Saturday Is Last Chance For Pasco Residents To Vote Early In Primary

PASCO COUNTY, FL — While primaries historically attract a low voter turnout, this may be one primary that Pasco County voters don't want to miss.

That's because the Pasco County School District is requesting a one mil increase in the property tax rate from July 1, 2023, to June 30, 2027, to increase the salaries of teachers, bus drivers and other non-administrative support staff.

The ballot referendum for a property tax increase of up to 1 mil would raise up to $37 million each year for four years.

It will amount to $1 for every $1,000 of taxable property value for property owners in Pasco County.

The Pasco County School board decided to put the referendum on the ballot because the pay rate for Pasco County public school teachers is lower than all surrounding counties and the salaries for school bus drivers are so low Pasco County can't find enough people willing to drive school buses.
In January, the school district was forced to change the times schools begin and end the school day so the transportation department could arrange to have the district's dwindling contingent of bus drivers take on more routes.

See related stories:

• Raising Teacher Salaries To Be Decided By Pasco Voters During Primary
• Penny For Pasco Sales Tax To Be On November Ballot

This year, the school district eliminated bus service for middle and high school students living within 2 miles of their schools due to a bus driver shortage.

All voters regardless of party will be able to vote on the referendum.

How To Vote

Voters wanting to avoid the lines on election day have one more chance to vote early on Saturday from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m.

During early voting, you may vote at any early vote site in Pasco County.

Early voting locations are:

• Alice Hall Community Center, 38116 5th Ave., Zephyrhills.
• East Pasco Government Center, 14236 6th St., Dade City.
• Hudson Library, 8012 Library Road, Hudson.
• J. Ben Harrill Recreation Complex, 2830 Gulf Trace Blvd., Holiday.
• Land O' Lakes Recreation Complex, 3032 Collier Parkway, Land O' Lakes.
• New River Library, 34043 State Road 54, Wesley Chapel.
• Odessa Community Center, 1627 Chesapeake Drive, Odessa.
• Pasco County Utilities Administration Building, 19420 Central Blvd., Land O' Lakes.
• Regency Park Library, 9701 Little Road, New Port Richey.
• Wesley Chapel District Park, 7727 Boyette Road, Wesley Chapel.
• West Pasco Government Center, 8731 Citizens Drive, New Port Richey.
• Wiregrass Ranch Sports Campus, 3021 Sports Coast Way, Wesley Chapel.

Voters who received vote-by-mail ballots who wish to have their votes count in the primary must return their ballots in person to one of the New Port Richey, Land O' Lakes or Dade City election offices by Aug. 23 at 7 p.m. At this late date, don't risk mailing your ballot because it may not arrive in time.

Mail ballots will also be accepted at early voting sites, but may not be turned in at the polls on election day.

On primary day, Aug. 23, polls are open from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m.

Following redisricting, polling places and precincts may have changed so be sure to verify your polling place and precinct by visiting the Voter Information Look Tool and the online precinct finder. All voters were also mailed a new voter registration card with new voting precincts and polling places if they changed as a result of redistricting.

To save time and keep the line moving, fill out the sample ballot that was mailed to all registered voters and bring it with you to the polling place to use as a reference. Voters can also find sample ballots on the supervisor of elections website.

Remember to bring your photo and signature identification when you go to vote.

Acceptable forms of identification include a Florida driver's license, FL ID card (issued by DHSMV), U.S. passport, debit or credit card, military ID, student ID, retirement center ID, neighborhood association ID, public assistance ID, veteran health ID, concealed weapon license or government employee ID.

Candidates On The Primary Ballot

Florida is a closed primary state, which means the candidate choices on a voter's ballot will be candidates of the same party affiliation.

All voters, including those no party affiliation, will be able to vote for nonpartisan races and referendums, such as school board candidates, judicial races and the 1 mil tax referendum.

Candidates appearing on the Republican ballot are:

Congressional District 12

• U.S. Rep. Gus Michael Bilirakis
• Chris Leiser
• Jack Martin
• Brian Perras
• Sid Preskitt

Commissioner of Agriculture

• James W. Shaw
• Wilton Simpson

County Commissioner District 2

• Troy F. Stevenson
• Seth Weightman
• Christie Zimmer

County Commissioner District 4

• Gary Bradford
• Incumbent Christina "Fitzy" Fitzpatrick
• Shannon J. Wittwer

Candidates appearing on the Democratic ballot are:

United States Senator

• Ricardo De La Fuente
• Val Demings
• Brian Rush
• William Sanchez

Governor and Lieutenant Governor

• Charlie Crist
• Cadance Daniel
• Nicole "Nikki" Fried
• Robert L. Willis

Attorney General

• Aramis Ayala
• Jim Lewis
• Daniel Uhlfelder

Commissioner of Agriculture

• Naomi Esther Blemur
• J. R. Gaillot
• Ryan Morales

Voters regardless of party affiliation can vote for school board candidates in their district:

School Board Member District 1

• Al Hernandez
• Stephen A. Meisman
• James Washington

School Board Member District 3

• Cynthia Armstrong
• Matthew Geiger

School Board Member District 5

• Megan Harding
• Charles Philip Touseull

All voters countywide can vote for judicial candidates:

Circuit Judge 6th Judicial Circuit Group 22

• Nicholas "Nick" Fiorentino
• Cynthia Newton

Circuit Judge 6th Judicial Circuit Group 27

• Scott Finelli
• Keith Meyer

County Judge Group 4

• Clementine "CC" Conde
• Patrick Moore