Feb. 20 deadline for presidential primary; poll workers needed in Boca Grande
Although November 2024 elections may seem a long way off, the Florida presidential primary is Tuesday, March 19, 2024 and the voter registration deadline for the presidential preference primary is February 20. If you wish to change political parties before the primary, February 20 is the date as well. These dates apply to both Charlotte and Lee counties registrations.
According to Gaby Aguirre of the Lee County Supervisor of Elections office, on Gasparilla Island, the polling location will be the Woman’s Club Room at the Boca Grande Community Center. The polling place, Precinct 122, will be fully staffed, with 11 poll workers assigned, she said.
However, poll workers are always needed here, as many have to drive an hour or more to get here from the Lee County’s land side.
“If anyone is interested, reach out to our office,” Aguirre said.
Florida primaries are “closed,” that is, only those registered either Republican or Democrat can vote in the primary, and then only in the primary for the party they supported on their registration. If a voter has registered as an “independent” or if they registered under a third party, they are not allowed to vote in this primary. In fact, because the state Democratic Party has decided there is only one candidate running on the Democratic ticket in this state, even those registered as Democrats in Florida cannot vote in the presidential preference primary. The winner is already decided.
That primary is March 19. Republicans on the ballot include several names that are no longer actively seeking the office, including Gov. Ron DeSantis. Still, their names will appear and Republicans can vote for any of them.
It is actually the delegates at the national party conventions who make the final decision of who the single candidate from each party will be. The primaries are considered “presidential preference primaries,” since they do not actually elect the candidate. They do generate delegates, however, who are bound, at least initially, to support the candidate they represent.
In addition to preparing for the presidential preference primary, any voter who wants to vote by mail in any of the state’s elections this year must make a request to do so to his or her county elections office. Under Florida law, all Vote-by-Mail requests expired at the end of 2022, so in order to vote by mail, voters must submit a new request to their elections office.
The deadline to request a Vote-by-Mail ballot for the presidential preference primary is March 7, 2024, again for both Charlotte and Lee counties. Early voting for that primary is March 9 to 16; and the official in-person election day is March 19. There is no early voting location for Lee County on Gasparilla Island. Charlotte County early voting is at the Mac Horton Annex on San Casa in Englewood and Centennial Park in Port Charlotte.
In August there will be another primary election. This one impacts races other than the presidential candidates. The election is August 20, and the Beacon will have more information on that election as it gets closer.
Voters can request Vote-by-Mail ballots for all of the 2024 races online or in person at any time. It is recommended the request be made as early as possible, so there is no danger of missing out on voting.
It is also recommended that voters examine the signature they used on the voter registration on file in the elections office. Over the years, a person’s signature may change, due to age, infirmity or personal style. If the signature used on the official registration does not match that used on the ballot, it may be rejected, and the voter’s choice will not be counted.
To update your signature, submit a new voter registration form.
Forms can be obtained electronically or by mail, but a hard copy of the updated registration must be mailed or delivered in person to the elections office.
To check on voter registrations, visit lee.vote or soecharlottecountyfl.gov
