Press Room

Thank you so much for visting our Press Room.  The goal of this page is to house and maintain the most current information neccessary for the media.  However, we are also hopeful that the members of the general public will find it useful as well.

IMPORTANT NOTICE FOR GENERAL ELECTION RESULTS
 
HOW TO READ ELECTION NIGHT RESULTS

State law now requires supervisors of elections to assign all absentee and early voters to their home precincts for reporting purposes, rather than in separate all-absentee and all-early voter "precincts" as was done in the past. In addition, two separate sets of results are transmitted from the precincts to the central tabulation center on election night: one from the Accu-Vote optical scan machine, and one from the TSX touch screen machine.

The result of these multiple sets of results within each precinct will give a false sense of how many precincts have actually reported, when one of these four sets of results is uploaded into the central computer. For example, if the early, absentee, and touch screen results for precinct A have been posted, but the Accu-Vote machine was not able to transmit properly, the precinct or summary report will indicate that precinct A is in and included in the totals. In fact, the Accu-Vote totals, most likely having the greatest number of votes out of the four sets of results, will not yet be included. When transmission is later successful, or the machine is brought in to have its memory card uploaded directly to the central server, those precinct results will later change, when it might have been wrongly perceived that precinct A’s totals were already in.

To avoid this misunderstanding, we track each precinct’s results by equipment, so that we can tell you that precinct A’s results are still partial and will be complete with the final transmission. When all four categories of results (absentee, early, precinct Accu-Vote, and precinct TSX) are in, we will announce it as complete.

Election night’s unofficial results can not be printed to show this anomaly, however, we will be able to provide reports showing the time each set is received by the central server for those who wish to have that verification. The Statement of Votes Cast (SOVC) will later show each precinct broken down by absentee, early, and in-precinct (ACV and TSX combined), as well as totals in number and percentage.

Public Relations & Media Contact:
Tiffany C. Rivera
Voter Education/PR Coordinator
trivera@co.okaloosa.fl.us
850-689-5600
850-651-7272

Overview of Supervisor of Elections Office:
Click Here for a PDF file for a detailed overview of what the Supervisor of Elections office is responsible for on behalf of the citizens of Okaloosa County.

Meet the Supervisor of Elections:
For more information on Supervisor of Elections Paul Lux, please click here to be taken to our "Meet the Supervisor" webpage.  If you have specific questions for Mr. Lux you may email him at plux@co.okaloosa.fl.us or call him at 850-689-5600 or 850-651-7272.

Election Day & Night Press Arrangements:
As per Florida Law, no media or photography of any kind is allowed inside the polling place during operation (7 a.m. to 7 p.m.).  In addition, the press must observe the solicitation law by keeping away for people in line.

If you are a member of the media and would like press access during the day or if you need access to a "behind the counter" setup on election night you MUST arrange this with the Supervisor of Elections PRIOR TO Election Day.  You may contact Paul Lux by emailing him at plux@co.okaloosa.fl.us or calling 850-689-5600 or 850-651-7272.

Press Releases:
Below you will find a complete listing of press releases for 2006.  For archived releases from 2004 and 2005 please contact Tiffany C. Rivera (Voter Education/PR Coordinator) via email at trivera@co.okaloosa.fl.us or by calling or 850-689-5600 or 850-651-7272.

February 21, 2006:  Touchscreen Machines Used in March Election

April 14, 2006:  Elections Office Aids with Young Reader Awards

July 14, 2006:  Early Voting & Absentee Requests for Primary Election
August 24, 2006:   Elections Office Open for Two Saturdays Prior to Primary Election
January 31, 2008:  2008 FSASE Scholarship Application Available

March 14, 2008: Elections Office Closed March 21 for Staff Training

August 12, 2008: Okaloosa County Supervisor of Elections Pat Hollarn in Serious Condition after Morning Vehicle Collision

August 13, 2008: Election Offices Open on Saturday, August 16 and 23 for Primary Election

August 22, 2008: Early Voting Not Halted by Tropical Storm Faye

August 22, 2008: August 26 Primary Election Approaching

August 29, 2008: NOTICE: Canvassing Board Meeting

Ocotber 13, 2008: Early Voting for General Election

October 24, 2008: Election Offices Open on Saturday for General Election

February 6, 2009: Books Close Feburary 9 for Municipal Election 

March 4, 2009: Notice of Public Testing and Canvasing Board Meeting 

June 12, 2009: Now Accepting Pre-Filing Documents for 2010 County Sheriff Race   

February 8, 2010: Early Voting Available for March 9 Municipal Elections

February 22, 2010: Notice of Special Election for the Office of State House Representatives, District 4

 

Sample Ballots:
For the most current sample ballots please click here to be taken to our "Sample Ballot" webpage.

Speaker's Bureau:
The goal of the Bureau is to provide Okaloosa County citizens with a behind-the-scenes look at the inner workings of elections, our programs and the measures we take to ensure the accuracy and integrity of everything we do.  Any of our programs can accommodate 20 to 60 minutes of time, and are offered at absolutely no charge to community organization.  A few of our titles include: 

•  Election Reform Since 2000 
•  Florida as the Gold Standard in Election Reform
•  Debunking the Myths About Electronic Voting Machines
•  Convenience Voting and Election Turnout
•  The Future:  Internet Voting
•  What HAVA Hath Wrought: What to Expect in the 2006 Elections
•  Preventing Election Fraud: Accountability, Security, & Auditing Procedures
•  Prepared for Pandemonium: Crisis Communication & Planning for Elections
•  Kids Vote, Too:  The Future of Student Voter Education Programs
•  Vote In Honor of a Vet 2006

For more information on our Speaker’s Bureau please contact Tiffany C. Rivera (Voter Education/PR Coordinator) via email at trivera@co.okaloosa.fl.us or by calling or 850-689-5600 or 850-651-7272.

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