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The Presidential race will top the ballot in 2024. The stakes are high as the two major candidates offer radically different visions of American democracy and freedoms. Democrats Kamala Harris and Tim Walz are focused on moving the country forward, building on the accomplishments of the Biden administration: strengthening the economy for the middle class, growing high-wage jobs, mitigating climate change, protecting reproductive rights, expanding healthcare access, and maintaining U.S. leadership internationally. The GOP ticket featuring the former president, now a convicted felon, offers a repeat performance of his prior term - this time with far fewer guardrails and a radically enabling Vice President. The choice is clear: preserve democracy and our freedoms or slide into autocracy.
And while this contest will garner most of the attention, Jacksonville voters will also elect a U.S. Senator, Congress members, state senators and representatives, and members of
soil and water conservation and community development districts. There will also be a run-off for county judge and one school board seat (District 5, west of the St. Johns River). Additionally, voters in Atlantic, Neptune, and Jacksonville Beach will elect local mayors and council members, and decide on local ballot measures for their communities. Voters statewide will also weigh in on six amendments to the state constitution, including provisions guaranteeing access to abortion, and legalizing adult use of marijuana.
Important Voting Information
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General Election:
November 5, 2024
Voter Registration Deadline:
October 7, 2024
Early Voting:
October 21 - November 3, 2024
Deadline to request a Vote-by-Mail ballot:
October 24, 2024
Need Help With Your Vote-by-Mail Ballot?
Click on the icon to watch a step-by-step video from the Duval Supervisor of Elections! Remember, you can return your VBM ballot
to any Early Voting site from October 21 through November 3. If you decide to vote in person, bring your ballot with you and turn it in before you vote.



Want to Make a Difference in 2024? Five Things You Can Do!
1. VOTE!
And make sure your friends and family vote too. Not registered? Unsure about your voting status? The deadline to register to vote in the November 5th Presidential Election is October 7th. Register or check your status at www.duval elections.com.
2. VOLUNTEER!
Roll up your sleeves and help candidates by volunteering through their campaign websites.
3. DONATE!
Candidates need resources to share their message with voters. Progressive candidates were massively out-spent in the primary election and need your financial support.
4. HELP GOTV!
BAM is supporting Get Out the Vote activities organized by partner organizations, including the Northside Coalition and Florida Rising. Contact us to help with text banking & canvassing in low turn-out communities.
5. STAY INFORMED!
Check the BAM Action Alert for the latest information on candidate forums, endorsements, and other activities. Not on the mailing list? Sign up here.
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President & Vice-President
"Kamala Harris, for the people. . ."
Since rising to the top of the Democratic ticket in July, Kamala Harris has clearly defined what's at stake in the 2024 Presidential Race. Simply put, Donald Trump is not fit to be president. He incited an insurrection at the Capitol on January 6, 2021, tried to delegitimize election results, and attacked democratic principles and institutions. He has been convicted of fraud and sexual assault. His campaign seeks to divide the country.
Harris's policies and priorities stand in sharp contrast to the GOP's MAGA agenda outlined in Project 2025. Most importantly, she and Vice-Presidential candidate Tim Walz have articulated a positive vision of the country and its future, counter to their opponents' dystopian views. Harris and the GOP standard-bearer differ markedly on almost every issue from housing to climate change, education, health care, and reproductive rights. If you are ready to build on the progress of the last four years, protect our freedoms, and opt for unity over divisiveness, there is only one choice for President and Vice-President: Harris and Walz.

U. S. Senate
Former Congress member Debbie Mucarsel-Powell is seeking to unseat incumbent GOP Senator Rick Scott in a race that could impact control of the U.S. Senate. A millionaire and former healthcare

executive accused of Medicare fraud, Scott has been described as one of the state's most unpopular politicians. His "11-Point Plan to Rescue America," which outlined the GOP's vision for
2022 running the country after the midterms, was roundly denounced by members of both parties. The plan was widely interpreted as removing budget protections for Medicare and Social Security, among other programs. Scott has announced his ambition to replace Mitch McConnell as Senate President should the GOP regain control of the chamber. Scott has a 91% rating on the conservative Heritage Action scorecard. The group gave Mucarsel-Powell a 0% rating during her prior congressional term.
Mucarsel-Powell, who has garnered the endorsements of prominent Democrats and progressive organizations across the state, prioritizes the protection of reproductive rights and access to healthcare in her campaign.
U. S. House District 5
After weathering a primary challenge from the far-right, incumbent Congressman John Rutherford will face DEM candidate Jay McGovern and write-in candidate Gary Koniz in the November General Election.
Rutherford is a reliable vote for the GOP most of the time - the conservative Heritage Action group rated him 57% on their most recent scorecard - but unlike Aaron Bean his counterpart in District 4 - he is not part of the extremist

wing, and voted with Democrats to support the House Speaker on some key votes. McGovern, an engineer, and U.S. Naval Academy graduate, is running on a platform of unity and pledges to work across party lines to forge solutions to the problems faced by working Americans. McGovern is part of efforts by the Florida Democratic Party to challenge every Congressional seat up for election in 2024.


