Countdown to the 2014 Primary Election: Less Than 100 Days Away

May 19, 2014

Tampa, FL—The countdown has begun at the Hillsborough County Supervisor of Elections Office—we’re less than 100 days away from our August 26th Primary Election. Here’s an update on what your Supervisor of Elections is doing to make Hillsborough County the best place in America to vote.

Voters are hearing from us: We’re using direct mail, email newsletters, social media and more to make sure voters know we offer three ways to vote—Vote By Mail, Early Voting and Election Day. We’re also mailing information to our overseas voters (many of whom are members of the military) so they have plenty of time and the information they need to prepare to vote.

Early voting times and locations have been set: For the 2014 Primary, we’ll hold Early Voting in 15 locations August 14 - 24 from 10 a.m. - 6 p.m. each day. This includes voting on the Sunday before Election Day, a first in Hillsborough County. Early Voting locations are listed at VoteHillsborough.org. 

Election Day polling locations have been secured:  We open 282 different polling places on Election Day. Each election cycle some polling places have to be relocated, often due to construction or because the building will be used for something that conflicts with voting. When we get closer to the election, we’ll send new voter information cards out to all voters who’ve been assigned a new polling place. 

We’re preparing to pilot electronic poll books on Election Day:  Electronic poll books will be used at voter check-in tables at 10% of our precincts on Election Day. This new technology replaces the big paper registers that voters currently sign when they check-in, adding efficiency and accuracy to our processes.  By piloting this technology in a small number of locations during a midterm election, we’re ensuring that we make a smart investment for the next Presidential Election.

We’ve updated training materials:  Each election, training materials are updated to reflect changes in legislation and improvements in our procedures. We’ll begin training 3,500 poll workers in June.

The ballot is taking shape:  Federal and judicial candidates have qualified for office (by submitting a fee or petitions), and qualifying week for all other candidates begins June 16. By June 20th, we’ll know who is on the ballot.  It’s worth noting that all voters, whether affiliated with a party or not, will vote for school board and judicial candidates on August 26th, because these are non-partisan races.

ABOUT US:

Hillsborough County’s next elections are the Primary Election on August 26, 2014 and the General Election on November 4, 2014.  For more information on voting and elections in Hillsborough County, call (813) 744-5900 or visit www.VoteHillsborough.org. The office also shares timely information on Facebook, Twitter and through an email newsletter.  There are four Supervisor of Elections offices open Monday - Friday from 8 a.m. - 5 p.m.:

·         601 E. Kennedy Blvd., 16th Floor, Tampa, FL 33602

·         2514 N. Falkenburg Rd., Tampa, FL 33619

·         12022 Anderson Rd., Tampa, FL 33625

·         10439 Gibsonton Dr., Riverview, FL 33578