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More than half of eligible voters in Hillsborough County have already cast their ballots before Election Day.
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More than half of eligible voters in Hillsborough County have already cast their ballots before Election Day.

Only three days left until Election Day and more than half of eligible voters in Hillsborough County have already voted, either by mail or in person, according to Hillsborough County Elections Supervisor Craig Latimer.

On Saturday morning, more than 200 employees, people who manage polling places, picked up supplies before Tuesday, such as administrative forms and electronic poll books that register voters, at the Robert L. Gilder Election Services Center.

“This is a massive operation,” Latimer said. “We have over 200 people coming here today to pick up supplies. We need to make sure we get the right supplies to the right polling place, to the right precinct, and we have a great team to help them. They have did well. So they did a good job, I’m very proud of them,” he said.

The county also hired more than 2,500 poll workers to help with the election.

“I only have 50 full-time employees in my office. There’s no way we can run this election for 857,000 voters. So, these people are very important. But, you know, I always say these are people community that ensures that people in our community can vote and feel like they have a safe and secure election and that their ballots will be counted accurately,” Latimer said.

According to Latimer, there was a massive turnout for early voting. More than 30,000 people voted on Friday alone.

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“It gives everyone the opportunity to come out at their own pace to make everyone’s vote count,” said Gretchen Salisbury, who voted Saturday in Hillsborough.

“It was easy, very organized and very nice,” she said. “I believe my vote will be counted… It’s important. That’s democracy,” Salisbury said.

As long as you are registered to vote in your respective county, you can go to any early voting site in your area, but on Election Day, be sure to go to your assigned precinct.

“Be sure to bring one of the acceptable forms of identification. There are several. You can go to our website and see what they are. The simplest is a driver’s license or ID card. ‘Florida identity. Once you’re there, you’re going to register. You’re going to receive a ballot. Go to the privacy booth and vote, and then you’re going to go up, and you’re going to put it in the tabulator yourself. you’ I will see on the screen that the count has been completed,” Latimer said, describing what voters can expect at polling places.

Double-check your precinct on your local supervisor of elections website, as several people in the Tampa Bay area have had to move due to hurricane damage.

Sunday is the last day of early voting in many area counties. Polling stations open at 7 a.m. and close at 7 p.m. Polls open at 7 a.m. on Election Day.

If you vote by mail, make sure it’s at an early voting site or secure polling place before 7 p.m. Tuesday, otherwise it won’t count. If this is not possible, turn in your ballot and you can vote in person.

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