The 2020 General Election is on November 3, but vote-by-mail ballots and early voting are well underway with hundreds of thousands of ballots already cast. I urge you to exercise your right to vote and make your voice heard this election. The decisions you make on your ballot help determine who will represent us in government, what policies will affect our families, our jobs, our education, and how government funding is spent. In this newsletter, I provide information and resources to help you participate in the 2020 General Election safely and securely. If you plan to vote by mail, with less than one week until November 3 and to ensure your ballot is counted, the best way to submit your mail-in-ballot is at secure ballot boxes outside early voting locations. Check with your local Supervisor of Elections to determine which locations offer this option. If you plan to vote early, the last day for early voting is this Saturday, October 31. Find more information about Early Voting locations and hours in your county below. If you plan to vote on Election Day, November 3, check out the resources below to make sure you are prepared and have the proper identification and registration. Please prioritize your health this Election Day. Take the necessary precautions to protect you and others around you. Help prevent the spread of COVID-19 and other infectious diseases by wearing face masks, washing hands and practicing social distancing. Voter Resources by County In each county, the Supervisor of Elections is responsible for providing locations, hours and instructions to cast your vote. Find your county below and click on the links to access resources on early voting and voting by mail. Collier County Hendry County Lee County How to Prepare for Election Day On Election Day, the polls are open from 7:00 a.m. to 7:00 p.m. Registered voters are required to vote at the assigned precinct of their legal residence. Take these steps in advance to prepare for Election Day:
How to Find Your Precinct and Polling Station Use your home address to find out what precinct you live in. Then, use your precinct number to determine where you can vote on Election Day. Here are links to each county's precinct finder and polling station lists. Collier County: Hendry County: Lee County: Where to Vote Early Early voting is available in Collier, Hendry and Lee counties now through October 31. Collier County: Collier County early voting sites are open from 9:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m. Check wait times at Collier County early voting sites here. Hendry County: Hendry County early voting sites are open from 7:00 a.m. to 7:00 p.m. on weekdays and 9:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. on weekends. Lee County: Lee County early voting sites are open from 10:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m.
The Lee County Supervisor of Elections is also offering updates on early voting wait times here. How to Drop Off Your Vote-by-Mail Ballot Today If you have a vote-by-mail ballot that you have not yet turned in, you can still turn it in. The Supervisor of Elections must receive your ballot by 7:00 p.m. on Election Day. To avoid mail delays, you can drop it off at your county's designated locations. For local county v0te-by-mail drop locations, please visit the links below. How to Track Your Ballot Status Have you already mailed in your ballot and you want to make sure it was counted? You can check your Vote-By-Mail ballot status by visiting your county Supervisor of Elections website. Enter your first name, last name and date of birth. It will tell you if your ballot has been verified and counted. Problem? Cast a Provisional Ballot If you do not bring the proper identification or the address on your registration does not match your identification, you still have a right to vote and can cast a provisional ballot. When you vote provisionally, you will be given a written notice of rights. You have up until 5:00 p.m. on the second day after the election to present further evidence of your eligibility. If you voted a provisional ballot solely because you did not have an acceptable photo and signature identification, you do not need to provide further evidence of your eligibility in order for your ballot to count, provided you are otherwise eligible. The local canvassing board will compare your signature on the provisional ballot certificate with the signature in your voter registration record. If the signatures match, your provisional ballot will be counted, provided you are otherwise eligible. How to Report Election Fraud If you witness fraud involving voter registration or voting, report it to the Florida Department of State by calling the Voter Fraud Hotline or submit a complaint.
Provide the date, time, place, and as much specific information and credible evidence as possible. The Department of State can conduct preliminary investigations and will report its findings to the Office of Statewide Prosecution or to a State Attorney. I hope that this information serves as a useful resource for you as we are days away from the 2020 General Election. I ask that you continue to take care of yourself and your family as we work to protect our communities from COVID-19. Please do not hesitate to contact me if I can ever be of assistance. Sincerely, Kathleen C. Passidomo Senate Majority Leader Naples Office: 3299 East Tamiami Trail LaBelle Office: 25 East Hickpochee Avenue Tallahassee Office: 330 Senate Office Building Not paid for at taxpayer expense. |