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
