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A Guide To The Primary

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The Tampa Tribune

Published: January 6, 2008

Updated: 01/06/2008 12:13 am

What You're Voting On

Presidential Nominees

Florida holds closed primaries, meaning only those registered with a particular party can vote in that party's presidential preference primary.

All voters can vote on the state constitutional amendment on property taxes.

On the Democratic ballot: Joe Biden, Hillary Rodham Clinton, Chris Dodd, John Edwards, Mike Gravel, Dennis Kucinich, Barack Obama and Bill Richardson. Biden and Dodd dropped out of the race after the ballot was set.

On the Republican ballot: Rudy Giuliani, Mike Huckabee, Duncan Hunter, Alan Keyes, John McCain, Ron Paul, Mitt Romney, Tom Tancredo and Fred Thompson. Tancredo dropped out after the ballot was set.

In both primaries, it's possible other candidates may drop out by Jan. 29. It's common for presidential candidates to drop out if they perform poorly in early primaries.

Their names, however, will appear on the ballot, and voters won't get notification at the polls as to which candidates remain in the race.

Property Tax Amendment

The proposed constitutional amendment would increase the homestead exemption and allow up to $500,000 of a homeowner's Save Our Homes exemption to transfer to another homesteaded property.

To see what this would mean to you, go to TBO.com, Keyword: Tax Calculator.

To see the ballot language, go to TBO.com, Keyword: Property Tax.

Coming Next Sunday In The Tribune

We'll tell you what you need to know before you vote on the property tax constitutional amendment. Also, we'll tell you where the presidential candidates stand on issues, including the economy and Iraq.

Early Voting

Here's what you need to know to cast your vote:

When: Jan. 14-26

Where:

County Center, 601 E. Kennedy Blvd., 16th floor

Hours: 9 a.m.-5 p.m.

South Shore Regional Library, 15816 Beth Shields Way

Hours: 10 a.m.-6 p.m.

Robert L. Gilder Elections Service Center, 2514 N. Falkenburg Road

Hours: 9 a.m.-5 p.m.

Temple Terrace Public Library, 202 Bullard Parkway

Hours: 10 a.m.-6 p.m.

Plant City, City Hall, 302 W. Reynolds St.

Hours: 9 a.m.-5 p.m.

Riverview Branch Library, 10509 Riverview Drive

Hours: 10 a.m.-6 p.m.

College Hill Branch Library, 2607 E. Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Blvd.

Hours: 10 a.m.-6 p.m.

West Tampa Branch Library, 2312 W. Union St.

Hours: 10 a.m.-6 p.m.

Bloomingdale Regional Public Library, 1906 Bloomingdale Ave.

Hours: 10 a.m.-6 p.m.

New Tampa Regional Library, 10001 Cross Creek Blvd.

Hours: 10 a.m.-6 p.m.

Upper Tampa Bay Regional Public Library, 11211 Countryway Blvd.

Hours: 10 a.m.-6 p.m.

Jimmie B. Keel Regional Library, 2902 W. Bearss Ave.

Hours: 10 a.m.-6 p.m.

Jan Kaminis Platt Regional Library: 3910 S. Manhattan Ave.

Hours: 10 a.m.-6 p.m.

Identification

You must present current photo identification with a signature to vote. If you do not have both on one ID, you must present one with a photo, the other with a signature.

Acceptable forms of identification include: a Florida driver's license, Florida ID card issued by a state agency, U.S. passport, employee badge, buyer's club card (such as Costco, Sam's Club or Price Club), debit/credit card, military ID, student ID, retirement center ID, neighborhood association ID or a public assistance ID.

Absentee Ballots

New state laws allow registered voters to request an absentee ballot for all elections through the next two general elections.

Voters may request absentee ballots in person, by phone at (813) 612-4180, mail, fax, e-mail or on the Web site at www.votehillsborough.org.

Absentee ballots also may be requested by anyone in a voter's immediate family.

The deadline to have the ballot for the presidential primary is 5 p.m. Jan. 23. Ballots must be returned by mail or delivered to either of the Hillsborough County Supervisor of Elections offices no later than 7 p.m. Jan. 29.

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