Election Day 2016: What to Know Before Voting in Tampa Bay

After months of campaigns and controversy, Election Day 2016 has finally arrived. Before heading to the polls, elections officials from across the Tampa Bay area say there are a few things voters need to know about.

Here are just a few of the things voters need to know before the polls open at 7 a.m. Nov. 8 in counties across Tampa Bay and throughout Florida:

Their Polling Places

Supervisor of Elections Offices across the state offer online tools to help registered voters find their polling places. Here are county-by-county links for the precinct lookup tools:

• Polk County
• Hillsborough County
• Pinellas County
• Sarasota County
• Pasco County
• Manatee County

Voters who need to look up their precincts will be asked to enter their home address, including street and house number.

The polls will remain open across the state until 7 p.m. Nov. 8.

What to Bring to the Polls

Registered voters in Florida are asked to provide a valid photo ID complete with a signature. Some of the IDs accepted include:

• Florida driver’s license
• Florida ID card issued by the Department of Highway Safety and Motor Vehicles
• United States passport
• Military identification
• Student identification
• Public assistance identification
• Veteran health ID card issued by the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs

“If you do not bring proper ID, you can still vote a provisional ballot,” the Florida Division of Elections says. “As long as you are eligible and voted in the proper precinct, your provisional ballot will count provided the signature on your provisional ballot matches the signature in your registration record.”

Voters should remember that photography is not allowed inside a polling place. That means selfies with ballots are out.

Vote By Mail Deadlines

People who are opting to vote by mail must have their ballots in to their local supervisor of elections office no later than 7 p.m. Nov. 8. Vote by mail ballots are not accepted at polling places. Voters who wish to surrender their vote by mail ballots at the polls may do so and cast their votes at their local precincts.

For more information about voting, visit your individual county’s supervisor of elections office online.

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