Voters are hitting the polls today across Florida, casting ballots in a variety of primary elections.
Most primary elections will determine which candidates for federal, state and local offices advance to the general election in November, though some of today’s races could determine a winner without progressing to a November election.
In Florida’s closed primary system, voters can only vote in the primaries of the party they are registered with. However, some elections in Palm Beach and Broward counties will be open to all voters, regardless of party affiliation.
Here’s what voters need to know.
Signs are lined up at the Broward County Supervisor of Elections headquarters in Fort Lauderdale. (Joe Cavaretta/South Florida Sun Sentinel)
Which races are on the ballot?
Partisan primaries for Florida governor, U.S. Senate and House, and state legislative seats are on the ballot, as are local races for County Commission and more.
Certain races, including School Board and judicial races, are nonpartisan and open to all voters. Others are “universal” contests, where all candidates have the same party affiliation and the winner won’t face opposition in the general election. Those contests are open to all voters as well.
Because of congressional redistricting earlier this year, voters may no longer be in the same South Florida congressional district as when they last voted.
Voters can check their congressional district online at their election supervisor’s website, at browardvotes.gov, for Broward County, and votepalmbeach.gov, for Palm Beach County. Or voters can check the new voter information card sent to them from the office.
How can I vote?
If you’re a registered voter with a valid photo ID, you’re set.
There are 366 voting locations open in Palm Beach County, and 346 will be open in Broward County, according to the elections offices.
The polls are open from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. in both counties. Voters must vote at the polling location listed on their voter information card. Voter’s polling location also may be found on the Supervisor of Elections website.
A voter’s identification must include a photo and signature. If a voter brings a photo ID without a signature, they can supplement that with a second ID that has the person’s signature on it.
Permitted forms of ID include a Florida driver’s license or ID card, a U.S. passport, a military ID, a student ID, debit or credit card, or a concealed weapon license. Other acceptable photo IDs include retirement center, neighborhood association, public assistance, veteran health, or government employee IDs.
Residents who are not already registered to vote in the state of Florida may not vote in this election.
Vote-by-mail ballots
In both counties, vote-by-mail ballots must reach the Main Office of the Supervisor of Elections by 7 p.m. to be counted.
Voters can drop off their vote-by-mail ballots in person at either a Supervisor of Elections office or the Secure Ballot Intake Stations located outside of those offices.
The Main Office for Palm Beach County is located at 4301 Cherry Road, in West Palm Beach, and the Main Office for Broward is located at 4650 NW 21st Ave., in Fort Lauderdale. Both offices will be open until 7 p.m.
Other Supervisor of Elections offices will be open until 5 p.m. in Palm Beach County and 7 p.m. in Broward County.
Alternatively, a voter with a vote-by-mail ballot can vote in person instead. They will need to hand over their ballot at their designated polling location and request an in-person ballot instead.
For more information, visit votepalmbeach.gov or browardvotes.gov.