Page 1 - Abacoa Community News - September '20

VOL. 21 NO 9 www.seabreezepublications.com SEPTEMBER 2020

Commissioner’s Update

Voting Is Convenient By Mail ballot privately in a relaxed setting, utilizing the candidate already submitted your vote-by-mail ballot, you may complete
information you may have acquired to make your decisions. a provisional ballot.
By Commissioner If a particular contest appears on your ballot that you may not When planning to mail your ballot back to the elections
Hal Valeche have anticipated, it allows you time to investigate that office office, make sure you sign the envelope and allow at least one
I hope this finds you well. and the qualified candidates in order to make a decision on week for it to reach the SOE office. The postage is already
As we press on through the who you think would best serve that post. paid, so do not delay. You can also drop it off in person at any
COVID-19 pandemic and The deadline to request that the SOE mail a vote-by-mail of the SOE offices during office hours or at early voting sites.
sail into the peak months ballot to you is 5 p.m. on the 10th day before the Nov. 3 election, For your ballot to count, the SOE must receive it by 7 p.m.
of the 2020 hurricane which would be Oct. 24. You can pick up a vote-by-mail ballot at on Election Day. Please note that the satellite offices close
season, we have learned the any time it becomes available, right up to and including Election at 5 p.m. on Election Day and only the main SOE office in
importance of preparation. Day. A designated person can pick up your ballot for you nine West Palm Beach is open until 7 p.m. If your ballot envelope
That is no less important days before Election Day and that person must submit written is unsigned, or there is a discrepancy with your signature,
as we approach this year’s authorization or an affidavit and produce a photo identification. you will be asked to complete and return a signature affidavit
general election on Nov. 3. One way to track the arrival of your vote-by-mail ballot once (DS-DE 139) with a copy of your current and valid ID no later
You may have concerns about going out into public places, you have requested it is to sign up for Informed Delivery through than 5 p.m. on the second day after the election.
even to vote. Everyone has different health vulnerabilities. the United States Postal Service. Through this process, you will For complete information about the vote-by-mail process,
Nevertheless, voting is a privilege that none of us takes for receive emails with images of your mail for the day. candidate data, records and other helpful links, visit www.
granted and all should exercise. Fortunately, you do have options. Once you receive your vote-by-mail ballot, carefully pbcelections.org. Once on the site, you can even track the
Vote-by-mail is synonymous with absentee voting, and follow the detailed instructions provided. Make sure to status of your vote-by-mail ballot.
refers to voting a ballot received by mail or picked up by include your signature or legal mark on the Voter’s The Supervisor of Elections has worked closely with the
or for a voter instead of going to the polls to vote. You can Certificate Envelope, because failure to do so may cause County Commission to update their equipment and systems to
request your vote-by-mail ballot for a specific election or for all your ballot not to count. If you make a mistake on the ballot, provide a safe, transparent and efficient voting process. With
elections through the next two general elections by contacting let the SOE office know immediately, so that they can send three options to meet your needs: early voting, vote-by-mail and
the Supervisor of Elections (SOE) by phone (561) 656-6208, you a replacement ballot. Just like voting in person, voters Election Day in-person voting, you can be sure your vote counts.
fax (561) 656-6230, by email at votebymail@pbcelections. can receive up to two replacement ballots prior to casting As always, if there is any way I can assist you, please contact
org, or in person at the SOE’s main office or North County your ballot. me at (561) 355-2201 or by email at hvaleche@pbcgov.org.
branch at 3188 PGA Boulevard in Palm Beach Gardens. If you eventually decide to vote in person at the polls, just Remember, stay safe and be prepared.
Elections staff will confirm the address you have on file with be sure to bring your vote-by-mail ballot with you so that the
their office and what information you must provide to request polling clerk can cancel it. If you forget to bring it with you,
the vote-by-mail ballot for you or someone else. you will have to wait until SOE staff can verify that you did not
The vote-by-mail option allows you to complete your already cast your ballot. If they cannot verify that you have not
Feast Of Little Italy Announced Cancellation

And Plans For 20th Anniversary

of its mission, the feast continues to serve as the signature Italian American heritage. To date, over 600,000 people
event that brings together generations to celebrate marked from across the state of Florida have attended the Feast
contributions by great Italians. Through food, music,
art, and history, over the three-day-festival, we remain Feast Of Little Italy on page 3
steadfast in encouraging
the importance of bringing
together the community,
Jerry Somma, president of Via Production, Inc., and rooted in the importance
festival producer of the Feast of Little Italy announced of family. We continue
the cancellation of the Feast of Little Italy at Abacoa in dedicated to staying
Jupiter for November 2020. mindful of the hardships
The Feast of Little Italy began 19 years ago with a that our ancestors endured
dream and a vision to create an experience rich in Italian in migration to this great
culture to share. With family tradition and values at the core country and proud of our

Jerry Somma, president of Via Productions, Inc./festival producer; Sarah Scheffer, marketing
director of Lynora’s; Ana Barreto and Joe Tufo or Arrigo Alfa Romeo FIAT West Palm Beach