Next week, voters in Fort Myers and Lee County may head to the polls for the primary election during early voting. The News Press gathered key dates and information:
▶ Ultimate Lee County election guide: Get to know every major race candidate
When is the primary election in Florida?
The primary election is set for August 20, 2024. Winners of the primary election will move on to the general election on Tuesday, Nov. 5, if they face a challenger.
When does early voting for the primaries start and end?
10 a.m. to 6 p.m. Saturday, August 10 - Saturday, August 17
See Early Voting wait times here: https://www.lee.vote/Early-Voting-Information/Early-Voting-Dates-and-Locations
What is early voting?
During early voting, a person can cast their ballot prior to Election Day at a location designated by the local Supervisor of Elections. The voted ballot is deposited into the tabulation voting system, the same equipment used on Election Day.
What should I bring with me to early voting?
Early voters should present the following at the early voting site:
- An approved photo ID that is not expired and has your signature.
- Also: If your photo identification does not include your signature, you must show an additional form of identification that includes your signature.
- Link to acceptable IDs
- Bonita Springs Elections Office - 25987 S Tamiami Trail #105, Bonita Springs
- Cape Coral Elections Office, Commissioner John E. Manning Government Complex - 1039 SE 9th Ave, Cape Coral
- Cape Coral, Lee County Library - 921 SW 39th Terrace, Cape Coral
- East County Regional Library - 881 Gunnery Road N., Lehigh Acres
- Estero Recreation Center - 9200 Corkscrew Palms Blvd., Estero
- Fort Myers Regional Library - 1651 Lee St., Fort Myers (voting room address) & 2450 First St., Fort Myers (library address)
- Housing Authority of the City of Fort Myers - 4224 Renaissance Preserve Way, Fort Myers
- Lakes Regional Library - 15290 Bass Road, Fort Myers
- Lee County Election Center - 13180 S CLEVELAND AVE, FORT MYERS FL 33907
- Lehigh Acres Elections Office, East Lee Government Center - 600 Homestead Road S. #9, Lehigh Acres
- North Fort Myers Recreation Center - 2000 N. Recreation Parkway, North Fort Myers
- Northwest Regional Library - 519 Chiquita Blvd. N., Cape Coral
Important Vote by Mail deadlines
- 5 p.m. Thursday, August 8 is the deadline to request a Vote-by-Mail Ballot for the 2024 Primary Election
- 7 p.m. Tuesday, August 20 (Election Day) is the deadline to return a Vote-By-Mail Ballot
- Tuesday, August 13 is the day that Lee County Supervisor of Elections suggest that voters return their ballot by to ensure timely receipt
How can I request a Vote-By-Mail ballot in Lee County?
What information do I need to provide for a Vote-by-Mail request?
- Name
- Legal residence address
- Date of birth
- Florida Driver's License number, Florida ID number or the last four digits of their Social Security number
- Address to which the Vote-by-Mail ballot will be mailed
- Election(s) for which you are requesting a ballot
How do I fill out my ballot?
- Completely fill in the ovals corresponding to the candidate and/or referendums of choice.
- Place the completed ballot in the enclosed secrecy sleeve (also known as a secrecy "envelope").
- Place your ballot and the secrecy sleeve in the return envelope provided. ( Please note: failure to include the secrecy sleeve DOES NOT invalidate the ballot.)
- DO NOT place anyone else's ballot besides your own in the ballot return envelope. Doing so may result in the ballots not being counted.
- In order for the Vote-by-Mail ballot to be counted, the voter must sign or apply their legal mark in the box below the voter certificate on the return envelope.
- The signature must reasonably match the signature of registration.
- A signature as Power of Attorney will not be accepted. The ballot will not be counted.
- The Vote-by-Mail ballot may be returned by mail, express mail, at any secure ballot intake station during early voting or in person to the Supervisor of Elections office.
- Voted ballots cannot be accepted at a polling place on Election Day.
- Affix appropriate postage for Vote-by-Mail ballots returned via mail (USPS, FedEx, UPS, etc.).
Where can I drop off my ballot in Lee County?
Vote-by-mail ballots may be dropped of at any of the Lee County Elections Offices from 8:30 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday through Friday or from 8:30 a.m. to 7 p.m. Election Day (August 20)
Ballots may also be dropped off at Secure Ballot Intake Stations, which are located at each Early Voting site during the Early Voting period.
Voters can also track the status of their ballot at lee.vote .
This article originally appeared on Naples Daily News: Early voting starts August 10: What to know for Lee County elections
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