Exercise right to vote

Pasco County Elections Supervisor Brian Corley fields countless phone calls and e-mail from people demanding to know why they can't vote in a Republican primary if they are not registered Republicans. Each time, Corley tells voters the same thing: Florida is a closed-primary state.

"There are a lot of people from out-of-state who now vote here, and the laws (in their home state) may be different," he said.

Still, Corley said, there are several important local races to be voted on Tuesday, and he hopes for a sizeable turnout, despite early estimates that only about 20 percent of eligible voters are expected to head to the polls.

"Who has more day-to-day impact on our daily lives than the county commission and the school board?" Corley said. "And look at all the people vying for these seats. The school board is the (county's) largest employer, and a sizeable number of people won't vote in those contests. I always encourage people to be knowledgeable and informed.

"We sent every voter a sample ballot. We encourage them to do their research, and come out and make a difference. When people come in with sample ballots in their hands, it tells us they're making informed decisions, and it helps the process go faster."

Early voting for Tuesday's primary ended Saturday. Corley said more than 6,200 people had voted early as of noon Wednesday, so this year's number of early voters should eclipse the previous high of about 6,600, set in 2006.

Tuesday's voting hours are 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. Voters must bring identification with their photograph and signature, such as a driver's license, state-issued identification card or passport.

"What I'm hearing from my colleagues around the state is that turnout won't be as high as we'd like" on Tuesday, Corley said. "But the voters who do come out and vote have strong opinions."

For information about local races and candidates, precincts, the voting system and more, visit www.pascovotes.com.