Nov. 8 Election Guide For Hillsborough County; Early Voting Underway

HILLSBOROUGH COUNTY, FL — Early voting begins Monday in Hillsborough County and will be available every day from Oct. 24 through Nov. 6 from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m.

This is one of three options available to Hillsborough County's 925,728 voters including 342,684 registered Democrats, 290,400 registered Republicans and 292,644 registered with another party or no party affiliation.

Hillsborough County voters can choose from any of 26 early voting locations to vote. Click here for a list of early voting sites.

This is different from election day when voters must vote in the polling place assigned to their precinct.

Each early voting location will also have a Secure Ballot Intake Station for voters who want to drop off their vote-by-mail ballot in person.

"We are a large county and I want our voters to have plenty of options so I will keep early voting open for the maximum number of days allowed by law, including two full weekends," said Hillsborough County Supervisor of Elections Craig Latimer.

Voters should bring a Florida driver's license or other acceptable photo and signature ID for voter check-in.

If they forget their ID, they can vote a provisional ballot and their eligibility will be verified before the ballot is tabulated.

Before heading out to vote, voters are encouraged to visit VoteHillsborough.gov to find the full list of acceptable IDs, a list of early voting locations, and to see whether there is any wait time at the various locations.

Vote By Mail

Latimer sent more than 6,200 general election ballots to absent military and overseas voters and 316,000 ballots to domestic voters.

Vote-by-mail ballots are only available to registered voters who have requested one. Florida voters have until Oct. 29 to request that a ballot be mailed to them.

"I encourage voters who want to vote by mail to make their request as soon as possible," Latimer said. "And it's so easy. There's an online request form at VoteHillsborough.gov or voters can call my office to make their request."

Voters will need to provide their Florida driver's license, Florida ID or the last four digits of their Social Security number when making the request.

Have A Voting Plan

Registered voters are encouraged to click here to confirm that their information is up to date and to take a look at their sample ballot, so they know what races they will be voting on.

"Now is the time for voters to visit my website and make their voting plan," Latimer said. "Are you going to vote in person or by mail? Will you vote early or on election day? VoteHillsborough.gov is the place to go to review your options."

On Election Day

Election day is Nov. 8 from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m.

Voters who wait until election day must vote in the polling place assigned to their precinct. Click here to find election day precincts.

To avoid delays at the polling place, voters should bring one or two forms of current identification that include their signature and photo. Without proper identification, residents may still vote a provisional ballot, which will later be evaluated by a canvassing board for eligibility.

Any of the following forms of photo identification are acceptable:

• Florida driver's license
• Florida ID card issued by the Department of Highway Safety and Motor Vehicles
• U.S. passport
• Debit or credit card
• Military ID
• Student ID
• Retirement center ID
• Neighborhood association ID
• Public assistance ID
• Veteran health ID issued by the Veterans Administration
• Concealed weapons license
• Government employee ID

If your photo ID does not include your signature, you will be asked to provide another ID that has your signature.

To keep voting lines moving, Latimer advises voters to fill out a sample ballot in advance. Residents can download a sample ballot here.

If you received a vote-by-mail ballot but have decided to vote in person instead, your vote-by-mail ballot will be canceled.

When you arrive at the polls:

1. Check in with your valid and current photo and signature ID.
2. Receive your paper ballot and proceed to a privacy booth.
3. Using the black pen provided, completely fill in the oval next to each of your selections.
4. Review your ballot. If you wish to make changes, request another ballot.
5. If you have any questions, ask a poll worker before you insert the ballot in the scanner. Once a ballot has been accepted, it cannot be retrieved.

If you are satisfied with your selections:

• Take your ballot to the optical scanner in the secrecy folder provided.
• Insert your ballot into the optical scan feeder.
• The scanner will record your votes and place your ballot into the locked ballot box.
• The scanner will alert you if your ballot appears blank or if it detects too many votes.
• You will have the option to either submit the ballot as is or make changes.
• You are not required to vote in every race or for every issue on the ballot; therefore, the scanner will not alert you of instances in which you did not vote.

Who's On The Ballot?

