ST. PETERSBURG, Fla. — Voters met with candidates from several local races Saturday in St. Petersburg during the final weekend of early voting before Tuesday’s primary election.
The St. Pete Community Voices Candidate Forum gave candidates a chance to speak directly with voters and allowed residents to learn more about who is running before ballots are narrowed for the general election.
Neshia Cohen said she came to the Childs Park Recreation Center to hear candidates in person and learn whether they are serious about the changes they discuss.
“I am hoping to learn that the changes that they talk about, they’re serious about them and about the people that they’re serving,” Cohen said.
Cohen said hearing from local candidates directly is important, because television advertisements and campaign materials are not enough for her to feel informed.
“Too many papers, too many commercials,” Cohen said. “I want to see it for myself.”
Another voter, Michael Harris, said he wanted to know which candidates are from St. Petersburg and what they plan to do for the city.
“What are you really going to do for the people that are here in our community?” Harris said.
Event co-organizer Jabaar Edmond said the goal is to keep voters engaged, including in elections that do not typically draw a high turnout.
“Primaries historically have low turnout,” Edmond said. “What we want to do is engage the voters. We want to engage the community and charge them up to be fired up about the next election.”
According to Florida’s Division of Elections, roughly 600,000 people have voted early so far out of more than 13 million registered voters.
Harris said voting in every election is necessary for residents who want to see changes in their community.
“If you don’t get active, nothing’s changed,” Harris said.
Edmond said organizers plan to hold another event before the general election in November. He said primaries are important because they determine which candidates advance.