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Supervisor of Elections Caroline F. Fawkes is reminding the public that nomination petitions and papers for the 2020 elections are available pick-up at the St. Croix, St. Thomas and St. John election offices from 9 a.m. to 12 p.m. on Friday, April 24th. As updates on the COVID-19 crisis become available, the distribution schedule will be adjusted and new distribution dates will be announced, said the supervisor.
Ms. Fawkes added that Election System offices remain closed to the public, so individuals must contact the office staff prior to and at the time of arrival. Office staff will ask a few questions to determine which nomination petition and papers to distribute. The contact number for the St. Croix office is 340-773-1021; the St. Thomas office number of 340-774-3107; and St. John can be reached at 340-776-6535. Other elections information can be found at www.vivote.gov.
The COVID-19 crisis is causing voting changes all around. The Board of Elections voted to ask territory lawmakers to temporarily change the common filing date so that candidates affiliated with a political party would submit their petitions on May 12 and non-party candidates would submit filings at a later date.
Board members said the separating the filing dates would help prevent large numbers of people out in the community circulating petitions just as public health officials advocate social distancing.
Voting in favor of sending the request to the Legislature were board members Shikima Jones, Epiphane Joseph, Harriet Mercer, Lisa Harris-Moorhead, Barbara Jackson-McIntosh, Atanya Springette, Alecia Wells and Raymond Williams.
