Except in the county devastated by Charley, voters will be able to cast early ballots.
By MEGAN SCOTT
Published August 16, 2004
Worried you won't have time to vote in the upcoming primaries?
Beginning today, voters can cast early ballots at several polling places in Pinellas, Hillsborough, Pasco, Hernando and Citrus counties. Early voting for the Aug. 31 primary runs every day, except Sundays, through Aug. 30.
In partisan elections, only registered Democrats and Republicans can vote unless the primary determines the final outcome of the race and there is no write-in candidate. Everyone can vote in the nonpartisan school board and judicial races.
"A lot of times, people don't know what their schedules are going to be," said Deborah Clark, supervisor of elections for Pinellas County. "People tell us, "I just wanted to come in and go ahead and vote to make sure that I cast a ballot in this election.' "
Although early voting was scheduled to begin today in all 67 counties, it won't happen in Charlotte County, which was devastated by Hurricane Charley. Election officials planned to hold a statewide conference call today to figure out whether problems exist elsewhere.
Secretary of State Glenda Hood was also planning to assess whether the storm was going to disrupt the Aug. 31 statewide primary for the U.S. Senate and a long list of state and local offices. But the primary was not an immediate concern, Lt. Gov. Toni Jennings said.
"We've got a couple of weeks to worry about the primary," she said. "We've got a little time on that."
Jennings said she took part in a Sunday afternoon conference call with counties' officials, and De Soto and Hardee counties did not mention any problems that would impede the start of early voting today.
"With most of the counties that have been contacted, they've got places that they have designated for early voting," Jennings said. "But Charlotte is way up in the air."
Supervisor of Elections Judy Anderson could not be reached for comment.
But all government and county employees were expected to return to work this morning, said John Grund, a Red Cross volunteer who came from Bradenton.
Early voting was launched two years ago as part of a reform package after the disputed 2000 presidential election.
Early voters can choose between an absentee ballot, which is filled out with a pencil and mailed in, or the usual voting machine methods.
Clark estimated on Sunday that Pinellas had received about 21,000 absentee ballots. Absentee ballots are a practical option for people who are unable to leave their homes or who live elsewhere. Requests for absentee ballots are on the rise this election year, according to election supervisors.
"Early voting makes voting more convenient than it's ever been," said Buddy Johnson, Hillsborough supervisor of elections. "When you couple that with the option to absentee vote, we should have a great turnout."
In Pinellas, early voting is from 8 a.m. to 6 p.m. Monday through Friday and 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. Saturdays.
The hours in Hillsborough are 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. Monday through Friday and 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Saturdays.
"We tried to be consistent with the hours of the library, so we didn't impose on them," Johnson said.
Voters are encouraged to bring a photo and signed identification card to the polling place.
If they have received an absentee ballot, they must carry that with them in order to participate in early voting. All votes are tallied at the end of Election Day.
"I really think the biggest reason people vote early is because they can choose when they vote," Clark said. "People like to have choices, and to work it into their schedule."
- Staff writer Steve Bousquet contributed to this report. Megan Scott can be reached at 445-4167 or mscott@sptimes.com
