What's On The Ballot And How To Vote In Pasco's Aug. 23 Primary

PASCO COUNTY, FL — Pasco County residents wishing to vote in the Aug. 23 primary who are not yet registered have until Monday, July 25, to do so.

And 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.

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 registered without party affiliation or with a minor political party, will have nonpartisan races on their ballots as well, such as school board candidates, judicial races and and the 1 mil tax referendum.

Voters may change their party at any time, but to be valid for the upcoming primary, the change must be made by Monday, July 25, the deadline to register to vote in the primary.

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

Unopposed candidates will not appear on the ballot. They will either move on to the general election on Nov. 8 or, if there is no opposition from another party, they will automatically be declared the winner.

See related stories:

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

Residents wishing to vote in the primary can register to vote on the Florida Division of Elections website or download and print this Florida Voter Registration Application Form.

For those who are planning to cast ballots in the Aug. 23 primary, there are three ways to vote:

Vote By Mail

Pasco County Supervisor of Elections Brian E. Corley has already mailed out more than 116,000 vote-by-mail ballots to Pasco County voters for the Aug. 23 primary, including ballots to overseas military personnel and other residents living abroad.

Those wishing to have their votes counted in the primary must return their ballots either by mail or in person to one of the New Port Richey, Land O' Lakes or Dade City election offices by Aug. 23 at 7 p.m.

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

For eligible voters who did not previously request a ballot, they are still available by calling the election office at 727-847-8162, by submitting the request in writing to P.O. Box 300, Dade City, FL 33526, or by using the online request form on the Pasco Supervisor of Elections website.

Requests must include the voter's Florida driver's license number, Florida ID number or the last four of the voter's Social Security number, date of birth and the voter's Pasco County residential address.

Written requests must also include the voter's signature.

Vote-by-mail ballots cannot be forwarded but can be mailed to a temporary mailing address if outside Pasco County. Voters are encouraged to confirm their mailing address when ordering a vote-by-mail ballot.

Written or telephone requests for vote-by-mail ballots must come from the voter, an immediate family member or the legal guardian of the voter.

Requests are fulfilled immediately, with ballots mailed daily. The deadline to request a ballot is Saturday, Aug. 13 at 5 p.m.

Voters may pick up ballots for themselves at any of the three election offices, but not for someone else, until nine days before the election, or Sunday, Aug. 14. Those picking up ballots on behalf of someone will need a written request from the voter designating them as the person authorized to pick up the ballot. The designee will be asked to provide a photo ID and to complete an affidavit before receiving the ballot.

Mail ballots must be received by the supervisor of elections office no later than 7 p.m. Aug. 23.

Don't forget to sign your vote by mail envelope before returning it.

And make sure you have a current signature on file with the supervisor of elections office. You can update your signature by completing a printed or online voter registration application. (An online application will add your most recent Florida driver's license or Florida ID signature to your voter record.)

Be consistent when signing your mail ballot return envelope. Signatures are compared to those on file with the election office.

You may mail your ballot back or drop it at a secure ballot intake station at the three election offices or at early voting sites during early voting.

If you mail the ballot back, make sure to allow plenty of time for it to be received. The election office recommends that you allow at least a week for your mailed ballot to reach your election office. If your ballot isn't in your county's elections office by 7 p.m. election day, it will not be counted.

Early Voting

Early voting in Pasco County takes place Aug. 13 to 20 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.

Bring a current and valid photo and signature ID with you.

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.

Election Day Voting

Polls are open from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. for the primary on Aug. 23.

Remember to bring your photo and signature identification.

Corley reminds voters that Pasco County has completed redistricting, which is required every 10 years, and legislative, county commission and school board districts may have changed, resulting in a change in voting precincts and polling places.

All voters have been mailed a new voter registration card with new voting precincts and polling places if they changed as a result of redistricting.

To verify your polling place and precinct, visit the Voter Information Look Tool and the online precinct finder.

Sample ballots will be mailed to all registered Pasco County voters on July 28.

Voters can also find sample ballots on the supervisor of elections website.

Voters are encouraged to look over their sample ballot and familiarize themselves with the candidates and issues before going to the polls.

Voters can bring their sample ballots with them.