One of my heroes passed this year. John Lewis, the incredible civil rights activist and Congressman from Georgia was a fierce advocate of voting and the necessity of voting. In July of 2016, he said, “The right to vote is precious, almost sacred. It is the most powerful nonviolent tool or instrument in a democratic society. We must use it.” That may seem melodramatic, but that’s because we’ve had the right to vote. I’ve never lived in a world where I had to fight for my right to vote. John Lewis and all the Civil Rights Activists throughout history did that for us. Now we get to use that right. I know that voting can be intimidating because it seems like there are so many bureaucratic hoops to jump through, but I promise, it’s so much easier than you think. Follow this simple voter guide and you’ll be ready to hit the polls in no time! In order to vote in Pinellas County, there are a couple of things that you need to do.
REMOTE Ballot Drop-off
REMOTE BALLOT DROP-OFF LOCATIONS Between October 19, 2020 – November 2, 2020, you can drop off your ballot at any of these remote drop-off ballot locations. Note: These places will not be open during Election Day, November 3, 2020. Check the hours as well!
ADVERTISEMENT
Election Service Center
Drive-thru Location*
Starkey Lakes Corporate Center
13001 Starkey Road
Largo, FL 33773
Centre of Palm Harbor
Drive-thru Location*
1500 16th St., Palm Harbor
Monday – Sunday, 7:00 a.m. – 7:00 p.m.
Monday, November 2nd, 8:00 a.m. – 5:00 p.m.
(No Ballot Drop Off Election Day)
EpiCenter at St. Petersburg College
Drive-thru Location*
13805 58th St. N., Clearwater
Monday – Friday, 10:00 a.m. – 5:00 p.m.
(No Ballot Drop Off Election Day)
ADVERTISEMENT
Tropicana Field
Drive-thru Location*
1 Tropicana Drive, St Petersburg
Monday – Sunday 8:00 a.m. – 5:00 p.m.
(No Ballot Drop Off Election Day)
*weather contingent
Tarpon Springs Public Library
138 E. Lemon St., Tarpon Springs
Monday – Friday, 10:00 a.m. – 5:00 p.m.
Saturday, 10:00 a.m. – 4:00 p.m.
(No Ballot Drop Off Election Day)
400 St. Petersburg Dr. E., Oldsmar
Monday – Saturday, 9:00 a.m. – 4:00 p.m.
(No Ballot Drop Off Election Day)
3745 9th Ave. N., St. Petersburg
Monday – Saturday, 10:00 a.m. – 4:00 p.m.
(No Ballot Drop Off Election Day)
4125 East Lake Rd., Palm Harbor
Monday – Saturday, 10:00 a.m. – 4:00 p.m.
(No Ballot Drop Off Election Day)
1663 Gulf to Bay Blvd., Clearwater
Monday – Friday, 8:00 a.m. – 5:00 p.m.
(No Ballot Drop Off Election Day)
9200 113th St. N., Seminole
Monday – Friday, 9:00 a.m. – 4:00 p.m.
Saturday, 10:00 a.m. – 4:00 p.m
(No Ballot Drop Off Election Day)
1059 18th Ave. S., St. Petersburg
Monday – Friday, 10:00 a.m. – 4:00 p.m.
Saturday, NOON. – 4:00 p.m
(No Ballot Drop Off Election Day)
29399 US Hwy. 19 N., Clearwater
Monday – Friday, 8:00 a.m. – 5:00 p.m.
(No Ballot Drop Off Election Day)
7770 52nd St., Pinellas Park
Monday – Saturday, 9:00 a.m. – 4:00 p.m
(No Ballot Drop Off Election Day)
1067 62nd Ave. S., St. Petersburg
Monday – Friday, 8:00 a.m. – 5:00 p.m.
(No Ballot Drop Off Election Day)
101 2nd St. N., Safety Harbor
Monday – Saturday, 10:00 a.m. – 5:00 p.m.
(No Ballot Drop Off Election Day)
223 Douglas Ave., Dunedin
Monday – Saturday, 10:00 a.m. – 5:00 p.m.
(No Ballot Drop Off Election Day)
120 Central Park Dr., Largo
Monday – Saturday, 10:00 a.m. – 5:00 p.m.
(No Ballot Drop Off Election Day)
861 70th Ave N., St. Petersburg
Monday – Saturday, 10:00 a.m. – 5:00 p.m.
(No Ballot Drop Off Election Day)
7470 Gulf Blvd., St. Pete Beach
Monday – Friday, 10:00 a.m. – 5:00 p.m.
Saturday, 10:00 a.m. – 2:00 p.m.
(No Ballot Drop Off Election Day)
7891 26th Ave N., St. Petersburg
Monday – Friday, 10:00 a.m. – 5:00 p.m.
(No Ballot Drop Off Election Day)
2642 Sabal Springs Drive, Clearwater
Monday – Thursday, 10:00 a.m. – 5:00 p.m.
Friday – Saturday, noon – 5:00 p.m.
(No Ballot Drop Off Election Day)
2642 Sabal Springs Drive, Clearwater
Monday – Thursday, 10:00 a.m. – 5:00 p.m.
Friday – Saturday, noon – 5:00 p.m.
