Election Day – November 6 – is 51 days away, but there are several important dates before then you should keep in mind.
Today you should check on the status of your voter registration. This helpful website lets you do that wherever you live. I was taken to my official state and county websites where I confirmed that my registration is active and up-to-date. I also confirmed that my County Supervisor of Elections received my vote-by-mail request. Check yours now!
If you have not yet registered or if you need to make changes to what is currently on file (address, name, signature, party affiliation), go now to www.gottavote.com and take care of it.
October 9 is the last day to register to vote in Florida in the upcoming elections, but it varies by state. Check yours here.
October 27 is the first day of early voting in Florida. Early voting locations will be open from 7am to 7pm through Saturday, November 3, including Sunday, October 28.
Where you vote early is not the same as where you vote on Election Day, so be sure you know where to go. The information will be included with the sample ballot you will receive by mail, or check with your local Supervisor of Elections. In Collier County, FL, go to www.colliervotes.comor call (239) 252-8450.
October 31 is the last day registered Florida voters can request a vote-by-mail ballot, and I strongly urge you to do so wherever you live. Florida’s ballot is exceptionally long this year, with 11 constitutional amendments along with the usual federal, state and local races, and the lines at the polling places – both during early voting and on election day – will be long.
Any registered voter can vote by mail in Florida as in most states – no excuses are needed.
You can apply for a vote-by-mail ballot for yourself as well as other members of your family. (Parents – are you listening?)
And even if you’ve requested a vote-by-mail ballot, you can still vote in person if you choose. Just bring your ballot (voted or not) with you to the polls so it can be destroyed. (If you forget it, you’ll have to vote a provisional ballot.)
To request a vote by mail ballot, call your county Supervisor of Elections or visit her website (for Collier click here or call 239-252-8450)
November 3 is the last day of early voting, as noted above.
November 6 is, of course, Election Day. Polls will be open from 7am to 7pm. You must vote at the assigned precinct of your legal residence, which will be noted on your sample ballot as well as your voter identification card.
I encourage you to enter these key days in your calendar and do everything you need to ensure you and your family members have a trouble-free voting experience.
Then spread the word. We all know how much is at stake in this election.
References:
Long Distance Voter: The Absentee Ballot Experts – www.longdistancevoter.org
Collier County Supervisor of Elections – www.colliervotes.com
GottaVote.com – paid for by Obama for America – www.gottavote.com
Florida Division of Elections – information for voters – http://election.dos.state.fl.us/voting/index.shtml