Early voting starts Monday
By MEGHAN BRADBURY
The Supervisor of Elections encourages those voters who have not yet cast their mail-in ballots take advantage of Early Voting, which begins Monday morning.
Supervisor of Elections Tommy Doyle said Wednesday afternoon that they have checked in almost 56,000 mail-in ballots.
“I’m anticipating between 100,000 to 120,000, maybe more. We are getting hundreds of requests for vote by mail (ballots). I’m expecting at least 70 percent of those returned,” he said. “This election is probably going to be a turnout similar to a presidential election with a 70 percent total turnout.”
Those who did not receive a vote by mail ballot are encouraged to take advantage of early voting sites. The 10 locations will remain open from Oct. 22, through Nov. 3, including weekends.
The sites are the same 10 locations as the Primary Election, which include Cape Coral Elections Office, 1039 SE 9th Avenue; Cape Coral Lee County Library, 921 S.W. 39th Terrace; Northwest Regional Library, 519 Chiquita Boulevard, North; Lee County Elections Center, 13180 S. Cleveland Ave.; North Fort Myers Recreation Center, 2000 N. Recreation Parkway; Fort Myers Regional Library, 2450 First Street; Lee County Elections Bonita Springs Branch Office, 25987 S. Tamiami Trail No. 105; Veterans Park Recreation Center, 55 S. Homestead Road; Estero Recreation Center, 9200 Corkscrew Palms Blvd. and East County Regional Library, 881 Gunnery Road N.
The sites are open from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. each day.
“Early voting, or Election Day voting, have your sample ballot already filled out to use as a cheat sheet,” Doyle said. “We mailed out sample ballots last week. You can go online (lee.vote) to find your ballot and print it out and use it as a cheat sheet at the polls.”
This year’s ballot includes three full pages. Some precincts will have a fourth side with one or two items.
There are 12 Constitutional amendments on the ballot. The state Supreme Court ruled Wednesday to allow amendments seven, nine and eleven, which had been challenged, to stand.
“They are still viable amendments,” Doyle said.
Those who would like to review the amendments can do so at lee.vote. The amendment guide includes such information as the pros and cons of each and what happens if the vote is yes, or no.
Races on the General Election ballot include:
* United States Senator: Rick Scott (Rep) and Bill Nelson (Dem)
* Governor and Lieutenant Governor: Ron DeSantis, Jeanette Nunez (Rep); Andrew Gillum, Chris King (Dem); Darcy G. Richardson, Nancy Argenziano (Ref); Kyle “KC” Gibson, Ellen Wilds (NPA); Ryan Christopher Foley, John Tutton Jr. (NPA) and Bruce Stanley, Ryan Howard McJury (NPA)
* Attorney General: Ashley Moody (Rep); Sean Shaw (Dem) and Jeffrey Marc Siskind
* Chief Financial Officer: Jimmy Patronis (Rep) and Jeremy Ring (Dem)
* Commissioner of Agriculture: Matt Caldwell (Rep) and Nicole “Nikki” Fried (Dem)
* State Attorney 20th Judicial Circuit: Amira Fox (Rep)
* Representative in Congressional District 17 (Only those residing in District 17, which includes North Fort Myers) may vote): Greg Steube (Rep) and April Freeman – Allen Ellison – (Dem)
* Representative in Congressional District 19 (Only those residing in District 19, which includes Cape Coral) may vote): Francis Rooney (Rep) and David Holden (Dem)
* State Representative District 76 (Only those residing in District 76): Ray Rodrigues (Rep) and David Bogner (Dem)
* State Representative District 77 (Only those residing in District 77, which includes most of Cape Coral): Dan Eagle (Rep) and Alanis Elizabeth Garcia (Dem)
* State Representative District 78 (Only those residing in District 78): Heather Fitzenhagen (Rep) and Parisima Taeb (Dem)
* State Representative District 79 (Only those residing in District 79, which includes most of North Fort Myers): Spencer Roach (Rep) and Mark Lipton (Dem)
* School Board Member District 4 (Only voters residing in District 4, mostly Cape Coral, North Fort Myers and Dunbar, regardless of party affiliation): Don Armstrong and Debbie Jordan
* School Board Member District 5 (Only voters residing in District 5, mostly Lehigh Acres, regardless of affiliation): Gwynetta “Gwyn” Gittens and Pam LaRiviere
* School Board Member District 6 (at large, everyone votes): Nicholas Alexander and Betsy Vaughn
Amendments:
* No. 1 Constitutional Amendment: Increased Homestead Property Tax Exemption
* No. 2 Constitutional Amendment: Limitations on Property Tax Assessments
* No. 3 Constitutional Amendment: Voter Control of Gambling in Florida
* No. 4 Constitutional Amendment: Voting Restoration Amendment
* No. 5 Constitutional Amendment: Supermajority Vote Required to Impose, Authorize, or Raise State Taxes or Fees
* No. 6 Constitutional Revision: Rights of Crime Victims, Judges
* No. 7 Constitutional Revision: First Responder and Military Member Survivor Benefits; Public Colleges and Universities
* No. 9 Constitutional Revision: Prohibits Offshore Oil and Gas Drilling; Prohibits Vaping in Enclosed Indoor Workplaces
* No. 10 Constitutional Revision: State and Local Government Structure and Operation
* No. 11 Constitutional Revision: Property Rights; Removal of Obsolete Provision; Criminal Statues
* No. 12 Constitutional Revision: Lobbying and Abuse of Office by Public Officers
* No. 13 Constitutional Revision: Ends Dog Racing
Referendums
* County School Board Referendum: (Everyone votes) Levy of one-half cent per dollar sales surtax for educational improvements, equipment and technology (Everyone votes)
* City of Cape Coral Bond Referendum: Cape Coral general obligation bonds for parks, wildlife habitat and shoreline protection and recreational facilities (All Cape Coral voters)