Deadline approaches to register to vote for primary elections

Voters emerge from Sabathani Community Center after casting their ballots during municipal elections Tuesday, Nov. 2, 2021, in Minneapolis. Voters in Minneapolis are deciding whether to replace the city’s police department with a new Department of Public Safety. The election comes more than a year after George Floyd’s death launched a movement to defund or abolish police across the country.(David Joles /Star Tribune via AP)

Early voting for the primary election starts less than a month from now, which means deadlines are fast approaching.

Early voting for Southwest Florida residents provides a convenient opportunity for voters to cast their ballots ahead of Election Day.

On Aug. 20 we have primary elections before the general election in November.

One thing voters may need a reminder of is that all previous vote-by-mail requests expired in Florida at the end of 2022. If you plan to vote by mail in 2024, you must submit a new request form.

Also important to remember is that since Florida is a closed primary state, only voters who are registered political party members may vote for their respective party’s candidate in a primary election. The voter registration and party change deadline for the 2024 Primary Election is July 22.

The deadline to register to vote is 29 days before any election.

Voters can check their registration status by going to the Lee Supervisor of Elections website.

“Go on our website, Lee.vote,” said Tommy Doyle, Lee supervisor of elections. “You can check your registration by putting in your your name and your last four of your Social Security or your Florida ID or Florida driver’s license.”

Provided below are the counties where you can register to vote, along with their early voting dates:

Collier County: Aug. 10

Early Voting

Aug. 10 – Aug. 17 | 10 a.m. – 6 p.m.

Offices

Main office: Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Building, 3750 Enterprise Ave., Naples, FL 34104 | 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday – Friday

Lee County: Aug. 10

Early Voting

Aug. 10 – Aug. 17 | 10 a.m. – 6 p.m.

Offices

Fort Myers Offices: Melvin Morgan Constitutional Complex, 2480 Thompson St., 3rd Floor, Fort Myers, FL 33901
South Fort Myers Branch Office, 13180 S. Cleveland Ave., Fort Myers, FL 33907
Cape Coral Office: Lee County Government Center, 1039 SE 9th Ave., Cape Coral, FL 33990
Bonita Springs Office: Bonita Commons, 25987 S. Tamiami Trail, #105, Bonita Springs, FL 34134
Lehigh Acres Office: 600 Homestead Road S., #9, Lehigh Acres 33974
All offices: 8:30 a.m. – 5 p.m., Monday – Friday

Charlotte County: Aug. 5

Deadline to request vote-by-mail ballot: Aug. 8

Early Voting

Aug. 5 – Aug. 18

Offices

Port Charlotte Office: Murdock Circle 18500 Murdock Circle, Port Charlotte, FL 3394 | 8 a.m. – 12 p.m. and 1:30 p.m. – 5 p.m. Monday – Friday
Punta Gorda Office: Charlotte County Historic Courthouse, 226 Taylor St., Punta Gorda, FL 33950 | 7 a.m. – 7 p.m.
Englewood Office: Mac V. Horton West County Annex, 6868 San Casa Drive Englewood, FL 34224 | 7 a.m. – 7 p.m.