Raymond James Stadium To Become Early Voting Site

HILLSBOROUGH COUNTY, FL — Hillsborough County Supervisor of Elections Craig Latimer announced a partnership with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers and the Tampa Sports Authority that will allow him to hold early voting for the 2020 General Election at Raymond James Stadium.

With this addition, Hillsborough County voters now have their choice of 26 early voting sites, which will be open Oct. 19 through Nov. 1 from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m.

"I've always said that elections are a community project, and what we're seeing this election is that we have wonderful community support," said Latimer. "This partnership with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers and Tampa Sports Authority is about more than just space. It's about communicating with our citizens that voting is important."

"The Tampa Sports Authority, in conjunction with our partners at the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, is proud to allow anyone in our community who chooses to vote early to do so at Raymond James Stadium," said Eric Hart, president/CEO of the Tampa Sports Authority. "We are pleased to do our part to encourage our community to participate in this election and cast their vote."

"We are thrilled to partner with the supervisor of elections and the Tampa Sports Authority to ensure that every citizen in Hillsborough County has the ability to participate in early voting at Raymond James Stadium," said Tampa Bay Buccaneers Chief Operating Officer Brian Ford. "Increasing voter registration and participation is an essential part of our player-led social justice initiative, and we look forward to playing a vital role in helping our community exercise its right to vote."

The early voting period allows voters who want to vote in person to choose the time and location that is most convenient to them, rather than waiting until Election Day to vote, when, by law, they must vote in the polling place assigned to their precinct.

During the early voting period, voters who choose to vote by mail will be able to drop their ballots off at a curbside drop-off tent at Raymond James Stadium or any of the other early voting sites.

In-person voting is expected to take longer than usual because of necessary coronavirus health and safety precautions, which include limiting the number of people inside each location, setting things up to allow for social distancing and continuous cleaning of equipment and surfaces.

Voters who prefer to vote from home can visit VoteHillsborough.org or call 813-744-5900 to request a vote-by-mail ballot. The office will begin mailing vote-by-mail ballots on Sept. 24.