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Early voting: When and where you can vote early in Tampa Bay counties

TAMPA, Fla. (WFLA) — Election Day is still a few weeks away but voting is already underway in Florida and is expected to ramp up even more after early voting began Monday.

Florida’s Department of State requires counties to open early voting from at least Saturday, Oct. 24 through Saturday, Oct. 31 this year. But most counties in the Tampa Bay area decided to offer more days of early voting to give voters more opportunity to make their voices heard.

If you’re voting early and in person, make sure to bring a valid photo identification and a signature identification to your early voting site. Voters are allowed to vote at any early voting site that’s open within your county – it doesn’t have to be your specific precinct or regular poll location.

Here’s when early voting starts and where it takes place in each Tampa Bay area county:

Citrus County

Early voting in Citrus County starts Oct. 19 and ends Oct. 31. The county has four early voting locations set up. All four will be open every day from 8 a.m. to 6 p.m.

Central Ridge Library

Supervisor of Elections Office

Homosassa Public Library

Inverness City Hall

Citrus County Supervisor of Elections Susan Gill says if people want to avoid lines at early voting, there are times to go cast your ballot that are usually quieter than others.

“For voters wanting to avoid lines, we offer a few hints to make your voting experience easier. The first day of early voting, which this election is Monday, Oct. 19, is traditionally the busiest day. The slowest times are from 3 p.m. – 6 p.m. daily. Sunday, Oct. 25 will be the slowest day,” Gill said. “Above all, we ask voters to be patient, respectful and courteous to fellow voters and election workers.”

Hardee County

Early voting in Hardee County starts Thursday, Oct. 22 and runs through Saturday, Oct. 31.

The county has one early voting location set up from 8:30 a.m. to 5 p.m. every day.

Hardee County Public Library Meeting Room

Hernando County

Early voting begins on Monday, Oct. 19 in Hernando County and wraps up on Oct. 31.

The county has five early voting locations set up that will be open from 8 a.m. to 6 p.m. daily.

Forest Oaks Supervisor of Elections Office

Spring Hill Branch Library

South Brooksville Community Center

East Hernando Branch Library

Hernando County Utilities Department

Hernando County Supervisor of Elections Shirley Anderson says if voters want to avoid lines, they can check the status and wait times of the five sites online.

“Avoid peak times – first thing in the morning and at lunch. Voters also need to remember we are open on Saturdays and Sundays,” Anderson said. “We are encouraging people to bring their pre-marked sample ballot to help save time once inside the polling room. Voters also need to make sure their information is up to date prior to entering polling room.”

Highlands County

Early voting in Highlands County runs from Thursday, Oct. 22 through Saturday, Oct. 31.

There will be three early voting locations set up throughout the county where voters can cast their ballots between 8:30 a.m. and 4:30 p.m. daily.

Kenilworth Operations Center

Avon Park City Hall Council Chambers

Lake Placid Town Government Center

“This is your chance to get it done early and avoid possible lines at the polling places, especially at the larger precincts,” Highlands County Supervisor of Elections Penny Ogg said on her website.

Hillsborough County

Early voting in Hillsborough County takes place from Monday, Oct. 19 to Sunday, Nov. 1.

The county has 26 locations that are open from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. daily for voters to come and cast their ballots.

Amalie Arena

Apollo Beach Recreation Center

Austin Davis Public Library

Bloomingdale Regional Public Library

Bruton Memorial Library

C. Blythe Andrews, Jr. Public Library

Fred B. Karl County Center

Jan Kaminis Platt Regional Library

Jimmie B. Keel Regional Library

Maureen B. Gauzza Public Library

New Tampa Regional Library

North Tampa Branch Library

Northdale Recreation Center

Northwest Regional Office

Port Tampa Community Center

Providence West Community Center

Raymond James Stadium: Voting Entrance on Himes

Riverview Branch Library

Robert L. Gilder Elections Service Center

SouthShore Regional Library

Southeast Regional Office

Temple Terrace Public Library

Town N Country Regional Public Library

USF TECO Hall (Anchin Center)

University Area Community Center

West Tampa Branch Library

Voters in Hillsborough County can check online to see what the wait times are for each early voting site.

