FORT PIERCE — District 2 city voters had until 6 p.m. Saturday to cast their ballots early leading up to the Nov. 4 election for a new Fort Pierce City Commission member.

Now registered voters who live in District 2 must go to their local voting precincts Nov. 4 to select among the three candidates to fill the vacancy created by the resignation of James Taylor III.

Taylor stepped down in July after his arrest on multiple counts of online exploitation of an Illinois minor. He has pleaded not guilty and is awaiting trial.

As of Thursday, St. Lucie County election reports show just 6.38 percent of the 13,095 eligible voters in the city’s District 2 have submitted ballots, either by mail or at early voting taking place at the Renaissance Business Park, 4132 Okeechobee Rd., Entrance 3.

Voters can cast their ballots on election day, Tuesday, Nov. 4, from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m, at their designated voting precincts.

Candidates vying for the commission seat are Donna Diehl Benton, 1365 Bayshore Dr.; Chris Dzadovsky, 1002 Jamaica Ave.; and Jaimebeth Galinis, 1710 Plover Ave.

If no candidate receives more than 50 percent of the votes, the top two finishers will advance to a Jan. 13 runoff election to decide the next District 2 commissioner.

Although city commission elections are non-partisan–meaning candidates do not run under political party designations–voter registration records indicate voters who self-identify as Democrats appear to be slightly outperforming those who say they are Republicans.

The latest polling data showed 383 votes had been logged by registered Democrats; 319, Republicans and 120 who declared no party affiliation when they originally registered to vote.

Election day voting will take place Tuesday, from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. at these polling places for Fort Pierce District 2 balloters only:

• Precinct 8.1: Midway Road Church of Christ, 3040 W. Midway Road.

• Precincts 10.0 and 13.1: Havert L. Fenn Center, 2000 Virginia Ave.

• Precinct 12.1: Fort Pierce Masonic Lodge, 4590 Oleander Ave.

• Precinct 16.1: Westside Church, formerly Chapel By The Sea, 1717 Gulfstream Ave.

• Precinct 25.1: Days Inn, 3224 S. U.S. 1.

• Precinct 40.1: All Generations Church, formerly Church of God, 3212 Oleander Ave.

• Precinct 60.2: St. Lucie School, 2501 N. Old Dixie Highway.