United States Senator

• Marco Rubio-Republican
• Val Demings-Democrat
• Dennis Misigoy- Libertarian Party of Florida
• Steven B. Grant-no party affiliation
• Tuan TQ Nguyen-no party affiliaton

Representative in Congress District 14

• James Judge-Republican
• Kathy Castor-Democrat

Representative in Congress District 15

• Laurel Lee-Republican
• Alan M. Cohn-Democrat

Representative in Congress District 16

• Vern Buchanan-Republican
• Jan Schneider-Democrat

Governor and Lieutenant Governor

• Ron DeSantis and Jeanette Nunez-Republican
• Charlie Crist and Karla Hernandez-Democrat
• Hector Roos and Jerry "Tub" Rorabaugh-Libertarian Party of Florida
• Carmen Jackie Gimenez and Kyle "KC" Gibson-no party affiliation

Attorney General

• Ashley Moody-Republican
• Aramis Ayala-Democrat

Chief Financial Officer

• Jimmy Patronis-Republican
• Adam Hattersley-Democrat

Commissioner of Agriculture

• Wilton Simpson-Republican
• Naomi Esther Blemur-Democrat

State Senator District 14

• Jay Collins-Republican
• Janet Cruz-Democrat

State Senator District 16

• Christina B. Paylan-Republican
• Darryl Ervin Rouson-Democrat

State Senator District 23

• Danny Burgess-Republican
• Mike Harvey-Democrat

State Representative District 62

• Jeremy M. Brown-Republican
• Michele K. Rayner-Democrat

State Representative District 64

• Maura Cruz Lanz-Republican
• Susan L. Valdés-Democrat

State Representative District 65

• Karen Gonzalez Pittman-Republican
• Jen McDonald-Democrat

State Representative District 66

• Traci Koster-Republican
• David Tillery-Democrat

State Representative District 67

• Lisette Bonano-Republican
• Fentrice Driskell-Democrat

State Representative District 68

• Lawrence McClure-Republican
• Lorissa Wright-Democrat

State Representative District 69

• Daniel "Danny" Alvarez-Republican
• Andrew Learned-Democrat

State Representative District 70

• Mike Beltran-Republican
• Eleuterio "Junior" Salazar Jr-Democrat

Board of County Commissioners District 1

• Scott D. Levinson-Republican
• Harry Cohen-Democratic

Board of County Commissioners District 2

• Ken Hagan-Republican
• Angela Birdsong-Democrat

Board of County Commissioners District 5

• Donna Cameron Cepeda-Republican
• Mariella Smith-Democrat

Board of County Commissioners District 7

• Joshua Wostal-Republican
• Kimberly Overman-Democrat

Justices of the Supreme Court

Shall Justice Charles T. Canady of the Supreme Court be retained in office?

• Yes
• No

Shall Justice John D. Couriel of the Supreme Court be retained in office?

• Yes
• No

Shall Justice Jamie Grosshans of the Supreme Court be retained in office?

• Yes
• No

Shall Justice Jorge Labarga of the Supreme Court be retained in office?

• Yes
• No

Shall Justice Ricky Polston of the Supreme Court be retained in office?

• Yes
• No

Second District Court of Appeal

Shall Judge Patricia Joan Kelly of the Second District Court of Appeal be retained in office?

• Yes
• N0

Shall Judge Nelly N. Khouzam of the Second District Court of Appeal be retained in office?

• Yes
• No

Shall Judge Suzanne Y. Labrit of the Second District Court of Appeal be retained in office?

• Yes
• No

Shall Judge Matt Lucas of the Second District Court of Appeal be retained in office?

• Yes
• No

Shall Judge Robert Morris of the Second District Court of Appeal be retained in office?

• Yes
• No

Shall Judge Stevan Travis Northcutt of the Second District Court of Appeal be retained inoffice?

• Yes
• No

Shall Judge John K. Stargel of the Second District Court of Appeal be retained in office?

• Yes
• No

Shall Judge Craig C. Villanti of the Second District Court of Appeal be retained in office?

