Tampa-Area Voter Guide: Candidates, How To Vote In Nov. 5 Election

HILLSBOROUGH COUNTY, FL — Hillsborough County voters will have a say in a number of races — from U.S. president, one U.S. Senate seat, and state senate representative contests to local city and school board elections — in the 2024 general elections.

They will also decide on state constitutional and county charter amendments on Election Day.

Most Florida polling places are open on Election Day from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. EST while some counties in the Panhandle are open until 8 p.m. EST because they are in the Central time zone.

Be sure to bring a photo ID with you if you vote in person. (See more information on how to find your polling place or track your mail-in ballot below.)

A sample ballot for the general election can be found here.

How to Vote in Hillsborough County

Polling places are open from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. on Nov. 5. If you are in line at 7 p.m., you will be allowed to vote, but if you arrive at the polling place after 7 p.m., you will not be allowed to vote.

If you’re not sure where to vote, you can look up your polling station on the Hillsborough County Supervisor of Elections website.

In order to cast your ballot in the 2024 general election, you’ll need to bring a valid and current photo and signature ID to your polling station.

Acceptable forms of ID in Florida include:

• Florida driver license
• Florida ID card (issued by the Department of Highway Safety and Motor Vehicles)
• U.S. passport
• Debit or credit card
• Military ID
• Student ID
• Retirement center ID
• Neighborhood association ID
• Public assistance ID
• Veteran health ID (issued by the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs)
• Concealed weapon license (issued pursuant to F.S. 790.06)
• Employee ID card issued by any branch, department, agency or entity of the federal government, the state, a county, or a municipality.

If your photo ID does NOT contain your signature, an additional ID with your signature is required.

Without proper identification, you may still vote with a provisional ballot, which will later be evaluated by a canvassing board for eligibility.

Vote-by-mail ballots must be received by 7 p.m. on Nov. 5. If you didn't get a chance to mail yours in by Election Day, they may be dropped off at one of the following locations by 7 p.m.:

• Fred B. Karl County Center, 601 E. Kennedy Blvd., 16th Floor, Tampa
• Robert L. Gilder Elections Service Center, 2514 N. Falkenburg Road, Tampa
• Southeast Regional Office, 10020 South US Highway 301, Riverview
• Northwest Regional Office, 4575 Gunn Hwy., Tampa

If you voted by mail, you can track the status of your ballot here.

Voters are welcome to bring a sample ballot to the polling place marked with their choices so there are no delays in voting.

When you arrive at the polls:

1. Check in with your valid and current photo and signature ID.
2. Receive your paper ballot and proceed to a privacy booth.
3. Using the black pen provided, completely fill in the oval next to each of your selections.
4. Review your ballot. If you wish to make changes, request another ballot.
5. If you have any questions, ask a poll worker before you insert the ballot in the scanner. Once a ballot has been accepted, it cannot be retrieved.

What’s on the Ballot

Here are some of the candidates, depending on where you live, who are on the general election ballot:

President and Vice President

• Donald J. Trump/JD Vance (REP)
• Kamala D. Harris/Tim Walz (DEM)
• Chase Oliver/Mike ter Maat (LPF)
• Claudia De la Cruz/Karina Garcia (PSL)
• Randall Terry/Stephen Broden (CPF)
• Peter Sonski/Lauren Onak (ASP)
• Jill Stein/Rudolph Ware (GRE)

U.S. Senator

• Rick Scott (REP)
• Debbie Mucarsel-Powell (DEM)
• Feena Bonoan (LPF)
• Tuan TQ Nguyen (NPA)
• Ben Everidge (NPA)

Representative in Congress - District 14

• Christopher Bradley (NPA)
• Kathy Castor (DEM)
• Robert “Rocky” Rochford (REP)
• Nathaniel T. Snyder (LPF)

Representative in Congress - District 15

• Patricia “Pat” Kemp (DEM)
• Laurel Lee (REP)

Representative in Congress - District 16

• Vern Buchanan (REP)
• Jan Schneider (DEM)

State Representative - District 62

• Nelson Amador (REP)
• Michele K. Rayner (DEM)

State Representative - District 63

• Tim Driver (REP)
• Dianne “Ms. Dee” Hart (DEM)

State Representative - District 64

• Maura Cruz Lanz (REP)
• Susan L. Valdes (DEM)

State Representative - District 65

• Ashley Brundage (DEM)
• Karen Gonzalez Pittman (REP)

State Representative - District 66

• Nick Clemente (DEM)
• Traci Koster (REP)

State Representative - District 67

• Fentrice Driskell (DEM)
• Ronrico “Rico” Smith (REP)

State Representative - District 68

• Lisa Carpus (DEM)
• Tyrell Hicks (NPA)
• Lawrence McClure (REP)

State Representative - District 69

• Daniel “Danny” Alvarez (REP)
• Bobby Kachelries (DEM)

State Representative - District 70

• Michael Owen (REP)
• Luther Keith Wilkins (DEM)

Board of County Commissioners - District 2

• Patricia Altagracia Aonzo (DEM)
• Ken Hagan (REP)

Board of County Commissioners - District 4

• Christine Miller (REP)
• Nicole Payne (DEM)
• Matthew Taylor (NPA)

Board of County Commissioners - District 6

• Chris Boles (REP)
• Sean Shaw (DEM)

School Board - District 7 Runoff

• Karen Bendorf
• Lynn Gray

Additionally, Hillsborough County voters will also determine whether a Hillsborough County Schools referendum passes or fails.

They’ll vote yes or no on whether the district will continue its existing half-cent Community Investment sales tax beginning Dec. 1, 2026, through Dec. 31, 2041. If it passes, it will be used to fund infrastructure for transportation, public safety, public works, public facilities, utilities, and schools, with revenue shared among the county, municipalities, and the school board.

Voters will also decide on six proposed amendments to the state constitution:

Amendment 1: Partisan School Board Races

This measure proposes to amend the state constitution to require Florida school board candidates to be elected in a partisan election rather than through the nonpartisan elections currently in place.

Amendment 2: Fishing, Hunting Rights

This measure proposes to amend the state constitution to "preserve forever fishing and hunting" as a public right and a preferred way of managing Florida's fish and wildlife populations.

Amendment 3: Recreational Marijuana

Amendment 3 would legalize the use of recreational marijuana in Florida. If the measure passes, adults 21 years and older could possess up to three ounces of marijuana, as well as purchase and use marijuana products and accessories for non-medical reasons.

Amendment 4: Abortion Access

If passed, Amendment 4 would prohibit state lawmakers from creating any law that would prohibit, penalize or restrict a person's right to an abortion before viability — considered somewhere over 20 weeks into pregnancy — or when necessary to protect the patient’s health.

Amendment 5: Adjusted Homestead Exemptions

This measure proposes to amend the state constitution to require an annual adjustment for inflation for the value of current or future homestead exemptions. If passed, the measure would create an inflation adjustment for the second half of a property owner’s $50,000 reduction from the taxable value of their home.

Amendment 6: Public Campaign Financing

This measure proposes to amend the state constitution to repeal public campaign financing, a subsidy currently available for statewide candidates like the governor, attorney general and commissioner of agriculture who agree to spending limits.

• Also Read: FL Voters To Decide On 6 Constitutional Amendments