Votes Will Not Count in District 64 Primary Race

Pinellas and Hillsborough county voters itching to cast their ballots in the State House District 64 race will have to wait a bit longer. A Leon County Circuit Court judge decided Thursday that votes in the Aug. 26 primary won’t count.

Instead, the race will appear on the Nov. 4 General Election ballot as a Universal Primary with the candidate receiving the most votes winning the office, an email to media from the Hillsborough County Supervisor of Elections Office said.

The change in voting plans came about after a judge disqualified write-in candidate Daniel John Matthews, the elections office said. That leaves only incumbent James Grant and Miriam Steinberg, both Republicans, in the race.

District 64 covers portions of Hillsborough and Pinellas counties, including the East Lake, Westchase, Carrollwood, Lutz, Palm Harbor and Clearwater area.

“The Florida Constitution requires a Universal Primary Contest that is open to all registered voters when all candidates in a race are affiliated with the same political party,” the elections office advised.

While the race will appear on Primary ballots since they’ve already been printed, voters should be aware they will not count.

For more information about the race and upcoming elections, visit Pinellas County’s elections office at votepinellas.com or Hillsborough’s at votehillsborough.org.

,-.{Q_!?