Check if your Miami-Dade or Broward precinct moved, and other FL primary things to know
The Florida presidential preference primary is here. So is a global pandemic.
After weeks of early and mail voting, polls around the state open at 7 a.m. Tuesday. Hundreds of thousands of Republicans and Democrats are expected to show up and cast their ballots in their parties’ respective primaries — amid a coronavirus outbreak.
President Donald Trump is on the ballot, with only nominal opposition from Joe Walsh, Bill Weld and Roque “Rocky” de la Fuente. There are many Democrats on the ballot, but only Joe Biden, Tulsi Gabbard and Bernie Sanders remain in the running for the party’s nomination.
Concerns about the spread of the disease caused by novel coronavirus infection, COVID-19, have complicated primary day by forcing election supervisors to move dozens of precincts at senior centers and stock their polling places with sanitation supplies. But election officials say they’re ready to welcome voters and adhere to guidelines by the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention to avoid crowds of 50 or more people.
The Florida primary is “closed,” meaning only to members of the presidential candidates’ respective political parties can participate.
Voters have until 7 p.m. to cast their ballots, and will be allowed to vote as long as they are in line by the time polls close. But election officials say they do not expect lines Tuesday given that nearly 2 million voters have already cast ballots at early voting centers or by mail.
Meanwhile, dozens of precincts across the state have been relocated following an order from Gov. Ron DeSantis that election supervisors move polling places away from senior centers and assisted living facilities.
Voting rights advocates have expressed concern that voters may be confused about precinct relocations. Miami-Dade voters will find a notice about moved polling locations here. Broward voters can find that information here.
Voters with mail ballots can deliver them to their election supervisor’s headquarters, where they must be placed in a drop box by 7 p.m. Voters with mail ballots who would prefer to vote at their assigned precinct should bring their mail ballot with them and surrender it to poll workers.
Voters who are ill and concerned about visiting the polls can request a mail ballot Tuesday on an emergency basis and fill out a state form allowing a representative to pick up a mail ballot on their behalf. Anyone can drop the mail ballot off at elections headquarters as long as they are not compensated in return. Florida law limits a person to possession of two mail ballots, not counting ballots addressed to immediate family members.
Voters can check their precincts here.
This story was originally published March 17, 2020 at 5:00 AM.
