As Pasco County voters head to the polls on March 17 for Florida’s Presidential Preference Primary, precautions are being taken to guard against the spread of the coronavirus disease 2019.
“We have been monitoring this situation and have been communicating with the Florida Department of State, as well as the U.S. Department of Homeland Security (DHS) on election day polling place preparation,” Pasco County Supervisor of Elections Brian Corley said, via email.
“We have ordered hand sanitizer and disinfectant wipes for each polling place (our poll workers are also encouraged to bring their own as well).
“In accordance with the Centers for Disease Control (CDC) recommended precautions, those in the polling place will be asked to practice good hygiene (hand washing/covering coughs and sneezes) and if not feeling well, remain home,” Corley adds.
“Also, disinfectant wipes can be used to wipe down surfaces (Electronic Poll Books, privacy booths, secrecy sleeves, doorknobs, etc.),” the supervisor of elections said.
He also noted that his office promoted vote by mail as an option.
Early voting is ongoing in Pasco and Hillsborough counties, and will end on March 14 in Pasco County and March 15 in Hillsborough County.
Vote-by-mail ballots must be received by your county Supervisor of Elections Office by the time polls close 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.
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.
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.
Published March 11, 2020
