Early voting begins today in Florida

Today is the first day Florida residents can cast their votes for the 2020 Presidential Election. Early voting runs between now and Sunday, November 1st. The “official” date of the election is November 3rd. People can continue to vote by mail as well.

While we at Tampa News Force sincerely hope that the process is organized and peaceful for all involved and is not marred by uncivil confrontations or systemic errors, we also live here and know what’s likely to actually happen. And we’re here for all of that, even if we have to make it up. So please don’t act up, but if you plan on it, let us know so we can come out and get video.

Above and beyond the inevitable impending hilarity about to ensue, we do encourage people to exercise their constitutional right to be active participants in the Democratic process. With that in mind, what follows are serious, comedy-free helpful tips for people who want to cast their ballots in person. If you’re here for the jokes, you should have stopped reading after the previous paragraph.

What to bring

• You will be asked to show a valid photo ID with signature to vote in Florida. Acceptable forms include: Florida driver’s license or ID card issued by the Department of Highway Safety and Motor Vehicles; US passport; debit or credit card; military ID; student ID; retirement center ID; neighborhood association ID; public assistance ID; veteran health ID issued by the US Department of Veterans Affairs; license to carry a concealed weapon or firearm; or an employee ID card issued by the federal government, the state of Florida, or any county or municipality. If your photo ID does not include your signature, you will be asked to provide another ID that has your signature.
• Voters without ID: If you are unable to provide ID, you will be able to vote a provisional ballot. Your ballot will count if the signature on your ballot matches the signature on your voter registration record.

Who can vote

The deadline to register in Florida was October 6. If you missed it, you’re out of luck. Sorry. To register, you must:

• be a citizen of the United States of America (a lawful permanent resident, commonly referred to as a “green card holder,” does not have the right to register or vote in Florida);
• be a Florida resident;
• be at least 18 years old (you may pre-register to vote if you are 16 years old);
• not be adjudicated mentally incapacitated with respect to voting in Florida or any other state without having the right to vote restored;
• not have been convicted of a felony without your voting rights having been restored.
• For more information, see the Florida Department of State’s website.

Where to vote in Tampa Bay and nearby counties

If you don’t see your county or have any other questions, there’s lots of information available here

Hillsborough County

(7 a.m. to 7 p.m.)

• Apollo Beach Community Center: 664 Golf and Sea Blvd., Apollo Beach, 33572
• Austin Davis Public Library: 17808 Wayne Road, Odessa, 33556
• Bloomingdale Regional Public Library: 1906 Bloomingdale Ave., Valrico, 33596
• Bruton Memorial Library: 302 W McLendon St., Plant City, 33563
• C. Blythe Andrews, Jr. Public Library: 2607 E Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Blvd., Tampa, 33610
• Fred B. Karl County Center: 601 E Kennedy Blvd., Tampa, 33602
• Jan Kaminis Platt Regional Library: 3910 S Manhattan Ave., Tampa, 33611
• Jimmie B. Keel Regional Public Library: 2902 W Bearss Ave., Tampa, 33618
• Maureen B. Gauzza Public Library: 11211 Countryway Blvd., Tampa, 33626
• New Tampa Regional Library: 10001 Cross Creek Blvd., Tampa, 33647
• North Tampa Branch Library: 8916 N Blvd., Tampa, 33604
• Northdale Recreation Center: 15550 Spring Pine Dr., Tampa, 33624
• Port Tampa Community Center: 4702 W McCoy St., Tampa, 33616
• Providence West Community Center: 5405 Providence Rd., Riverview, 33578
• Riverview Branch Library: 10509 Riverview Dr., Riverview, 33578
• Robert L. Gilder Elections Service Center: 2514 N Falkenburg Rd., Tampa, 33619
• SouthShore Regional Library: 15816 Beth Shields Way, Ruskin, 33573
• Northwest Elections Office: 4575 Gunn Highway, Tampa, 33624
• Southeast Elections Office: 10020 S US Hwy. 301, Riverview, 33578
• USF TECO Hall (David C. Anchin Center): 4110 USF Apple Drive, Tampa, 33620
• Temple Terrace Public Library: 202 Bullard Parkway, Temple Terrace, 33617
• Town ‘N Country Regional Public Library: 7606 Paula Drive, Tampa, 33615
• West Tampa Branch Library: 2312 W Union Street, Tampa, 33607
• University Area Community Center: 14013 N 22nd Street, Tampa, 33613
• Amalie Arena: 401 Channelside Drive, Tampa, 33602
• Raymond James Stadium: 4201 N Dale Mabry Hwy., Tampa, 33607

[Hillsborough County Supervisor of Elections Website]

Pinellas County

(7 a.m. to 7 p.m.)

• Supervisor of Elections Office – Election Service Center: 13001 Starkey Rd Largo, 33773
• Supervisor of Elections Office – County Courthouse: 315 Court St. Room 117, Clearwater, 33756
• Supervisor of Elections Office – County Building: 501 First Ave. N., St. Petersburg, 33701
• The Centre of Palm Harbor: 1500 16th St., Palm Harbor, 34683
• SPC Allstate Center: 3200 34th St. S., St. Petersburg, 33733

[Pinellas County Supervisor of Elections Website]

Polk County

(7 a.m. to 7 p.m.)

