CAPE CORAL, Fla. — As we get close to election day county election officials in Southwest Florida say voters need to know everything before heading to the polls to cast their ballot. While many have mailed in ballots, plenty of voters plan to head to the polls, but you could run into long wait times if you are not prepared.
One way to avoid any voting issues is to have a photo signature I.D.
“There are 12 variations of voter I.D. that are acceptable in the state of Florida. You can see which one those are at colliervotes.com, but voters who do not bring I.D. with them will still be able to vote, but they will vote a provisional ballot and that can also take additional time,” said Trish Robertson, Public Relations Officer with the Collier County Office of Elections.
In a statement Tommy Doyle with Lee County Office of Elections says to speed up the process print and fill out your sample ballot.
“We recommend voters bring their custom sample ballot pre-marked with notes on how they plan to vote. That way they have time to consider their voting decisions before they get to the polling place,” said Tommy Doyle, Lee County Supervisor of Elections.
Make sure you know your polling location and check your voter status. Verify your name and address are correct because making changes at the polls will slow down the process.
On the other hand, COVID-19 is a big concern for voters, especially for those facing physical challenges. Robertson says standing in long lines won't be ideal for some people, so poll workers have been trained on how to help them.
“We’ll work with the voters in line in between that person's spot and also the poll deputy will be out there to assist in saving that spot,” said Robertson.
Voters are also being advised to bring water, rain gear, and most importantly, patience. Robertson says, after all, workers at polling locations are volunteers, just wanting to help you cast your ballot.
“Who just want to help voters exercise their right to vote, so please bring patience with them. Please make sure you thank your poll workers and enjoy the experience they are putting on for you,” said Robertson.
For more information on early voting or in-person voting on November 3rd be sure to visit, lee.vote, colliervotes.com, and charlottevotes.com