(No Ballot Drop Off Election Day)
315 Court St., Room 117
Clearwater, FL 33756
501 First Ave. N, (Fifth St. North entrance)
St. Petersburg, FL 33701
Where to Vote on Election Day – November 3
If you’re voting in person on Tuesday, November 3, here’s what you need to know. First, you’ll need to find your precinct and polling location. Click here to find your is on Vote Pinellas. Polls open at 7am and close at 7pm on election day. Voter turnout is projected to be higher than average so expect a wait time at your polling location. Make sure to have a valid picture ID ready to show when you arrive. Click here for acceptable forms of ID that you can bring with you.
If you are in line to vote when polls close at 7pm, stay in line. You will be allowed to vote as long as you remain in line. If you witness any form of voter intimidation, call the election protection hotline listed here.
Get Educated!
Pinellas has quite a few races this year. We can’t tell you who to vote for, but we can tell you who is running. Make sure to learn a little bit about each of these candidates and then get to the polls on November 3 to make your voice heard.
| Clerk of the Circuit Court and Comptroller | Ken Burke (REP) | Unopposed |
| Sheriff | Bob Gualtieri (REP) | Qualified |
| Eliseo Santana (DEM) | Qualified | |
| Property Appraiser | Mike Twitty (REP) | Qualified |
| Trevor L. Mallory (DEM) | Qualified | |
| Tax Collector | Charles W. Thomas (REP) | Qualified |
| Joseph Saportas (DEM) | Qualified | |
| Supervisor of Elections | Julie Marcus (REP) | Qualified |
| Dan Helm (DEM) | Qualified | |
| Board of County Commissioners, District 1 – At Large | Larry Ahern (REP) | Qualified |
| Janet C. Long (DEM) | Qualified | |
| Board of County Commissioners, District 3 – At Large | Tammy Sue Vasquez (REP) | Qualified |
| Charlie Justice (DEM) | Qualified | |
| Board of County Commissioners, District 5 – Single Member | Karen Seel (REP) | Unopposed |
| Board of County Commissioners, District 7 – Single Member | Rene Flowers (DEM) | Qualified |
| Maria L. Scruggs (NPA) | Qualified | |
| County Judge Group 3 | Edwin B. Jagger (NP) | Unopposed |
| County Judge Group 10 | James V. Pierce (NP) | Unopposed |
| County Judge Group 14 | Robert G. Dittmer (NP) | Unopposed |
| County Judge Group 15 | John Carassas (NP) | Unopposed |
| School Board Member, District 1 – At Large | Laura Hine (NP) | Runoff |
| Stephanie G. Meyer (NP) | Runoff | |
| School Board Member, District 4 – Single Member | Eileen M. Long (NP) | Elected |
| School Board Member, District 5 – Single Member | Carol J. Cook (NP) | Unopposed |
| School Board Member, District 7 – Single Member | Caprice Johnson Edmond (NP) | Runoff |
| Karl Nurse (NP) | Runoff | |
| East Lake Tarpon Special Fire Control District – Seat 1 | Kevin Kenney (NP) | Unopposed |
| East Lake Tarpon Special Fire Control District – Seat 3 | John D. Cattel (NP) | Qualified |
| MaryEllen Crowder (NP) | Qualified | |
| Tom May (NP) | Qualified | |
| East Lake Tarpon Special Fire Control District – Seat 5 | James Dalrymple (NP) | Qualified |
| Peter Nehr (NP) | Qualified | |
| Michael S. Peasley (NP) | Qualified | |
| Lealman Special Fire Control District – Seat 1 | Ronald F. Kemerer (NP) | Unopposed |
| Lealman Special Fire Control District – Seat 3 | Jay D. Alexander (NP) | Unopposed |
| Lealman Special Fire Control District – Seat 5 | Vivian Diane Campbell (NP) | Unopposed |
| Palm Harbor Special Fire Control and Rescue District – Seat 1 | Casey Cane (NP) | Unopposed |
| Palm Harbor Special Fire Control and Rescue District – Seat 3 | Debbie Buschman (NP) | Unopposed |
| Palm Harbor Special Fire Control and Rescue District – Seat 5 | Kelli Snow (NP) | Unopposed |
| Pinellas Suncoast Fire & Rescue District – Seat 1 | Lawrence “Larry” Gordon Schear (NP) | Unopposed |
| Pinellas Suncoast Fire & Rescue District – Seat 2 | David B. Ardman (NP) | Unopposed |
| Pinellas Suncoast Fire & Rescue District – Seat 5 | Lou Snelling (NP) | Unopposed |
| Clearwater Cay Community Development District – Seat 1 | Steve Whitehurst (NP) | Qualified |
| Jeffrey D. Wilson (NP) | Qualified | |
| Clearwater Cay Community Development District – Seat 2 | Alan Glidden (NP) | Qualified |
| Ronald J. Schulte (NP) | Qualified | |
| Eastlake Oaks Community Development District – Seat 4 | Scott Roper (NP) | Unopposed |
Make sure your vote counted!
The best part about vote-by-mail is that you can verify your ballot was received! Your Supervisor of Elections has a “Track Your Ballot” tool on their website. You can know when exactly when your ballot is received and counted.
If your ballot shows that it wasn’t counted, there are fixes! A Supervisor of Elections is required to notify a voter as soon as it is practical if a voter’s signature is missing or does not match the one on record. You can also call to check the status. Once you learn about the missing or mismatched signature, you can complete and return a “Vote-by-Mail Ballot Cure” Affidavit with a copy of identification. The deadline to submit the form and the ID is no later than 5 p.m. (local time) on the 2nd day after an election.
ADVERTISEMENT
