2022 Florida Primary: Early voting begins in Hillsborough County — here's what to know

Florida primary: Early voting begins in Bay Area

Elizabeth Fry reports

TAMPA, Fla. - In Hillsborough County, polls open Monday morning for early voters who don't want to wait until Aug. 23 to cast their ballot.

The doors will open at 26 different locations across the county, giving voters a chance to push their candidate forward ahead of the primary. The deadline to register to vote already passed.

This year, the county has opened additional polling locations for voters to choose from, but voters don’t even have to leave their houses if they don’t want.

Mail-in ballots can still be requested until Aug. 13 and each of the 26 locations will have a secure ballot intake station for those who want to drop their mail-in ballot off in person.

Testing equipment ahead of Florida primary

Election equipment is being tested to get it ready for voters.

MORE: Midterm elections in Florida: Key dates and changes to voting in 2022

With early voting during the primary, you can pick any location to cast your vote. Election leaders say the primaries typically have a lower turnout, but stress it’s still important to make your voice heard

A list of early voting locations can be found here: www.votehillsborough.gov/VOTERS/Early-Voting

For those who do choose to vote in person, make sure you have identification. You can bring one or two of the following forms of identification that include your signature and photo.

Florida Driver 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 VA)
Concealed Weapon License (issued pursuant to s. 790.06)Government Employee IDIf your photo ID does not include your signature, you will be asked to provide another ID that has your signature.

Without your ID, you can still vote with a provisional ballot, but that will have to be approved in order to count.

"Florida is a closed primary state. What that means is that if you belong to one of that major parties, this is your opportunity to move your candidates forward to the general election, said Craig Latimer, Hillsborough County Supervisor of Elections. "But there's also stuff for people that are no party affiliation or other minor parties to vote on in this election."

Hillsborough County sample ballots

As for the rest of the Bay Area, early voting begins this week:

August 11: Highlands County
August 12: Citrus County
August 13: Pinellas County, Polk County, Sarasota County, Pasco County, Manatee County, and Hernando County.

2022 Midterm Elections Hillsborough County Election