Hillsborough Early Voting Starts Jan. 16

Eager to cast your vote in the Republican Presidential Preference Primary?

If you can’t wait until the Jan. 31 election, you’ll have a chance to vote early from Jan. 16-28.

Hillsborough is one of five preclearance counties in Florida, which means residents can vote two weeks before Election Day and registered voters who move to Hillsborough can change their address at polling places on Election Day.

“Early voting is a good, convenient way to cast your ballot,” said Earl Lennard, Hillsborough County Supervisor of Elections. He said early voting is gaining in popularity because it’s easy.

Lennard was at the Thursday afternoon as Elections Office workers set up voting equipment.

The library is one of 15 early voting locations. Others include:

• Fred B. Karl County Center, 601 E. Kennedy Blvd., 26th Floor, Tampa
• Robert L. Gilder Elections Service Center, 2514 N. Falkenburg Road, Tampa
• Bloomingdale Regional Public Library, 1906 Bloomingdale Ave., Valrico
• C. Blythe Andrews Jr. Public Library (formerly College Hill Branch Library), 2607 E. Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Blvd., Tampa
• Jan Kaminis Platt Regional Library, 3910 South Manhattan Ave., Tampa
• Jimmie B. Keel Regional Library, 2902 W. Bearss Ave., Tampa
• New Tampa Regional Library, 10001 Cross Creek Blvd., Tampa
• North Tampa Branch Library, 8916 North Boulevard, Tampa
• Plant City, City Hall, 302 W. Reynolds St., Plant City
• Riverview Branch Library, 10509 Riverview Drive, Riverview
• SouthShore Regional Library, 15816 Beth Shields Way, Ruskin
• Town 'N Country Regional Public Library, 7606 Paula Drive, Suite 120, Tampa
• Upper Tampa Bay Regional Public Library, 11211 Countryway Blvd., Tampa
• West Tampa Branch Library, 2313 West Union St., Tampa

Unlike Election Day when voters have to vote in their designated polling places, those who take advantage of early voting can cast their ballots at one of the designated sites.

All voters must provide valid photo and signature identification. Acceptable examples include:

• Florida driver’s license
• Florida ID card issued by the Department of Highway Safety and Motor Vehicles
• Debit or credit card
• Military ID
• Student ID
• Retirement Center ID
• Neighborhood Association ID
• Public Assistance ID