Early Voting starts on October 22 and ends on November 2

[Rainger99]

EARLY VOTING
October 22 - November 2, 2024
9 AM - 6 PM
Voters can vote at any Early Voting Location

There are seven early voting locations in Sumter County. Six are in the Villages and the seventh is in Bushnell.

Sumter County Maps (https://www.sumterelections.org/Maps/Sumter-County-Maps)

[Lottoguy]

Already voted and got my confirmation via email.

[Taltarzac725]

I voted by mail and sent it in the next day.

[justjim]

A good way to avoid the lines on Election Day. In 2020 4 million plus Floridian's voted early including mail ballots. It will probably be more in 2024.

[Rainger99]

A good way to avoid the lines on Election Day. In 2020 4 million plus Floridian's voted early including mail ballots. It will probably be more in 2024.

This will be my first presidential election in Florida. What are the lines like on election day?
I have always voted on election day (it used to be the only option) but I don't want to spend hours waiting in line.

https://www.flsenate.gov/UserContent/Session/2011/Publications/InterimReports/pdf/2011-118ee.pdf

[OrangeBlossomBaby]

This will be my first presidential election in Florida. What are the lines like on election day?
I have always voted on election day (it used to be the only option) but I don't want to spend hours waiting in line.

https://www.flsenate.gov/UserContent/Session/2011/Publications/InterimReports/pdf/2011-118ee.pdf

When I voted in the 2020 election on Election day, it was at the Lady Lake library. The line was out the door and up to the parking lot. It went fairly quickly but since the election booths were on the 2nd floor, they had to deal with just two elevators and their limited capacities. On the other hand, that did seem to pace things nicely. I was in line at the edge of the parking lot, and back into my car to drive home all within an hour.

That's ON Election day. If you vote early and wait until a few days after the first day, you'll probably see no lines at all.

[mlmarr]

When I voted in the 2020 election on Election day, it was at the Lady Lake library. The line was out the door and up to the parking lot. It went fairly quickly but since the election booths were on the 2nd floor, they had to deal with just two elevators and their limited capacities. On the other hand, that did seem to pace things nicely. I was in line at the edge of the parking lot, and back into my car to drive home all within an hour.

That's ON Election day. If you vote early and wait until a few days after the first day, you'll probably see no lines at all.

early voting/Lady Lake has moved to the building behind the Library.. no steps to climb/larger location

[Taltarzac725]

early voting/Lady Lake has moved to the building behind the Library.. no steps to climb/larger location

Good to hear. I did not like the parking problem when I would go to that library nor the crowds in the library.

[Bay Kid]

I always vote asap.

[cjky2k]

[QUOTE=Bay Kid;2379510]I always vote asap.[/QUOT

Just FYI. If you have a bite my mail ballot and are worried about mailing it back, you can drop it off at any early voting location. You tell the poll worker at the door you want to just drop off a mail in ballot and they will send you to the right person. Goes in a locked and secured ballot box and the poll worker makes sure you have sealed and signed it properly. Just an option for those who worry about the mail. And if you drop it off, you can still track it online

[Accidental1]

I voted by mail and sent it in the next day.

We have to get rid of mail-in ballots because once you have mail-in ballots, you have crooked elections

[islandtiempo]

Thank you for the mail in ballot tip.

[ThirdOfFive]

This will be my first presidential election in Florida. What are the lines like on election day?
I have always voted on election day (it used to be the only option) but I don't want to spend hours waiting in line.

https://www.flsenate.gov/UserContent/Session/2011/Publications/InterimReports/pdf/2011-118ee.pdf
If you vote on Election day, I think a lot depends on where.

This will be our third election here. We vote at Savannah Center and there has never been a wait of more than maybe 15 minutes. The people running the show are super-efficient and the process is both fast and smooth.

Also, if there IS a rather long wait...there are a lot worse places to have to wait than Savannah Center.

[garrykolb]

EARLY VOTING
October 22 - November 2, 2024
9 AM - 6 PM
Voters can vote at any Early Voting Location

There are seven early voting locations in Sumter County. Six are in the Villages and the seventh is in Bushnell.

