Florida Primary Is Tuesday But You Can Still Turn In Your Vote-By-Mail Ballot
MIAMI (CBSMiami) – If you haven't voted early or voted-by-mail, then you'll want to go to the polls in person Tuesday, August 18 to cast your ballot for the Florida primary election. However, there is still time to turn in your Vote-By-Mail ballot.
Miami-Dade Christina White said between early voting and votes by mail, they're already beyond voter turnout for previous elections.
"For us to already have a 20 percent voter turnout, that shows there are voters that may not have typically voted in a primary election in the past that have come out. I think it just shows people are enthusiastic and want to take part, and that's great for us," he said.
In Broward, they're also hard at work canvassing ballots and preparing for Tuesday.
"I am anticipating in-person turnout will be lower than usual, but I am expecting the turnout overall to be a little bit higher than usual, primarily attributable to the local elections, which are hotly contested," said Broward's Supervisor of Elections Peter Antonacci.
Of course, in this pandemic, safety is a top priority for poll workers and voters.
"Our poll workers have been provided with wear face masks, face shields, and gloves. They will be wiping down all the common touchpoints throughout the day. It's important that our voters know a mask is required to enter the polling locations," said White.
"You're met with poll workers who are masked and gloved, and you have janitors that clean up behind you when you get done voting. You don't have to touch anything. You can just hold up your driver's license and it will be scanned by a scanning guard. So a completely different experience," said Antonacci.
Precincts across South Florida will be open Tuesday morning at 7 a.m. awaiting voters.
- Click here to find your polling place in Miami-Dade.
- Click here to find your polling place in Broward.
- Click here to find your polling place in Monroe.
Polls will be open from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m.
Voters must go to their assigned voting location plus bring a valid and current identification that contains a photo and their signature.
Voters that still need to return their Vote-by-Mail ballot can still do so in one of the following ways:
MIAMI-DADE:
- In Person, through Election Day, from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m., a voter may drop off their vote-by-mail ballot at:
- Miami-Dade Elections Department, 2700 NW 87th Avenue, Miami, FL 33172
- Stephen P. Clark Center Voter Information Center, 111 NW 1st Street, Miami, FL 33128
- Four designated locations on Election Day – A voter may drop off their vote-by-mail ballot into a secure drop box from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. on Election Day at:
- Miami-Dade Elections Department, 2700 NW 87th Avenue, Miami, FL 33172
- Stephen P. Clark Center, 111 NW 1st Street, Outside East Entrance, Miami, FL 33128
- North Dade Regional Library, 2455 NW 183rd Street, Miami Gardens FL 33056
- South Dade Regional Library, 10750 SW 211th Street, Cutler Bay, FL 33189
BROWARD:
There are two secure 24-hour drop boxes accepting ballots until 7:00 p.m. Tuesday
- Voting Equipment Center at the Lauderhill Mall (Rear Entrance) 1501 N.W. 40th Ave. Lauderhill
- Broward County Administration Building 115 South Andrews Ave. (Brickell Avenue Entrance) Fort Lauderdale
To ensure the health and safety of voters and poll workers during in-person voting, amid the coronavirus pandmic, all poll workers are going to be wearing masks, face shields, and disposable gloves. All common touchpoints will be regularly wiped down with disinfectant. Hand sanitizer will be available to all voters when arriving and leaving voting locations. Social distancing protocols will also be in effect.
