Coronavirus Emergency Prompts Pinellas Polling Place Changes

PINELLAS COUNTY, FL — Concerns over the spread of coronavirus has prompted the Pinellas County Supervisor of Elections Office to change some polling sites for Tuesday's presidential preference primary.

• Pinellas County’s precinct 125 will no longer be at the Peterborough Apartments. Instead, voters for that precinct should go to the election office in the county building at 501 1st. Ave. N. (5th Street North entrance), St. Petersburg.
• Pinellas County’s precinct 541 will no longer be at the Palm Harbor United Methodist Church. Instead, voters should go to the Centre of Palm Harbor polling site at 1500 16th St., Palm Harbor.

Additionally, eight polling places have been moved from assisted living facilities, which now have limited access due to the virus. On Election Day, election workers will be stationed at the eight original polling places to give voters directions to the new locations to cast their ballots.

The supervisor of elections is also attempting to contact voters who have not already cast a ballot by mail, phone calls and email.

Graphic courtesy Pinellas County Supervisor of Elections

The revised list of polling places is available on the supervisor of elections website. Polls are open from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m.

The Pinellas County Supervisor of Elections is preparing 796 mail ballot kits for residents of the eight assisted living facilities that are no longer precincts to ensure that they are able to cast their ballots.

What To Bring

Be sure to bring the proper ID when voting at an early voting site or your polling place on Election Day to avoid delays. Without a valid and current ID, you may vote a provisional ballot, which will be presented to the canvassing board to determine eligibility.

The following identification will be accepted at polling places:

• Florida driver's license.
• Florida identification card issued by the Department of Highway Safety and Motor Vehicles.
• United States passport.
• Debit or credit card.
• Military identification.
• Student identification.
• Retirement center identification.
• Neighborhood association identification.
• Public assistance identification.
• Veteran health identification card issued by the United States Department of Veterans Affairs.
• License to carry a concealed weapon for firearm issued pursuant to s. 790.06, F.S.
• Employee identification card issued by any branch, department, agency or entity of the federal government, the state, a county or a municipality.

Early Voting

Early voting for primary and municipal elections ends Sunday. Residents can vote early from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. at the following locations:

• Election Service Center, 13001 Starkey Road, Largo (Starkey Lakes Corporate Center)
• Pinellas County Courthouse, 315 Court St., Room 117, Clearwater (first floor, north side)
• County Building, 501 First Ave. N., St. Petersburg (entrance on 5th Street)

Vote By Mail

Voters with mail ballots may drop off their ballot at any mail ballot return site. The deadline to ensure ballots are received by mail has passed.

Mail ballots must be turned in by 7 p.m. Election Day.

Sanitation Protocols

Each early voting location and election day polling place will have hand sanitizer; sanitizing wipes for hands; and sanitizing wipes counter tops, pens and other surfaces. However, because resources are limited, voters and poll workers are encouraged to bring their own sanitizing materials and take additional precautions they feel necessary to protect themselves from germs.

Who's On The Ballot?

Florida is a closed primary state. Voters must be registered with the Republican Party or Democratic Party to vote in their respective party’s primary for president.

Registered voters living in the county's 12 municipalities also conducting elections –City of Clearwater, City of Gulfport, Town of Kenneth City, City of Madeira Beach, City of Oldsmar, City of Pinellas Park, Town of Redington Shores, City of Safety Harbor, City of South Pasadena, City of St. Pete Beach, City of Tarpon Springs and City of Treasure Island – may vote in their nonpartisan municipal elections.