Sumter County Maps (https://www.sumterelections.org/Maps/Sumter-County-Maps)

Early voting starts on Monday, October 21 in Marion County and Lake County, one day earlier than in Sumter County.

[Rainger99]

Early voting starts on Monday, October 21 in Marion County and Lake County, one day earlier than in Sumter County.

That is interesting. No standard rule for the entire state??

These are the current statistics from the Florida Division of Elections.

Statistics - County Vote-by-Mail and Early Voting Reports (https://countyballotfiles.floridados.gov/VoteByMailEarlyVotingReports/PublicStats)

[justjim]

We have to get rid of mail-in ballots because once you have mail-in ballots, you have crooked elections

Your opinion. Our elections are not crooked and mail ballots are fine.

[paulajr]

We have to get rid of mail-in ballots because once you have mail-in ballots, you have crooked elections

I can only Speak for Sumter County, but “mail in” ballots have to be requested every year, are placed in a secure lock up, and counted on Election Day. You can also track the receipt of your ballot.

[Regorp]

EARLY VOTING
October 22 - November 2, 2024
9 AM - 6 PM
Voters can vote at any Early Voting Location

There are seven early voting locations in Sumter County. Six are in the Villages and the seventh is in Bushnell.

Sumter County Maps (https://www.sumterelections.org/Maps/Sumter-County-Maps)

Since 1972 I have voted in person on the day called Election Day and will continue to do it the traditional way always. Don't like early or mail in voting at all!!

[Carlsondm]

We have to get rid of mail-in ballots because once you have mail-in ballots, you have crooked elections
Substantiate the statement please.

I have voted by mail/ absentee ballot for over 20 years. It is wonderful for those on the road, caregivers, servicemen overseas, and recovering athletes and surgery patients. Most election workers vote by mail or absentee. My traveling daughter (a nurse) votes by mail. Essential for active, productive, mobile society. Fewer chances to catch something from the sneezers at the polls too.

[Jrn130]

Can I vote at Rohan if I’m considered in lake county?

[Topspinmo]

We have to get rid of mail-in ballots because once you have mail-in ballots, you have crooked elections

I don’t mind mail in ballots but there has to be cut off date well before the election day. Once polls close no more ballots excepted.

[Bill14564]

Can I vote at Rohan if I’m considered in lake county?

I believe you must vote in your own county.

[OrangeBlossomBaby]

We have to get rid of mail-in ballots because once you have mail-in ballots, you have crooked elections

There have been mail-in ballots since the Civil War, when soldiers were unable to vote in their precinct because they were stationed elsewhere. And since the Civil War, there has been NO statistically significant incidences of mail-in ballot fraud.

Yes, some folks have tried to vote twice - once with a mail-in and once at their voting location. But when that happens, the mail-in becomes invalid and doesn't count. In some cases, the person will be detained at the voting location and informed that they've already voted and can't vote again.

This is standard procedure and has been since the 1800s. Fear-based reactions of problems that don't exist, do nothing more than increase the profits for pharmaceutical companies that sell Xanax and Valium.

[OrangeBlossomBaby]

I don’t mind mail in ballots but there has to be cut off date well before the election day. Once polls close no more ballots excepted.

You can't refuse to accept mail that comes in after your arbitrary date. If it's POSTMARKED before that date, then you have to count it no matter when it shows up.

[OrangeBlossomBaby]

That is interesting. No standard rule for the entire state??

These are the current statistics from the Florida Division of Elections.

Statistics - County Vote-by-Mail and Early Voting Reports (https://countyballotfiles.floridados.gov/VoteByMailEarlyVotingReports/PublicStats)

There is a state-mandated date - but individual counties can allow voting earlier than that date. The mandate basically says all counties must begin to allow early voting BY a certain date (at the latest).

This benefits counties that are mostly rural, where it's more difficult for voters to get to their assigned voting location. It also benefits suburbs, where most voters work in a nearby city that might be in a different county, and don't have as much opportunity to get to the polls in their authorized locations.

If Election Day were made a National Holiday, things would be different, because employers would be required to give EVERYONE paid time off to vote that day. Full-timers would split shifts with other full-timers so that there's still coverage at the job.

