Voters to experience a new kind of election

Widespread changes being implemented at polling locations

As voters arrive at one of South Florida’s 1,362 polling places on Tuesday, they’ll discover a new kind of voting experience, with widespread changes implemented because of the COVID-19 pandemic.

Poll workers will be wearing masks — and voters are expected to do the same in Broward, Miami-Dade and Palm Beach counties, where the government has ordered facial coverings in public settings.

On the way in, people will be directed to observe social distancing while waiting in line, if there is one. Inside, they’ll find hand sanitizer.

Checking in will be different. Voters won’t have to hand over their drivers licenses. For this election, they can be scanned without a poll worker’s touch.

And pens won’t be reused.

Here’s everything you need to know for a smooth voting experience in the Democratic and Republican primaries, and nonpartisan elections in the three counties that are open to all voters.

When and where

Neighborhood polling places are open from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. People who arrive on time and are in line before the polls close will be allowed to vote.

Unlike early voting, people have to vote in their neighborhood polling places on Election Day.

Several dozen polling places have changed since the 2018 midterm elections, said Elections Supervisors Peter Antonacci in Broward and Wendy Sartory Link in Palm Beach County.

A new voter information card, commonly referred to as a voter registration card, was mailed to anyone whose polling place was

changed, giving the new location. Polling place locations are also on county elections websites.

Wait times

Expect little or no waiting, Antonacci said. “Everything will be quite fast,” he said.

For one thing, turnout for August elections is usually low. Also, so many people have switched to mail voting that most people who want to vote have already done so.

What’s on the ballot

Registered Democrats and Republicans will pick nominees to represent their parties in November elections for Congress, state Legislature and County Commission.

Florida is a closed primary state, which means only registered Democrats and Republicans can vote in the party primaries.

But there are some elections for all Broward, Miami-Dade and Palm Beach county voters. Those races include judicial and school board contests. A candidate who gets more than 50% of the vote wins. Otherwise, there’s a runoff in November.

Some primaries (such as the contest for circuit court clerk in Broward and supervisor of elections in Palm Beach County) are open to all voters because only Democrats are running. Because there’s no other candidate in November, the winner on Tuesday will get the four-year term in the job.

Bring an ID

The most important thing is having photo identification that includes a signature.

A driver’s license or state-issued ID card is best, but other accepted forms include passports, debit or credit cards, and identification for members of the military, students, retirement centers, neighborhood associations, public assistance, and Veterans Administration health care and government employees.

If the photo ID doesn’t include a signature, another piece of identification with a signature is required.

A voter identification card, often referred to as a voter registration card, isn’t required.

What’s allowed

You’re allowed to bring a marked sample ballot, palm card or other information into the polling place to help you remember your choices.

You can can wear election buttons, T-shirts and other indications of support for a candidate when you go to vote. Campaign attire doesn’t count as illegal electioneering at the polls, Link said.

You may take a picture of your ballot, owing to a recent change in state law.

You can get a replacement ballot if you make a mistake. But tell a poll worker before putting a marked ballot in the scanner. Once that’s done, the vote is cast, and the ballot can’t be replaced.

Not allowed

People can’t attempt to sway voters in the no-campaign zone or hang around in that area after they’ve voted, acting as a human campaign billboard.

People aren’t allowed to take selfies in a polling place because they might end up having someone else in the image.

Mail ballots

It’s too late to return a mail ballot via the mail. They’re due at each county’s Supervisor of Elections Office headquarters by 7 p.m. on Election Day. Postmarks don’t count.

Mail ballots cannot be dropped off at polling places on Election Day, though they can be brought to supervisor of elections offices.

And someone who has received a mail ballot but wants to vote in person can do so on Election Day

Antonacci, Link and Miami-Dade Supervisor of Elections Christina White said the voter check-in system stops someone from voting more than once. For example, if a mail ballot has been processed, the person won’t be allowed to vote in person.

“There’s no risk that somebody votes in person and by mail. Whichever happens first is what gets counted,” Link said.

Address changes

If you’ve moved, and are still living in the same county, you can still vote.

Don’t go to your old polling place. Go instead to the polling place for the new address.