The Alachua County Supervisor of Elections is tweaking the dates for early voting for the August primary.
Kim Barton changed early voting to begin Monday, Aug. 3, and run through Saturday, Aug. 15.
Director of Communications and Outreach T.J. Pyche said part of the thought process in adding several days to what had been planned was due to COVID-19. He said by having more days for early voting it may lead to fewer people being at the polling place at any given time. That might help with keeping polling places cleaned and being able to maintain social distancing.
Pyche said all poll workers will be wearing personal protective gear. The voting areas will be thoroughly cleaned throughout the voting day, and anything a voter touches will be cleaned afterward. Facemasks will be recommended for those who come to vote. Anyone without one will be provided one if they so wish, but a voter will NOT be prohibited from entering the polling place simply because they are not wearing a face covering.
If you want to avoid having to go to a polling place to vote, you can request a vote by mail ballot, either online or by calling the Supervisor of Elections Office at 352-374-5252. And once you do cast a ballot by mail, you can follow its progress online. Pyche said to remember that the ballot envelope must be signed.
Polling places for the August early voting will be:
- Alachua County Supervisor of Elections Office, 515 North Main Street, Gainesville
- Tower Road Branch Library, 3020 SW 75th Street, Gainesville
- Millhopper Branch Library, 3145 NW 43rd Street, Gainesville
- Legacy Park Multipurpose Center, 15400 Peggy Road, Alachua
- Orange Heights Baptist Church, 16700 NE State Road 26, Hawthorne
- Wayne Reitz Union, University of Florida Campus, Gainesville
Since Florida is a closed primary state, you have to be registered in the party for the candidates for which you are voting, unless they are a non-partisan or NPA candidate. In those races, you can vote no matter your party of registration.
The deadline to register to vote or change your party affiliation for the August primary is July 20.