In-person absentee ballots extend early voting options into Monday for Bay area

TAMPA - "Early voting" may have officially ended on Saturday, but if you still haven’t taken the opportunity to vote early in Pinellas, Pasco, Hernando or Hillsborough counties, you still have time.

Early voting has been extended through Monday by way of "over the counter voting", also known as in person absentee voting, according to the Supervisor of Elections for these counties.

The in person absentee ballot option doesn’t fall under the umbrella of early voting, because Gov. Rick Scott rejected adding more official early voting hours beyond Saturday, Nov. 3.

The Florida Democratic Party filed a lawsuit to extend early hours because of Scott's refusal to follow precedent and extend hours during unprecedented voter turnout in South Florida. They also filed a suit in Orange County after a suspicious mail package led to voting offices closing early, cutting hours, the Associated Press reports. ( http://wapo.st/RzlCQz )

Today, several Florida counties, four of which are in the bay area, will allow people to vote early by picking up an absentee ballot and dropping it back off in person.

The in person absentee ballot looks a bit different than “early voting”, as no voting machines will be at the locations, only ballot boxes.

You also must be registered to vote, bring identification that includes a picture and a signature, like a driver’s license, for example.

To take advantage of this “absentee in person” option, pick up an absentee ballot at one of the Supervisor of Elections Offices at one of the locations listed below, fill it out and return it between 8:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m.

Hillsborough locations:

Supervisor of Elections South Office

10439 Gibsonton Drive

Riverview, Fla.

Supervisor of Elections Northwest Office

12022 Anderson Road

Tampa, Fla.

Fred B. Karl County Center

601 E. Kennedy Blvs., 16 ^th Floor

Tampa, Fla.

Robert L Gilder Elecetions Service Center

2514 N. Falkenburg Rd.

Tampa, Fla. 33619

Pinellas locations:

Election Service Center
Starkey Lakes Corporate Center
13001 Starkey Road
Largo FL 33773
Telephone: (727) 464-VOTE (8683)

Pinellas County Courthouse
315 Court Street, Room 117
Clearwater FL 33756

County Building
501 First Avenue North
St. Petersburg FL 33701
(Fifth Street North entrance)
 

Pasco County Locations:

EastPasco Government Center

14236 Sixth St., Suite 200

DadeCity

 

West Pasco Government Center

8731 Citizens Drive, Suite 110

New Port Richey

CentralPasco Professional Center

4111 Land O'Lakes Blvd., Room 105

 Land O'Lakes

Hernando County locations:

Hernando County Government Center

20 N Main St., Room 165,

Brooksville, Fla.

Forest Oaks Government Center

7443 Forest Oaks Blvd.

Spring Hill, Fla.