Florida House District 16
Political newcomer Rachel Grage faces incumbent state Rep. Kiyan Michael who is seeking her second term representing House District 16 in November.
A member of the national advisory Board of Black Voices for Trump, Michael won her first term with the backing of FL Gov. Ron DeSantis and is a reliable water carrier for GOP leadership. Michael earned an F on the 2024 People First Legislative Report Card, and supported the eight worst bills passed during the session.
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Grage has pledged to move beyond divisive culture wars and focus on issues prioritized by residents at the Beach: property insurance, public education and school funding, health care, reproductive rights, and climate change. We applaud her positions and stand with Rachel in the District 16 race.

Michael's support of legislative efforts to shift public funding for education to private schools is a particular concern. The Beaches recently faced school closures due to declining enrollment and funding shortfalls, due in part to these laws.
Duval County Soil & Water Conservation District
Organized in 1953, the Duval County Soil & Water Conservation District to plan and implement programs, projects, and practices that promote the conservation of the natural resources in the county. The district is administered by five non-salaried, non-partisan, locally elected, public officials who serve as the Board of Supervisors.
Two candidates, Douglas Daze and Lisa Ellen Dimberger are seeking election to the Group 2 seat in November.
County Court Judge, Group 9
Top vote-getters in the August primary, Matthew Lufrano and Shayla Lee face off in November for county court judge. Both bring defense experience to the position. Lufrano is a Board-certified defense attorney in private practice while Lee is an attorney with the 4th Circuit Public Defender’s Office. County judges hear criminal misdemeanors, which have possible sentences of up to a year in jail, and civil cases. They assign bail and can decide whether someone is held in jail pretrial.


Retention of
Supreme Court Justices
Two Florida Supreme Court Justices --- Renetha Francis and Meredith Sasso --- are up for retention vote in 2024. Both were appointed by Gov. Ron DeSantis. Voters can weigh in on whether these justices should remain in office for another six-year term. Both judges voted to block the citizen-proposed abortion amendment from being placed on the ballot. If that doesn't sound like justice to you, your vote against retention can send a message.
Retention of Judges,
5th District Court of Appeals
Seven judges serving on the 5th District Court of Appeals face a retention vote in the November election. All of these judges are DeSantis appointees. Like Supreme Court justices, in merit retention, these judges do not run against other candidates. Voters simply decide if the judge should remain in their role based on their performance. Click here to learn more about these judges.
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Joe Boatright
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Eric Eisnaugle
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Harvey Jay
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Paige Kilbane
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John MacIver
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Jordan Pratt
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Adrian Soud
Find out more about judicial merit retention and the impact of your yes or no vote in this voter's guide from the Florida Bar.

Constitutional Amendments
Six amendments to the state constitution are on the ballot in 2024. The two starred below are citizen-initiated measures which received more than 1 million signatures each to reach the ballot. The four remaining amendments were submitted by the FL Legislature. Amendments must garner at least 60% of the vote to be adopted. The Florida League of Women Voters & Ballotopedia provide detailed information on each proposed amendment, including what a "yes" or "no" vote means.
In line with BAM's longstanding support for women's healthcare and strong public schools, we strongly recommend voting Yes on 4 to eliminate Florida's extreme abortion ban, and No on 1 to avoid further politicizing local school board elections. As always, vote your personal values. For more insights and background on all these measures, review the endorsements of like-minded organizations.

Reverses an earlier constitutional amendment and changes school board elections from nonpartisan to partisan beginning in 2026.
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Establishes a state constitutional right to hunt & fish.
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Legalizes recreational marijuana for adults 21 years old and older.
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Provides a state constitutional right to abortion before fetal viability.
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Provides for an annual inflation adjustment to the homestead property tax exemption.
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Repeals a constitutional amendment providing for public financing for statewide candidates who agree to spending limits.