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Tampa Bay area voters prepare for final weekend of early voting before Election Day
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Tampa Bay area voters prepare for final weekend of early voting before Election Day

With just a few days left until 2024 general electionTime for early voting is running out as hundreds of thousands of Floridians cast their ballots across the Tampa Bay area.

This weekend is the last weekend for early voting and lines at precincts show the final call. Some voters in Tampa said they waited 25 to 45 minutes to cast their ballots. Others in Tampa’s Jan Platt Library precinct decided to try again later.

“I just play it by ear and try to find the time. But, if I have to wait for Election Day, you have to do what you have to do. So I always try to participate,” Tampa said. voter Parker Beladino.

2024 presidential election: Here’s the Bay Area voter guide

The Hillsborough County Supervisor of Elections reports that at least 436,000 people have so far voted by mail or in person as of Friday night. That’s a little more than 50% turnout and Pinellas County is hoping for the same.

“Voters are simply showing that they want their voices to be heard,” said Julie Marcus, Pinellas County supervisor of elections.

Political candidates like Ashley Brundage are spending these last few days going door to door. He is running as a Democrat for a Hillsborough County seat in the state House of Representatives for District 65.

“It’s an opportunity at every moment to reach voters,” Brundage said. “The people I’m talking to belong to the undecided universe. They are people who are not affiliated with any party, they are independent, libertarian and I am also calling some Republicans.”

READ: Americans Anxious, Frustrated About 2024 Presidential Race, Poll Finds

His opponent and incumbent, Republican candidate Karen González Pittman, is running for re-election in District 65 and is spending the day outside the Platt Library polling place in Tampa.

“Today I have been strategizing for Election Day,” González Pittman said. “People are excited to vote in this election. Something I’m really noticing this time is that they’re excited. They’re excited and they’re getting out.”

The hurricanes didn’t stop the process, but hard-hit Pinellas County had to pivot.

“Thank God we were able to have our seven early voting locations, so they were the same. But we will have changes to the voting locations for Election Day,” Marcus said.

Sarasota and Manatee counties will also have some changes to Election Day voting sites on Tuesday due to recent storms. So be sure to check your local supervisor of elections website for any changes.

FURTHER: More than half of American voters will likely cast their ballot early, poll finds

“If you have any questions about address changes because you may have been displaced because your home was damaged, please call us,” Marcus said.

Early voting ends on Saturday or Sunday, depending on which county you live in within the Tampa Bay region.

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