• Yes
• No

County Court Judge Group 14

• Melissa Black
• Mike Isaak

Soil and Water Conservation District Group 2

• Ryan Gill
• Kim "Klarc" O'Connor

Soil and Water Conservation District Group 3

• David Maynard
• Adam Young

Supervisor, Arbor Greene Community Development District Seat 1

• Mike Candella
• Kevin R. Kerrigan

Supervisor, Arbor Greene Community Development District Seat 2

• Adam Bell
• Matt Dykeman
• Thomson George
• Susan A. Waldman

Supervisor, Cory Lakes Community Development District Seat 5

• Cynthia McIntyre
• Sid Shah

Supervisor, Covington Park Community Development District Seat 2

• Stephen J. Brown
• Teresa Elaine Reidt

Supervisor, Covington Park Community Development District Seat 3

• Ronald Blue
• William C. Gallen

Supervisor, The Hammocks Community Development District Seat 3

• Sandra Dee Hensley-Oram
• Michelle Rodriguez

Supervisor, The Hammocks Community Development District Seat 4

• William Jeff Bryson
• Mike Henke

Supervisor, Harbor Bay Community Development District Seat 1

• Michael Rodriguez
• Ryan Wick

Supervisor, Harbor Bay Community Development District Seat 3

• Horace Robert Lynch Sr
• Dean L. Walters

Supervisor, Heritage Harbor Community Development District Seat 5

• Benjamin L. Delaney
• David Penzer

Supervisor, K-Bar Ranch Community Development District Seat 5

• Frank E. Morales
• Christiane Rinck

Supervisor, Rivercrest Community Development District Seat 2

• Edward Lamp II
• Joseph Allen McGee

Supervisor, South Fork East Community Development District Seat 4

• Karen Gagliardi
• Eric Spann

Supervisor, Tampa Palms OST Community Development District Seat 1

• Rafael Cubas
• Fred Pfister

Supervisor, Tampa Palms OST Community Development District Seat

• Pamela Cubas
• Jay Krause

Supervisor, Waterleaf Community Development District Seat 3

• Robert R. Bishop
• Bob Crespo

Supervisor, Waterleaf Community Development District Seat 5

• Robert S. Bernardo
• James R. Ciciora

Supervisor, Westchase Community Development District Seat 2

• Christopher "Chris" Barrett
• Basil Anthony Piazza

Temple Terrace City Council

• James Chambers
• Alison McGillivray Fernandez
• Robert "Bob" Friedman
• Gil Schisler
• Brandon Smith

No. 1 Constitutional Amendment Article VII, Section 4; Article XII, Section 42

Limitation on the Assessment of Real Property Used for Residential Purposes

Proposing an amendment to the State Constitution, effective January 1, 2023, to authorize the Legislature, by general law, to prohibit the consideration of any change or improvement made to real property used for residential purposes to improve the property's resistance to flood damage in determining the assessed value of such property for ad valorem taxation purposes.

• Yes
• No

No. 2 Constitutional Amendment Article II, Section 5; Article XI, Sections 2 and 5

Abolishing the Constitution Revision Commission Proposing an amendment to the State Constitution to abolish the Constitution Revision Commission, which meets at 20-year intervals and is scheduled to next convene in 2037, as a method of submitting proposed amendments or revisions to the State Constitution to electors of the state for approval. This amendment does not affect the ability to revise or amend the State Constitution through citizen initiative, constitutional convention, the Taxation and Budget Reform Commission, or legislative joint resolution.

• Yes
• No

No. 3 Constitutional Amendment, Article VII, Section 6; Article XII

Additional Homestead Property Tax Exemption for Specified Critical Public Services Workforce Proposing an amendment to the State Constitution to authorize the Legislature, by general law, to grant an additional homestead tax exemption for nonschool levies of up to $50,000 of the assessed value of homestead property owned by classroom teachers, law enforcement officers, correctional officers, firefighters, emergency medical technicians, paramedics, child welfare services professionals, active duty members of the United States Armed Forces, and Florida National Guard members. This amendment shall take effect January 1, 2023

• Yes
• No

Hillsborough County Referendum

Funding for Countywide Transportation Improvements by Levy of One Percent Sales Surtax
Should transportation improvements be funded throughout Hillsborough County, including Tampa, Plant City, Temple Terrace, Brandon, Riverview, Carrollwood and Town ‘n’ Country, including projects that:

• Build and widen roads.
• Fix roads and bridges.
• Expand public transit options.
• Fix potholes.
• Enhance bus services.
• Improve intersections.
• Make walking and biking safer.

By levying a one percent sales surtax for 30 years and funds deposited in an audited trust fund with citizen oversight?

• Yes
• No