Pinellas 2024 General Election Voter Guide: Candidates, How To Vote

PINELLAS COUNTY, FL — In the general election, Pinellas County voters 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. They will also decide on state constitutional and county charter amendments.

While Election Day is Nov. 5, early voting is underway in the county through Nov. 3.

All Florida polling places are open from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. 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.

What’s on the Ballot

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

All Precincts

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 13

• Anna Paulina Luna (REP)
• Whitney Fox (DEM)

Representative in Congress - District 14

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

State Senator - District 21

• Ed Hooper (REP)
• Doris H. Carroll (DEM)

State Representative - District 57

• Adam C. Anderson (REP)
• Kelly Johnson (DEM)
• Robert “Bob” Arthur Larrivee (NPA)

State House - District 58

• Kimberly “Kim” Berfield (REP)
• Bryan Beckman (DEM)

State House - District 59

• Berny Jacques (REP)
• Dawn Douglas (DEM)

State House - District 60

• Ed Montanari (REP)
• Lindsay Cross (DEM)

State House - District 61

• Linda Chaney (REP)
• Nathan Bruemmer (DEM)

State House - District 62

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

Board of County Commissioner - District 1, At-Large

• Chris Scherer (REP)
• Joanne “Cookie” Kennedy (DEM)

Board of County Commissioner - District 3, At-Large

• Vince Nowicki (REP)
• Charlie Justice (DEM)

School Board - District 5

• Katie Blaxberg
• Stacy Geier

City of Dunedin

Mayor

• Maureen “Moe” Freaney
• John M. Shine
• John Tornga

Commissioner - Seat 1

• Tom Dugard
• Shane Warth

Commissioner - Seat 3

• Steven R. Sandbergen
• Kate Spangler

City of Largo

Commissioner - Seat 3

• Mike DiBrizzi
• Timmy Garten

Commissioner - Seat 4

• John Lauser
• Jamie Robinson

City of St. Petersburg

Council Member - District 3

• Pete Boland
• Mike Harting

Council Member - District 5

• Deborah Figgs-Sanders
• Torrie Jasuwan

Council Member - District 7

• Corey Givens Jr.
• Wengay “Newt” Newton

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

There are also a number of proposed Pinellas County charter amendments on the ballot, as well as a school board referendum question:

Amendment 1 - County Charter Amendment Providing for County Commissioner Term Limits

If passed, this would enact term limits on county commissioners who have held office for the preceding 12 years and require a minimum of four years off before serving again.

Amendment 2 - Revising County Initiative Petition Requirements and Process

If passed, provides a uniform time period for an initiative petition drive from September through April before a November general election, establishes monthly submission deadlines for signed petitions, requires tallies of verified petitions on the Supervisor of Elections website, and requires preparation of ballot translations and related procedures.

Amendment 3 - Lowering Signature Percentage for Petition Drives to Propose County Charter Amendments

If passed, this would reduce the number of signatures required for an initiative charter amendment from 8 to 5 percent of registered county voters.

Amendment 4 - Revising Thresholds for Appointment and Removal of County Attorney

If passed, this would allow the 12-member County Attorney Oversight Committee to select and appoint a county attorney by an eight-vote supermajority, and remove the county attorney by a seven-vote majority at two consecutive meetings or by an eight-vote supermajority at one meeting.

Amendment 5 - Referenda on County Charter Amendments to be Held at General Elections Only

If passed, this requires that county charter amendments placed on the ballot either through initiative petition or referred by the Board of County Commissioners be voted on only during even-numbered general elections.

Amendment 6 - Conforming Publication Requirements for County Charter Amendment Referenda to the Florida Election Code

If passed, this would change publication requirements for county charter amendment ballot questions to conform to those required by state law.

Amendment 7 - Pinellas Charter Cleanup Amendment

If passed, this would approve the removal of gender references and references to organizations that no longer exist from the county charter, and would call for an update to organization names.

School Board Referendum Question - Approval of One Mill Ad Valorem Tax for School District Operating Expenses with Independent Oversight

If passed, this would increase the Pinellas County School District ad valorem millage from one-half mill per year to one mill per year from July 1, 2025, through June 30, 2029, to fund operating expenses, including funds for recruiting and training teachers, providing updated technology, preserving music, art, and reading classes, among other expenses.

How to Vote in Pinellas 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 Pinellas County Supervisor of Elections website.

Those who opt to vote early through Nov. 3 can do so at the following locations:

• Countryside Recreation Center, 2640 Sabal Springs Drive, Clearwater
• Centre of Palm Harbor, 1500 16th Street, Palm Harbor
• Gulfport Neighborhood Center, 1617 49th Street S., Gulfport
• J.W. Cate Recreation Center, 5801 22nd Ave. N., St. Petersburg
• Supervisor of Elections Office - County Building, 501 First Ave. N., St. Petersburg
• Supervisor of Elections Office - County Courthouse, 315 Court Street, Room 117, Clearwater
• Supervisor of Elections Office - Election Service Center, 13001 Starkey Road, Starkey Lakes Corporate Center, Largo

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 may be mailed in and must be received by 7 p.m. on Nov. 5. They may also be dropped off at one of the secure ballot return locations throughout the county, which can be found here, through Nov. 3.

On Election Day, vote-by-mail ballots may be dropped off at one of the following locations by 7 p.m.:

• Supervisor of Elections Office - County Building, 501 First Ave. N., St. Petersburg
• Supervisor of Elections Office - County Courthouse, 315 Court Street, Room 117, Clearwater
• Supervisor of Elections Office - Election Service Center, 13001 Starkey Road, Starkey Lakes Corporate Center, Largo

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.