Still Time To Vote; 33,000 Cast Ballots Tuesday Morning In Pasco

PASCO COUNTY, FL — There are some big changes taking place in Pasco County Tuesday 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.

The polls opened at 7 a.m. in Pasco County where poll workers reported a rush of people eager to vote before heading to work. Following the initial lines, voter turnout has been relatively low. Pasco County Supervisor of Elections Brian Corley attributes that to the record number of people who voted by mail or voted early.

Just before noon, 33,570 people had voted at their Election Day precincts in Pasco County compared to 114,178 who voted early and 122,411 who voted by mail. That's a 68.72 percent voter turnout for the county, which has 393,422 registered voters.

Corley reminded those planning to head to the polls today that coronavirus protocols remain in place.

"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," he said.

The polls are open until 7 p.m.

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Florida law states that on Election Day you may only vote in the polling place assigned to your current residential 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.

If you are still planning to vote, 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 using 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, which includes all of Pasco County, north Pinellas County and some northern neighborhoods in Hillsborough County. Longtime Florida Rep. Gus Michael Bilirakis (R) will face challenger Kimberly Walker (D).

Challenging Danny for the State Senate District 20 seat, which includes northeast Hillsborough, southeast Pasco and northwest Polk counties, is Kathy Lewis (D).

Runnning for State Representative District 38, which includes most of Pasco County, are Randy Maggard (R) and Brian Staver (D).

Longtime Superintendent of Schools Kurt S. Browning, R, faces opposition from teacher Cynthia Thompson, NPA.

Incumbent District 3 County Commission Kathryn Starkey, 4, will go up against Jessica Sempien (D).

County Commissioner District 5 incumbent Jack Mariano (R) is facing competition from Brandi Geoit (D) and Victor Rodriguez, NPA.

Pasco voters will also have a chance to weigh in on six amendments to the Florida Constitution:
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