John Willoughby
reporter2@greenepublishing.com
The 2020 election season is upon us and early voting is set to begin in Madison County. Citizens are preparing to hit the polls in anticipation of narrowing down federal, state and local races for the general election in November.
According to the Florida Division of Elections, early voting is defined as casting a ballot in person prior to Election Day at a location designated by the Supervisor of Elections and depositing the voted ballot in the tabulation system. The voter uses the same type of voting equipment that is used at the polls on Election Day. In all elections, when there is a state or federal office race, early voting is required to be available. Early voting may be offered in county, municipal and other local elections. Before you put pen to the ballot, here's what you need to know.
Polls will open on Monday, Aug. 3, at 8 a.m., for early voting at various locations (otherwise known as super voting sites), and will remain open until Saturday, Aug. 15, before reopening the polls once more to citizens on Tuesday, Aug. 18, for primary election day.
Registered voters may cast their ballots at any location, meaning a voter will not be tied down to one specific precinct or location until Tuesday, Aug. 18. If you are a registered voter in Madison County, you may vote at the following super voting sites:
Supervisor of Elections Annex:
239 SW Pinckney St., Madison
Monday through Friday,
8 a.m. to 6 p.m.
Saturday and Sunday:
7 a.m. to 3 p.m.
Lee City Hall:
286 NE County Road 255, Lee
Monday through Friday,
8 a.m. to 6 p.m.
Saturday and Sunday:
7 a.m. to 3 p.m.
Greenville Senior/Youth Center (next to town hall):
166 SW Onslow Trl., Greenville
Monday through Friday,
8 a.m. to 6 p.m.
Saturday and Sunday:
7 a.m. to 3 p.m.
Pinetta Volunteer Fire Department:
509 NE Persimmon Dr., Pinetta
Monday through Friday,
8 a.m. to 6 p.m.
Saturday and Sunday:
7 a.m. to 3 p.m.
Please have a valid photo ID and signature ID ready when voting early. Once polls close, no other residents will be able to vote until the primary elections on Tuesday, Aug. 18.
With COVID-19 concerns, vote-by-mail ballots will be made available to registered voters who are not comfortable making their way to the polls. The Madison County Supervisor of Elections office states that the last day to request vote-by-mail ballots will be Saturday, Aug. 8, via phone, web or in-person. Ballot pick-ups begin on Sunday, Aug. 9, and will be valid as long as the ballots are returned to the Supervisor of Elections office by 7 p.m. on Tuesday, Aug. 18.
For questions or concerns regarding the upcoming primary election, more information may be found at www.votemadison.com or by calling (850) 973-6507. The Madison County Supervisor of Elections office is located at 239 SW Pinckney St., in Madison.