PANAMA CITY — Like Internet shopping, early voting is a time-saving alternative to long lines on Election Day.
Early voting begins Saturday and continues 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. through Aug. 23. Supervisor of Elections Mark Andersen recommends taking advantage of the early voting period as the best way to ensure a vote is timely and accurate.
“Our motto is ‘vote early and vote now,’ “ Andersen said.
One of the advantages of early voting is avoiding waits at any polling place. Andersen does not expect any lines to form during early voting times.
“Unless a bus shows up and drops off 150 people,” he said.
Bay County has four early voting polling locations: the main office at 830 W. 11th St. in Panama City, the Springfield Community Center at 3728 E. Third St., the Panama City Beach Senior Center at 423 Lyndell Road and Lynn Haven City Hall Annex at 108 E. Ninth St.
Ballots are separated based on political affiliation — Democrat, Republican and nonpartisan — and available at each polling place regardless of voter home addresses.
Most Bay County Republicans will have a chance to vote in the Republican primary for state House of Representatives District 6. Residents in northern Bay County, such as Fountain and West Bay, will vote in District 5.
Voters not casting ballots during the early voting period can vote Election Day, Aug. 26.
“Every election is key and important and the only vote that counts is the one that’s cast,” Andersen said.
Races in Bay County
Governor (GOP)
- Rick Scott (i)
- Yinka Abosede Adeshina
- Elizabeth Cuevas-Neunder
Governor (Democrat)
- Charlie Crist
- Nan H. Rich
Attorney General (Democrat)
- George Sheldon
- Perry Thurston
State Rep. District 5 (GOP)
- Brad Drake
- Jan Hooks
State Rep. District 6 (GOP)
- Tho Bishop
- Melissa Hagan
- Thelma Rohan
- Jay Trumbull
14th Circuit Court Judge
- Jim Fensom (i)
- Shalene Grover
- Gerard Virga
Note: This list only includes competitive primary races on Bay County ballots.
(i) denotes incumbent