Gainesville residents can start casting early ballots today for the Gainesville City Commission at-large 1 runoff election.
Early voting will be open from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. today through Friday and from noon to 4 p.m. Saturday and Sunday. Registered voters can cast their ballots at the Supervisor of Elections County Administration Building at 12 SE First St., according to the Supervisor of Elections website.
Election day is Feb. 28.
Lauren Poe, a former District 2 city commissioner, and Nathan Skop, a former commissioner on the Florida Public Service Commission, will compete for the seat.
Pam Carpenter, Alachua County supervisor of elections, said early voting in runoff elections has historically brought a 15 to 17 percent voter turnout.
In the April City Commission run-off, 16.5 percent of voters registered in District 2 and District 3 cast ballots.
She hopes that percentage will be higher in this year's runoff election.
"A lot of people seem to be engaged in the city elections issues right now," she said. "So perhaps we will see a stronger turnout."
Carpenter said voters are required to bring a photo and signature identification in order to cast early or absentee ballots under Florida law.
Voters also need to have their addresses updated prior to early voting, which can be done by contacting the Supervisor of Elections office, she said.
Frank Plageman, 19-year-old political science sophomore, said students should use the early voting period if they can't vote on election day.
Plageman said he knew students who planned to vote in previous elections but didn't because they did not have time.
"With a week of early voting, there really isn't an excuse not to vote," he said.