But it's not a national holiday, and so those voting locations are insanely crowded during the lunch rush and from 6pm til closing. The rest of the day, people are at work. Now that some counties and some states have eliminated many voting locations, it's created even more of a gridlock. The only solutions to that, presently:

1. Force people to not vote (which some areas are trying to do by making it harder to get to the polls and putting unreasonable restrictions on mail-in and early voting)
2. Expand voting locations on Election Day
3. Expand hours on Election Day
4. Support more efficient mail-in voting options
5. Support more efficient early-vote options.

[ByebyeMichigan]

Such b.s…….what ever happened to election DAY ??????

[OrangeBlossomBaby]

Such b.s…….what ever happened to election DAY ??????

A single election day wasn't even a thing when our country was first founded and our first elections were held.

Mail-in voting has been a thing since the Civil War, and ALL of that was "early" voting, since the voter had to submit their vote through the mail BEFORE election day.

Early voting has been an established thing since 1864. You just didn't care about it enough to notice, until recently.

[Emkay56]

What about Lake County?

EARLY VOTING
October 22 - November 2, 2024
9 AM - 6 PM
Voters can vote at any Early Voting Location

There are seven early voting locations in Sumter County. Six are in the Villages and the seventh is in Bushnell.

Sumter County Maps (https://www.sumterelections.org/Maps/Sumter-County-Maps)

[Bill14564]

What about Lake County?

Lake County Supervisor of Elections > Voter Information > Early Voting (https://www.lakevotes.gov/Voter-Information/Early-Voting)

[Bay Kid]

Such b.s…….what ever happened to election DAY ??????

Good day to vote. Another manmade day off with pay some people while everyone else works to pay for their day off.

[Rzepecki]

Already voted and got my confirmation via email.

Ditto for my husband and me.

[Rzepecki]

We have to get rid of mail-in ballots because once you have mail-in ballots, you have crooked elections

I suggest you volunteer to work an election and you’ll find out how UN-crooked they are.

[Nana2Teddy]

I can only Speak for Sumter County, but “mail in” ballots have to be requested every year, are placed in a secure lock up, and counted on Election Day. You can also track the receipt of your ballot.

We dropped off our mail-in ballots at the elections office in the gold dome building in Wildwood yesterday. A clerk was taking the envelopes, checking that they were signed and sealed, and placing them directly in a secure box. There was a steady stream of voters dropping off ballots when we were there. We even got “I Voted” stickers, and info about tracking our ballots. It was a well oiled machine. Love not having to vote in person on Election Day.

[Two Bills]

We have to get rid of mail-in ballots because once you have mail-in ballots, you have crooked elections

Since 1972 I have voted in person on the day called Election Day and will continue to do it the traditional way always. Don't like early or mail in voting at all!!

I heard that some people still do money transactions using checks! :shocked:

[Michael 61]

After being forced to “mail only” voting in Colorado, it’s nice to be able to vote in person at my precinct on Election Day. Looking forward to voting the old-fashioned way in person on Election Day (my first presidential election as a Villager)

[ThirdOfFive]

Such b.s…….what ever happened to election DAY ??????
"The more they overthink the plumbin', the easier it is to stop up the drain". (Chief Engineer Montgomery Scott, NCC-1701, USS Enterprise).

[skarra]

I heard that some people still do money transactions using checks! :shocked:


Can you imagine how crazy people will get once we do electronic voting? Or when they find out that results are tabulated by computers?

[Rainger99]

Can I vote at Rohan if I’m considered in lake county?

When you say considered in Lake County, do you mean you live in Lake County?

If you live and are registered in Lake, you can’t vote in Sumter. They only have records for Sumter County voters.

They do not have records for the other 66 counties.

[blueash]

You can't refuse to accept mail that comes in after your arbitrary date. If it's POSTMARKED before that date, then you have to count it no matter when it shows up.

Close but no cigar for you. Different states have different rules about mail in ballots. Some (32) states require that the ballot arrive by election day, period. 18 states accept ballots postmarked by election day but arriving after election day.
Most, maybe all, have rules giving some leniency to overseas ballots.

