Voter as military members and generally should follow the same rules.
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Inglis, Florida
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