Still Time To Vote; 72.5 Percent Turnout In Pinellas So Far

PINELLAS COUNTY, FL — Election Day is finally here. No more interminable campaign ads, repetitive rhetoric and yard signs flooding every intersection and street corner.

Now you can look forward to new national, state and local representatives that you helped elect.

If you aren't among the record number of Pinellas County voters who cast your ballots by mail or at early-voting sites, here's what you need to know for Election Day, Nov. 3.

This election year, every U.S. congressional seat is up for election along with a number of Florida House and Senate seats.

Pinellas County voters are also asked to vote on six amendments to the Florida Constitution.

Pinellas County Supervisor of Elections Julie Marcus reminds those who still plan to vote Tuesday that all voters must wear masks. If a voter forgets to bring one, the supervisor of elections office has a few available.

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As of 12:30 p.m. Tuesday, 58,884 people had voting on Election Day. Polls close at 7 p.m.

Marcus said she and her staff have been busy tabulating vote-by-mail and early-voting ballots for the past two weeks.

"If you've turned in yours, there's a good chance it has been counted," she said.

So far, 343,290 Pinellas County voters have cast their ballots by mail and 112,201 voted early. Combined with those who have already voted on Election Day, that's a 72.5 percent voter turnout in Pinellas County.

To check the status of your ballot, you can track it here.

For those still intending to cast their ballots on Election Day, Florida law states that you may only vote in the polling place assigned to your current residence address.

If you don't know where your polling place is, check the supervisor of elections precinct finder.

You should bring a Florida driver's license, Florida ID card (issued by DHSMV), U.S. passport, debit or credit card, military ID, student ID, retirement center ID, neighborhood association ID, public assistance ID, veteran health ID issued by the Veterans Administration, concealed weapon license, government employee ID.

If you do not bring an ID, you may vote a provisional ballot.

You may mark and bring your sample ballot to use as a reference.

Vote-by-mail ballots must be in the elections office by 7 p.m. Tuesday, Nov. 3, including ballots returned via USPS. Under Florida law, vote-by-mail ballots cannot be accepted at the polling locations on Election Day. The only drop-off locations on Election Day are the three Pinellas County Supervisor of Elections offices.

Here's what voters will see on the ballot Tuesday:

President and Vice President

• Joseph R. Biden, President and Kamala D. Harris, Vice President - Democrat
• Donald J. Trump, President and Michael R. Pence, Vice President - Republican
• Jo Jorgensen, President and Jeremy F. "Spike" Cohen, Vice President – Libertarian

U.S. Congressional District 12

• Gus Michael Bilirakis, R
• Kimberly Walker, D

U.S. Congressional District 14

• Christine Y. Quinn, R
• Kathy Castor, D

U.S. Congressional District 13

• Anna Paulina Luna, R
• Charlie Crist, D

Pinellas County Sheriff

• Bob Gualtieri, R
• Eliseo Santana, D

Property Appraiser

• Mike Twitty, R
• Trevor L. Mallory, D

Tax collector

• Charles Thomas, R
• Christian Kane Lanier, D
• Dan Dalberg (write-in)

Supervisor of elections

• Julie Marcus, R
• Dan Helm, D

Pinellas County Commission District 1

• Larry Ahern, R
• Janet C. Long, D

Pinellas County Commission District 3

• Tammy Sue Vasquez, R
• Charlie Justice, D

Pinellas County Commission District 7

• Rene Flowers, D
• Maria L. Scruggs, NPA
• Anthony Hart (write-in)

Pinellas County School Board District 1

• Laura Hine
• Stephanie G. Meyer

Pinellas County School Board District 7

• Caprice Johnson Edmond
• Karl Nurse

Voters will also have a say on six proposed amendments to the Florida Constitution:

• Amendment 1: Provides that only U.S. citizens who are at least 18 years old, a permanent resident of Florida and registered to vote may vote in a Florida election.
• Amendment 2: Raises Florida’s minimum wage to $15 per hour by 2026.
• Amendment 3: Allows all registered voters to vote in primaries for state legislature, governor and cabinet regardless of political party affiliation.
• Amendment 4: Requires proposed amendments or revisions to Florida’s constitution be approved in two elections.
• Amendment 5: Increase the period of time accrued Save-Our-Homes benefits may be transferred from a prior homestead to a new homestead from two to three years.
• Amendment 6: Allows a homestead property tax discount to be transferred to the surviving spouse of a deceased veteran.

See related stories:

• 2020 Election Voter Guide: Floridians To Vote On 6 Amendments
• Election 2020: Polls To Have Coronavirus Restrictions In Place
• 2020 Election Voter Guide: Tampa Bay Congressional Races Heat Up
• 2020 Election Voter Guide: Pinellas Early Voting Through Nov. 1
• Tampa Bay Voters Could Turn The Tide In Presidential Election
• Deputies Assigned To Early-Voting Sites To Prevent Intimidation
• 80 Percent Of Floridians Surveyed Worried About Election Outcome
• 2020 Election Voter Guide: Sheriffs Face Challengers
• Donations From Michael Jordan, LeBron James To Help Felons Vote