Some states accept an early mail in ballot even if there is evidence the voter died between voting and election day. Others reject such ballots

(A side note... President Carter now age 100 voted early)

Here is FL's rule
A returned voted ballot must be received, regardless of postmark, by the Supervisor of Elections' office no later than 7:00 pm (local time) on Election Day. A 10-day extension exists for overseas voters only for Presidential Preference Primary and General Elections, provided the ballot is postmarked or dated by Election Day. Untimely received ballots are otherwise not counted.

HERE (https://www.ncsl.org/elections-and-campaigns/table-11-receipt-and-postmark-deadlines-for-absentee-mail-ballots) is the list of each state and territorial rule.

[ChristyLeah]

This will be my first presidential election in Florida. What are the lines like on election day?
I have always voted on election day (it used to be the only option) but I don't want to spend hours waiting in line.

https://www.flsenate.gov/UserContent/Session/2011/Publications/InterimReports/pdf/2011-118ee.pdf

There are more people working, machines and locations for early voting. Also, once your ballot is received, you won't be solicited anymore. No more phone calls, no more mailings, etc.

[JoMar]

Since 1972 I have voted in person on the day called Election Day and will continue to do it the traditional way always. Don't like early or mail in voting at all!!

Something for everyone.....:)

[Lottoguy]

In Florida voting on election day is never a problem. But, up north the weather can be terrible preventing some people from getting to their polling place. Mail in voting is secure and reliable.

[Topspinmo]

I can only Speak for Sumter County, but “mail in” ballots have to be requested every year, are placed in a secure lock up, and counted on Election Day. You can also track the receipt of your ballot.

Every state makes there own rules

[Topspinmo]

You can't refuse to accept mail that comes in after your arbitrary date. If it's POSTMARKED before that date, then you have to count it no matter when it shows up.


IMO that why should have cut off week before Election Day. So truck loads don’t show up at 7PM on Election Day by coincidence. Got all time in world to mail in ballot that shouldn’t be problem.

[Rainger99]

IMO that why should have cut off week before Election Day. So truck loads don’t show up at 7PM on Election Day by coincidence. Got all time in world to mail in ballot that shouldn’t be problem.

This is why you are a sage!!

[ThirdOfFive]

Since 1972 I have voted in person on the day called Election Day and will continue to do it the traditional way always. Don't like early or mail in voting at all!!
Concur. But Election Day voting is not an ironclad guarantee of no hankypanky.

Florida seems pretty secure on Election Day. The people running the show seem to know their jobs. You have to ID yourself which is not the case in every state. Case in point:

During our last election in Minnesota before moving to TV, my wife and I stood in line for quite some time before finally getting to the table where we collected our ballots. My wife was ahead of me in line: she gave her name and address, and sure enough, she was on the list. Came my turn, I just looked at the list, grunted and pointed to my name. I scrawled an illegible signature, collected my ballot, and voted.

I could have been anybody.

Make of that what you will.

[OrangeBlossomBaby]

Lake County early voting started today. I was out there before they opened, at around 9:40. The line was already out halfway past the playground of their community center building. By the time I got to the front door for my turn, the line was past the playground, and around 40 people had already gone before me.

The community was AWESOME - a lady came to the front asking if it was possible for her 93-year-old dad to get ahead in line, because he was struggling to stand. EVERYONE cheered him on as she led him to the door, ahead of the rest of us.

[bopat]

It's amazing how much energy and focus for just one day, one vote. I guess they all know the secret, eh?

[JoMar]

But where did the tootisie rolls go? :)

[4$ALE]

But where did the tootisie rolls go? :)

:mad: I wish I knew......that "I VOTED" sticker tastes terrible! :yuck:

[Bassdeer]

I suggest you volunteer to work an election and you’ll find out how UN-crooked they are.
I suggest you do a search on post office workers stealing ballots

[Bill14564]

I suggest you do a search on post office workers stealing ballots

Very few reports and those that I could find mentioned fewer than 100 ballots. If they can notice/catch mishandling or delaying as few as 10 ballots and if there have been fewer than a dozen cases reported then that seems to support the claim that elections are “UN-crooked.”

[Lottoguy]

"I scrawled an illegible signature". Do you realize your signature must match what is on file? Your taking a chance your vote won't count.

