ST. PETERSBURG, Fla. — The 2024 presidential primary election is finally here, and it's the last chance for Floridians to have their say. Voters in Clearwater also will determine who will become the city's next mayor.
Early voting is over, and voting on Election Day comes with different guidelines. So before you head to the nearest poll, here's everything you need to know to ensure your voice is heard.
Where do I vote?
Unlike early voting, where you have several options of where you can vote, Floridians have to go to their assigned voting precinct to cast a ballot on Election Day.
Your county's elections website has a "precinct finder" that will tell you where to go based on where you live. Click on your county below to access the tool:
How long are the polls open?
All polls, regardless of county or precinct, are open from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. on Election Day. According to the Florida Division of Elections, as long as you are in line by 7 p.m., you can vote.
What do I need to bring with me?
Each person must bring a "current and valid" photo ID with their signature on it. That would include a Florida diver's license, a United States passport or a military identification card, among plenty of other options. You can find a full list here.
Voters are allowed to bring a sample ballot with notes if they wish.
Who will be listed on the ballot?
Only registered Republicans will choose their party'/ nominee because Florida is a closed primary state. The Florida Democratic Party unanimously voted for President Joe Biden to be named on a primary ballot in October 2023, effectively canceling the state's primary election by making him the only option as opposed to the other Democratic candidates Marianne Williamson and Dean Phillips, who already dropped out.
However, Biden and former President Donald Trump, a Republican, recently clinched enough delegates to become their parties' presumptive nominees.
Voters in Clearwater will decide which of two candidates will become the city's mayor. The election comes about one year after former Mayor Frank Hibbard suddenly resigned from the position in the middle of a city council meeting over spending issues. Now, city councilmember Kathleen Beckman and attorney Bruce Rector are going head-to-head for the role.
10 Tampa Bay reporter Aaron Parseghian sat down for a one-on-one interview with both candidates.
Here's what Beckman had to say:
Here is the conversation with Rector:
For more information on Election Day in Florida, you can visit the Florida Division of Elections website.