News and Public Media for North Central Florida
Play Live Radio
Next Up:
0:00
0:00
0:00 0:00
Available On Air Stations

Law may limit days for early voting

Pam Carpenter discusses early voting

Planning on voting early? A state law may reduce the window of time for Florida residents to cast early ballots.

The law, which will cut early voting days from 14 to 8, is currently being challenged in court. A federal judge listened to arguments Wednesday in a lawsuit filed by Congresswoman Corrine Brown (D-Fla.). Alachua County Supervisor of Elections Pam Carpenter explains the changes and how it will affect voters if the law stands.

Carpenter said that regardless of the cutback in days, voters in Alachua County will still have the same amount of hours to vote.

The law sparked controversy due to a clause that was thought to have eliminated voting on the Sunday prior to Election Day, but Carpenter assures that wouldn't be the case.

Despite the cutback, Carpenter says the new extended hours will give early voters more opportunities during the day to go out and vote.

Carpenter adds she expects to see a big turnout during early voting, and those planning on going should prepare accordingly.

George Pappas edited this story online.

April is a reporter for WUFT News and can be contacted by calling 352-392-6397 or emailing news@wuft.org.