League Advice: Vote Early — And Check Your Smartphone for Help
Contact:
Deirdre Macnab
407-415-4559
League of Women Voters of Florida
floridaleague@earthlink.net
LEAGUE ADVICE: VOTE EARLY– AND CHECK YOUR SMARTPHONE FOR HELP
Note: This update clarifies an earlier version of this release. Floridians who have moved from one county to another and report an address update at the polls during early voting must vote a provisional, not a regular, ballot. The League advises that all voters call their Supervisor of Elections office before going to the polls in order to check and/or update their voter status.
Early voting: In Florida, it’s the “in” thing to do. In the first days of the state’s early voting period, record numbers of voters have already taken the opportunity to mark their ballots before Election Day, November 6. They’ve made a good decision, according to the League of Women Voters of Florida.
League President Deirdre Macnab says, “Early voting lets you schedule your trip to the polls when and where it’s most convenient for you. In addition, with the changes in Florida’s voting laws, early voting also lets you confirm your eligibility and correct any problems before Election Day.”
The League urges all voters to study this year’s lengthy ballot before entering the polling booth and has created a handy tool for smartphone users. If you’re caught standing in line at your voting site, or whenever you have a free moment, you can use your phone to review the candidates and issues on your ballot. Visit BeReadyToVote.mobi or VamosAVotar.mobi (en español) to get nonpartisan information about the presidential, congressional and judicial candidates, as well as the state constitutional amendments.
Macnab outlines more advantages of voting early: “Officials at early-voting sites have access to the live, statewide voter registration database and can verify your eligibility to vote on the spot. If there’s a problem, you may be able to resolve it right there, or you’ll have time to deal with it before Election Day. Be sure to have a photo ID with you, and remember, your ID does NOT need to have your current address on it–just your picture.”
She adds, “Before you go to vote, make sure to contact your local Supervisor of Elections office to check and/or update your voter information, especially if you have moved, changed your name or haven’t voted in awhile. A quick call before you go to the polls can prevent you from having to cast a provisional ballot.”
Even voters who have already opted for absentee/mail-in ballots can choose to use the early-voting option. Whether you’ve dripped coffee on your absentee ballot, don’t want to pay postage, if you’re worried that it won’t arrive by the 7:00 p.m., November 6, deadline or it won’t be counted, no problem. Just take your absentee ballot with you to your polling place for early voting or on Election Day and trade it for an in-person ballot.
Saturday, November 3, is the last day for early voting. Check out your county’s hours and locations at the League of Women Voters of Florida’s one-stop voter-information websites, www.BeReadyToVote.org or www.VamosAVotar.org, which also include customized county-by-county sample ballots and the League’s nonpartisan 2012 Election & Voter Guide.
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The League of Women Voters of Florida, a nonpartisan political organization, encourages informed and active participation in government, works to increase understanding of major public policy issues, and influences public policy through education and advocacy. For more information, please visit the League’s website at: www.TheFloridaVoter.org.
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