The Laker/Lutz News

Serving Lutz since 1964 and Pasco since 1981.
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Serving Pasco since 1981/Serving Lutz since 1964

Florida Secretary of State

Presidential Preference Primary is coming soon

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Early voting began on March 2 in Hillsborough County and will begin on March 7 in Pasco County in the Presidential Preference Primary.

Voters will go to the polls to express their presidential preference on March 17.

Florida is a closed primary state, which means the only candidates on a voter’s ballot will be those of the same party as the voter’s registration. In other words, only registered Republicans and Democrats will be able to vote in the Presidential Preference Primary.

There are three ways to vote in the primary: By mail, at early voting sites or at polling places on election day. Vote by mail ballots must be received by your county Supervisor of Elections’ office  by 7 p.m., on March 17.

After the Presidential Preference Primary, designated political party delegates from Florida formally nominate the preferred presidential candidate at the respective party’s national convention, according to the Florida Secretary of State’s website.

These national conventions are typically held in July or August. Based on the party rules governing delegate voting procedures, the party decides at the convention which presidential candidate will represent the party on the General Election ballot, the Secretary of State website reports.

For additional information in Pasco County, visit PascoVotes.gov, or call (800) 851-8754.

For additional information in Hillsborough County, visit VoteHillsborough.org, or call (813) 744-5900.

Candidates on the ballot*

Republican candidates on ballot
Roque “Rocky” De La Fuente
Donald J. Trump
Joe Walsh
Bill Weld

Democratic candidates on ballot

  • Michael Bennet
  • Joe Biden
  • Michael R. Bloomberg
  • Cory Booker
  • Pete Buttigieg
  • Julián Castro
  • John Delaney
  • Tulsi Gabbard
  • Amy Klobuchar
  • Deval Patrick
  • Bernie Sanders
  • Joe Sestak
  • Tom Steyer
  • Elizabeth Warren
  • Marianne Williamson
  • Andrew Yang

* The Pasco County Supervisor of Election’s website reports that “if a candidate does not submit a formal withdrawal by Dec. 9, 2019 in accordance with section 103.101(3), Fla. Stat., the candidate’s name must remain on the Presidential Preference Primary (PPP) ballot for his or her respective party. A vote cast for any candidate appearing on the ballot will count as a vote for that candidate.” 

Early voting in Hillsborough County
Early voting in Hillsborough County began March 2 and ends March 15. Hours are 10 a.m. to 6 p.m.

Here are the sites, within or near The Laker/Lutz News coverage area, where ballots can be cast:

  • Austin Davis Public Library, 17808 Wayne Road in Odessa
  • Jimmie B. Keel Regional Public Library, 2902 W. Bearss Ave., in Tampa
  • New Tampa Regional Library, 10001 Cross Creek Blvd., in Tampa
  • Northdale Recreation Center, 15550 Spring Pine Drive, in Tampa

Early voting in Pasco County
Early voting in Pasco County begins March 7 and ends March 14. Hours 10 a.m. to 6 p.m., daily.

Here are the sites, within or near The Laker/Lutz News coverage area, where ballots can be cast:

  • Advent Health Center Ice, 3173 Cypress Ridge Blvd., in Wesley Chapel
  • Alice Community Center, 38116 Fifth Ave., in Zephyrhills
  • East Pasco Government Center, 14236 Sixth St., in Dade City
  • Land O’ Lakes Branch Library, 2818 Collier Parkway in Land O’ Lakes
  • New River Library, 34043 State Road 54 in Wesley Chapel
  • Odessa Community Center, 1627 Chesapeake Drive in Odessa
  • Pasco County Utilities Administration Building, 19420 Central Blvd., in Land O’ Lakes

Published March 4, 2020

Spending approved for bilingual ballots, voting assistance

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The Pasco County Commission has approved a budget amendment for $215,000, relating to  bilingual ballots, election materials and assistance for the 2020 election cycle.

The commission’s action came in response to a request by Pasco County Election Supervisor Brian Corley, who asked for the additional funds to comply with a federal court order and a directive from Gov. Ron DeSantis.

Supervisor of Elections Brian Corley asked for $215,000 in additional funding to meet court and state mandates for bilingual election materials and assistance. (File)

The Pasco County Supervisor of Elections Office and 31 other counties were named as party defendants, along with the Florida Secretary of State, in a federal election lawsuit, Corley told commissioners in a Nov. 5 letter.

The lawsuit was initiated in August 2018 and remains pending, according to Corley’s letter.

“However, on May 10, 2019, the United States District Court Northern District of Florida, Gainesville Division issued a comprehensive order granting a preliminary injunction mandating the Secretary of State and the 32 named counties, including my office, literally provide Spanish language assistance and all election/voting materials to be in both English and Spanish commencing with the 2020 presidential preference primary, which is on March 17, 2020,” Corley’s letter says.

DeSantis also has directed the Secretary of State Laurel M. Lee to amend the state’s rules to “mandate that all counties in Florida provide bilingual election ballots in Spanish and English during the 2020 election cycle,” Corley added.

Corley’s letter also explained that compliance with the District Court ruling and administrative mandates “requires the Supervisor of Elections throughout the state to provide all voter registration information and election materials in both English and Spanish, including language assistance at election offices and polling places, voter materials which must be translated, printed, and purchased, including but not limited to voter registration applications, ballots, voting instructions, Voter’s Guides, polling place directional signs, procedures and information posted at polling places, legal notices, and website information.”

Corley also noted that his office continues to recruit bilingual individuals to work at polling places during the election cycle.

Published November 20, 2019