With primary elections only a week away, early voting around Gainesville has begun for citizens seeking to cast an early ballot.
Early voting continues this week, with polls open from 10 a.m to 6 p.m. Monday to Friday. Polls will also be open from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Saturday, which is the last day to vote.
The primary election will be held Tuesday.
Florida is a closed primary state, which means citizens who wish to vote in a partisan primary election must be a registered voter in the party the primary is being held. However, all registered voters, regardless of party affiliation, can vote on issues and non-partisan candidates in a primary election.
In the state-wide election, the seat for Florida senator is up for grabs.
In the local elections, candidates will face off for positions on the county commission, property appraiser, school board district and police sheriff.
According to the Alachua County Supervisor of Elections website, there are currently three locations for Gainesville residents to cast early ballots: the Supervisor of Elections Office at 12 SE First St.; Millhopper Branch Library at 3145 NW 43rd St.; and Tower Road Branch Library at 3020 SW 75th St.
In order to cast a ballot, voters are required to present a current and valid picture identification with a signature to voting officials.
The Alachua County races are listed below:
Non-Partisan Races
School Board District 4
Leanetta McNealy
Barbara Sharpe
Jodi Wood
Democratic Party Races
United States Senator
Glenn. A Burkett
Bill Nelson
County Commission District 1
Mike Byerly
Roberta C. Lopez
County Commission District 3
Ken Cornell
Robert “Hutch” Hutchinson
County Commission District 5
Charles S. Chestnut, IV
Property Appraiser
Ed Crapo
Alonzo V. Perkins
Republican Party Races
United States Senator
Connie Mack
Mike McCalister
Marielena Stuart
Dave Weldon
George LeMieux or Deon Long are no longer running.
Florida State Representative District 3
James Jett
Steve Oelrich
Clifford B. “Cliff” Steams
Ted Yoho
County Commission District 1
Brandon C. Kutner
John Martin
Kevin Riordan
County Commission District 3
Jean Claderwood
County Commission District 5
Dean Cheshire
Write-In Candidates
Sheriff
Tony Sims (Write-In)
County Commission District 3
Bryan C. Buchanan (Write-in)
Property Appraiser
Syed Mohammad I. Haider (Write-In)
Sheriff
John Annarumma (Ind)
Saidie Darnell (Dem)
County Commission District 5
K. Siva Prasad (Ind.)
Contact Chris Alcantara at calcantara@alligator.org.
