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Register To Vote By Monday

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By KAREN BRANCH-BRIOSO, The Tampa Tribune

Published: December 27, 2007

Updated: 12/27/2007 12:13 am

Before heading to that New Year's Eve party Monday, don't forget: Dec. 31 also is the deadline to register to vote in January's presidential primaries.

So what, you say? You think Jan. 29 won't matter because you're not a registered Republican or Democrat -- like 24 percent of the voters in Hillsborough, Pasco and Pinellas counties?

Any voter can cast a ballot on a statewide constitutional amendment affecting property taxes. Also, if independents or minor-party members switch to one of the major parties by Monday, they can vote in a primary, too.

Pasco County Elections Supervisor Brian Corley is finding many dismayed voters these days.

Although Florida Democrats pick presidential candidates Jan. 29, the Democratic National Committee is punishing the state for holding its primary a week earlier than national rules allow. The DNC plans to take away Florida's convention delegates. The Republican National Committee is penalizing Florida by withdrawing half its delegates.

"When I'm out giving presentations and speeches, ... I do seem to get a pretty good number of people expressing concerns that their votes" won't count, Corley said.

"During the 'Q and A,' I do seem to get a lot of that even after I've told the voters, 'If you're a Democrat, you have a reason to vote. If you're a Republican, you have a reason to vote. If you're an independent, you have a reason to vote with that constitutional amendment.'"

The amendment would:

•Double the $25,000 homestead exemption on a home's value, shielding that amount from all property taxes except those that pay for schools.

•Allow homeowners to transfer up to $500,000 of their Save Our Homes benefit that strictly limits increases in taxable value of their home when they move to a new home.

•Create a $25,000 exemption on tangible personal property.

•Cap increases on nonhomestead property's taxable value at a maximum of 10 percent per year. (The cap won't apply for school district taxes.)

If you're not registered, times a-wastin'. Go to an elections office, public library or driver's license office to register by the close of business Monday. Current voters also can go there to switch party affiliation.

You also can download the form and mail it to your county's supervisor of elections. You can find both forms here. Click on "voter registration."

Just be sure it's postmarked by Monday, says Sharon Smith, Hillsborough's deputy supervisor for voter services.

Reporter Karen Branch-Brioso can be reached at (813) 259-7815 or at kbranch-brioso @tampatrib.com.

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