• Polk Street Community Center: 1255 Polk St., Bartow, 33830
• Polk County Sheriffs NE District Office – Community Room: 1100 Dunson Rd., Davenport, 33896
• Haines City Library: 111 N 6th St., Haines City, 33844
• Polk County Government Center: 930 E Parker St., Lakeland, 33801
• Simpson Park Community Center: 1725 Martin L King Jr Ave., Lakeland, 33805
• James P Austin Community Center: 315 Doctor MLK Jr Blvd., Lake Wales, 33853
• Mulberry Civic Center: 901 NE 5th St., Mulberry, 33860
• Poinciana Community Center: 395 Marigold Ave., Poinciana, 34759
• Gill Jones NE Polk County Govt. Center: 3425 Lake Alfred Rd., Winter Haven, 33881

[Polk County Supervisor of Elections Website]

Sarasota County

(8:30 a.m. to 6:30 p.m.)

• SOE Sarasota: 2001 Adams Lane, Sarasota, 34237
• SOE Venice: R.L. Anderson Admin Building, 4000 Tamiami Trail S., Venice, 34293
• SOE North Port: Biscayne Plaza, 13640 Tamiami Trail, North Port, 34287
• Sarasota Square Mall: 8201 S. Tamiami Trail, Sarasota, 34238
• North Sarasota Library: 2801 S. Tamiami Trail, Sarasota, 34234
• Fruitville Library: 100 Apex Rd, Sarasota, 34240
• Shannon Staub Library: 4675 Career Lane, North Port, 34289
• Bee Ridge Park: 4430 S Lockwood Ridge Road, Sarasota, 34231

[Sarasota County Supervisor of Elections Website]

Manatee County

(8:30 a.m. to 6:30 p.m.)

• Lakewood Ranch Town Hall: 8175 Lakewood Ranch Blvd. Lakewood Ranch, 34202
• Manatee County Utilities Administration: 4410 66th St W, Bradenton, 34210
• Palmetto Library: 923 6th St W, Palmetto, 34221
• Rocky Bluff Library: 6750 US Hwy 301, Ellenton, 34222
• Supervisor of Elections Office: 600 301 Blvd W, Suite 118, Bradenton, 34205
• FL Department of Transportation Operations Center: 14000 SR 64 E, Bradenton, 34212

[Manatee County Supervisor of Elections Website]

Pasco County

(7 a.m. to 7 p.m.)

• West Pasco Government Center: 8731 Citizens Dr, New Port Richey, 34654
• East Pasco Government Center: 14236 6th St, Dade City, 33523
• Land O’ Lakes Recreation Complex: 3032 Collier Parkway, Land O’ Lakes, 34639
• Hudson Library: 8012 Library Rd, Hudson, 34667
• New River Library: 34043 State Road 54, Wesley Chapel, 33543
• Odessa Community Center: 1627 Chesapeake Dr, Odessa, 33556
• Pasco County Utilities Administration Bldg: 19420 Central Blvd, Land O’ Lakes, 34637
• Regency Park Library: 9701 Little Rd, New Port Richey, 34654
• South Holiday Library: 4649 Mile Stretch Dr, Holiday, 34690
• Advent Health Center Ice: 3173 Cypress Ridge Blvd, Wesley Chapel, 33544
• Alice Hall Community Center: 38116 5th Ave, Zephyrhills, 33542
• Wiregrass Ranch Sports Campus of Pasco County: 3021 Sports Coast Way, Wesley Chapel FL 33543
• Veterans Memorial Park: 14333 Hicks Rd, Hudson, 34669
• J. Ben Harrill Recreation Complex: 2830 Gulf Trace Blvd, Holiday, 34691

[Pasco County Supervisor of Elections Website]

Hernando County

(8 a.m. to 6 p.m.)

• South Brooksville Community Center: 601 E. Martin Luther King Blvd, Brooksville, 34601
• Supervisor of Elections Branch Office: 7443 Forest Oaks Blvd, Spring Hill, 34606
• East Hernando Branch Library: 6457 Windmere Rd, Brooksville, 34602
• Spring Hill Branch Library: 9220 Spring Hill Dr., Spring Hill, 34608
• Hernando County Utilities Department: 15365 Cortez Blvd, Brooksville, 34613

[Hernando County Supervisor of Elections Website]

DeSoto County

(Early voting ends Oct. 31. Weekdays: 8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m., Weekends: 7 a.m. to 3 p.m.)

• SOE Office: 201 E. Oak Street, Suite 104, Arcadia, 34266

[DeSoto County Supervisor of Elections Website]

Highlands County

(Starts on Oct. 22 and ends on Oct. 31. Times: 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.)

• Kenilworth Operations Center: 4500 Kenilworth Blvd., Sebring, 33870
• Avon Park City Hall Council Chambers: 123 East Pine St., Avon Park, 33825
• Lake Placid Town Hall Council Chambers: 1069 U.S. Hwy. 27 N, Lake Placid, 33852

[Highlands County Supervisor of Elections Website]

Are you still looking for jokes? I told you that there wouldn’t be any after the second paragraph. Come on. Please pay more attention when you vote than you did to this article.
Okay, since you read the whole thing, here’s one poop joke as a reward:
Q: What did the man eating corn say to the corn as he was eating it?
A: “See you later!”