Pasco Voters Head To Polls To Pick National, Local Leaders

PASCO COUNTY, FL — There are some big changes taking place in Pasco County on Nov. 3 beyond electing the country's leader.

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

Pasco County voters will also be asked to vote on six amendments to the Florida Constitution, a state senator, a state representative, the superintendent of schools and county commissioners.

It's little wonder that Pasco County Supervisor of Elections Brian Corley urged residents to either vote by mail or vote early.

The polls will be open on Election Day from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m.

"Early voters should expect longer lines and wait times as a result of higher voter turnout, and as a result of CDC-recommended measures for the health and safety of voters and poll workers such as social distancing, limiting the number of voters inside the early voting site and continuous cleaning of equipment and surfaces," said Corley. "The use of masks is strongly encouraged in keeping with the county mask requirement directive, and as a courtesy to the early voting poll workers."

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Florida law states that on Election Day 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. There are 111 precincts in Pasco County.

On Election Day, 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 or 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 Pasco County Supervisor of Elections offices.

In addition to choosing the president, Pasco County voters will be asked to vote for:

U.S. Congressional District 12 (includes all of Pasco County, north Pinellas County and some northern neighborhoods in Hillsborough County)

Gus Michael Biliraks, R

Kimberly Walker, D

State Senate District 20 (includes northeast Hillsborough, southeast Pasco and northwest Polk counties)

Danny Burgess, R

Kathy Lewis, D

State Representative District 38 (includes most of Pasco County)

Randy Maggard, R

Brian Staver, D

Superintendent of Schools

Kurt S. Browning, R

Cynthia Thompson, NPA

County Commissioner District 3

Kathryn Starkey, R

Jessica Sempien, D

County Commissioner District 5

Jack Mariano, R

Brandi Geoit, D

Victor Rodriguez, NPA

Constitutional Amendments

• 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: Pasco Early Voting Through Oct. 31
  
• More than 130,000 Vote-By-Mail Ballots To Be Distributed In Pasco
• 2020 Election Voter Guide: Tampa Bay Congressional Races Heat Up
• Voter Threats, Intimidation, Coercion Won't Be Tolerated In Pasco