“We are a large county and I want our voters to have plenty of options, so I’ve added extra sites and we will be open the maximum number of days and hours allowed by law,” Hillsborough County Supervisor of Elections Craig Latimer said in a statement. “In these uncertain times, I encourage voters to vote early if you can. If you get sick, or someone you care for gets sick, you may not be able
to vote on Election Day.”

Latimer told 8 On Your Side there could be lines at the polls on Monday because the county usually sees a lot of enthusiasm and this year they have to follow CDC guidelines due to the coronavirus pandemic.

“I want to remind voters that we have 14 days of Early Voting in our county, so if they go Tuesday or Wednesday, it’s likely to be less busy than on Monday,” he said.

Manatee County

Early voting begins Monday, Oct. 19 in Manatee County and wraps up on Sunday, Nov. 1.

There are six locations throughout the county where voters can go to take part in early voting. The polling locations will be open from 8:30 a.m. to 6:30 p.m. daily.

FL Dept. of Transportation Office

Lakewood Ranch Town Hall

Manatee County Utilities Admin Office

Palmetto Library

Rocky Bluff Library

Supervisor of Elections Office

Manatee County Supervisor of Elections Michael Bennett told 8 On Your Side he hopes voters take advantage of the 14 days of early voting in Manatee. He expects somewhere between 65 to 75% of voters will have already voted by the time Election Day arrives.

Pasco County

Early voting in Pasco County is scheduled to take place from Monday, Oct. 19 to Saturday, Oct. 31.

The county has more than a dozen early voting locations that will be open from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. daily.

East Pasco Government Center

Alice Hall Community Center

New River Library

Advent Health Center Ice

Land O’ Lakes Recreation Complex

Pasco County Utilities Admin Building

Odessa Community Center

West Pasco Government Center

Regency Park Library

South Holiday Library

Hudson Library

Wiregrass Ranch Sports Campus

Veterans Memorial Park

J. Ben Harrill Recreation Complex

Pasco County Supervisor of Elections Brian Corley told 8 On Your Side his office anticipates lines, saying it’s inevitable. But he hopes voters take advantage of the different options they have for casting ballots.

Pinellas County

Early voting begins Monday, Oct. 19 and ends Sunday, Nov. 1 in Pinellas County.

There are five early voting locations that will be open daily form 7 a.m. to 7 p.m.

Supervisor of Elections Office: County Courthouse

Supervisor of Elections Office: Election Service Center

Supervisor of Elections Office: County Building

The Centre of Palm Harbor

SPC Allstate Center

Polk County

Early voting in Polk County will take place from Oct. 19 through Nov. 1.

The county has nine early voting locations set up that will be open from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. daily.

Polk Street Community Center

Polk County Sheriff’s NE District Office

Haines City Library

Polk County Government Center

Simpson Park Community Center

James P. Austin Community Center

Mulberry Civic Center

Poinciana Community Center

Gill Jones NE Polk County Government Center

“Early voting is expected to draw a record number of voters this year, so there may be some lines at times,” Polk County Supervisor of Election Lori Edwards told 8 On Your Side. “I don’t expect anyone to have to wait multiple hours as has been reported in other states.”

Edwards pointed out there are more Election Day precincts than there are early voting locations.

“As a result, lines are almost always shorter at Election Day polling location,” she said. “So here’s my tip for voters: If you want to vote in person, and your schedule permits, vote at your Election Day polling location between 9 a.m. and 3 p.m. That’s usually the least busy time to vote.”

Sarasota

Early voting begins Monday, Oct. 19 in Sarasota County and ends Sunday, Nov. 1.

There are eight early voting locations set up throughout the county that are open from 8:30 a.m. to 6:30 p.m. every day of early voting.

Supervisor of Elections Office: Terrace Building

Supervisor of Elections Office: RL Anderson Building

Supervisor of Elections Office: Biscayne Plaza

Sarasota Square Mall

North Sarasota Library

Fruitville Library

Shannon Staub Library

Bee Ridge Park

Sarasota County Supervisor of Elections Ron Turner released a statement Thursday encouraging voters to take advantage of early voting if they want to vote in-person.

“Due to a multi-page ballot, expected high voter turnout and the need for social distancing and sanitizing procedures at polling places, we could see longer wait times and possible lines on Election Day,” Turner said. “So I am asking voters to help us to minimize election day stress for themselves and elections officials by choosing to vote early, whenever possible.”

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