[kingofbeer]

"I scrawled an illegible signature". Do you realize your signature must match what is on file? Your taking a chance your vote won't count.
Vote in person. The signature must match what they have on file. They will let you sign again to try to match.

[JoMar]

Voted by mail in ballot and verified that both my and my wife's vote has been counted. I guess those who stand in line have a personal reason to do that but for me, I prefer to take the time to research and complete my ballot in the peace and quiet of my home where I can do research before filling in that circle. I also really don't like standing in lines when it's not necessary for me.

[OrangeBlossomBaby]

Voted by mail in ballot and verified that both my and my wife's vote has been counted. I guess those who stand in line have a personal reason to do that but for me, I prefer to take the time to research and complete my ballot in the peace and quiet of my home where I can do research before filling in that circle. I also really don't like standing in lines when it's not necessary for me.

I assumed Sumter county does the same as Lake county - in Lake county we get a sample ballot mailed to us before Election day. It shows exactly the same stuff that's on the real ballot, so we can research at home (though - many of us do that researching weeks and even months in advance before they even send those sample ballots out).

When I get to the voting location I know exactly which little bubbles I'll be filling in. Waiting in line can be tough for people with mobility difficulties though.

[Topspinmo]

You can't refuse to accept mail that comes in after your arbitrary date. If it's POSTMARKED before that date, then you have to count it no matter when it shows up.

Daa, we know that now way rules are written but IMO that’s need changed.
I said was that needs chanced to eliminate the change of or illusion of cheating. Don’t say dates can’t be manufactured. IMO (and I can have opinion) the cut off date for mail in votes needs to well before Nov 2 or what ever that last day or voting is. So if person too lazy to mail in vote before the cutoff too bad IMO.

[Topspinmo]

I assumed Sumter county does the same as Lake county - in Lake county we get a sample ballot mailed to us before Election day. It shows exactly the same stuff that's on the real ballot, so we can research at home (though - many of us do that researching weeks and even months in advance before they even send those sample ballots out).

When I get to the voting location I know exactly which little bubbles I'll be filling in. Waiting in line can be tough for people with mobility difficulties though.

Exactly, that why no need to wait to last day of last minute 99% going vote same old way anyway.

[Eg_cruz]

Did everyone get a sample ballot
For the first time I did not receive one

[Flyers999]

Did everyone get a sample ballot
For the first time I did not receive one

I did not get one either but my wife did (we live at the same address). But there are sample ballots online. We live in Marion county and early voted yesterday at Mulberry Rec , 4pm. So easy! We already knew what we were going to check. Hardly anyone there, zero wait time. The election volunteer workers were friendly, polite and smiling.

[Rainger99]

Daa, we know that now way rules are written but IMO that’s need changed.
I said was that needs chanced to eliminate the change of or illusion of cheating. Don’t say dates can’t be manufactured. IMO (and I can have opinion) the cut off date for mail in votes needs to well before Nov 2 or what ever that last day or voting is. So if person too lazy to mail in vote before the cutoff too bad IMO.

For early voting, all ballots should be received by the Board of Elections a week before Election Day and they should be counted before Election Day.

[OrangeBlossomBaby]

Exactly, that why no need to wait to last day of last minute 99% going vote same old way anyway.

There are lots of reasons to wait until the last day. Here are a few:

1. Wanting the experience of casting your vote ON Election Day, which is your most important, most sacred right as an American citizen.
2. You're out of the area and can't get to your assigned polling area until Election Day.
3. You've been in the hospital and haven't been physically capable of voting until Election Day.
4. You forgot, until Election Day.
5. The polling area for EARLY voting, is not in the same place as Election Day voting, and you don't want to have to go to that early voting location.

I was tempted to wait til Election Day, because I could've driven my golf cart to the voting location. Instead, I drove my car to the early voting location, which you can't get to by golf cart.

As for the "chance of or illusion of cheating" - the loser can ALWAYS say "the ballots were tainted!" or "the machines were corrupted!" or "the vote-counters were corrupted!" or whatever other spin they want to put on it. As long as there are people capable of creating conspiracy theories to accuse someone of cheating, there will be conspiracy theories.

The trick is to trust the system and let Democracy do its job.