Presidential Preference Primary 2016: Deadline Approaching

BRANDON, FL — Tampa Bay area residents who want to have a say on who will earn their parties’ nominations for president in 2016 only have a few weeks left to register to vote or change their party affiliations.

The deadline to register to vote or change party affiliation in Florida is set for Tuesday, Feb. 16. All new voter registrations must be in the hands of a voter registration agency or be postmarked by that date, Craig Latimer, Hillsborough County’s supervisor of elections, said.

Since Florida has closed primaries, Republicans can only vote for Republican presidential nominees in the March 15 Presidential Preference Primary and Democrats may only vote for those on their ticket.

“According to state law, those registered with any other party and those who are not affiliated with a party
are not eligible to vote in the Presidential Preference Primary Election,” Latimer’s office reminded.

As for voters who wish to change their party affiliation to vote in a particular primary, the deadline is also Feb. 16. To change parties, voters must submit an updated registration application or a written notice that includes their name and signature along with their date of birth or Florida Voter Registration number.

In Hillsborough County, applications are available at all supervisor of elections offices, public libraries, state public assistance agencies and tax collector’s offices.

To find out more, visit the Hillsborough County Supervisor of Elections Office online.

Information for registering in other Tampa Bay area counties can be found on the local supervisors of elections office websites as follows:

• Pinellas County
• Pasco County
• Sarasota County
• Manatee County

The 2016 Florida Election Day dates are:

• Presidential Preference Primary, March 15
• Primary Election, Aug. 30
• General Election, Nov. 8

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