Election Day in Escambia County — Everything You Need to Know Before You Vote

Pensacola, FL (NewsRadio 92.3) -- Polls are open today in Escambia County from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. — and Supervisor of Elections Robert Bender joined Pensacola Morning News this morning with everything voters need to know before they head out.

Everyone Has Something to Vote On

Every registered voter in Escambia County has a ballot today. The countywide referendum on whether to make the school superintendent an appointed rather than elected position appears on every ballot regardless of party. Three nonpartisan school board races in Districts 1, 2, and 3 are also on the ballot — with only two candidates in each race meaning all three new school board members will be known tonight. The six-candidate mayor's race is on the ballot for all City of Pensacola residents — and if any candidate clears 50 percent today there will be no November mayoral election.

Partisan races include U.S. Senate, governor and lieutenant governor, CFO, commissioner of agriculture, and for Republicans a congressional race and a county commission District 2 race. Some ballots ran to three columns.

Governor and Lieutenant Governor — Vote for One

Bender says this is generating significant confusion at the polls. The race is called governor and lieutenant governor — but voters should only select one candidate. On the Republican side no candidates submitted a lieutenant governor — so only governor names appear. On the Democratic side David Jolly selected Gwen Graham as his running mate — her name appears under his slightly offset. Calls are coming in asking where her oval is. She does not have one — she is on the same ticket as Jolly. Vote for one. If a voter accidentally selects two the tabulator will flag it and give them an opportunity to correct it before the ballot is cast.

Your Polling Place

Today you must go to your home precinct — early vote sites are closed. If your polling location changed you were sent a new voter information card. A-frame signs are posted at all changed locations to direct you to your correct precinct. Southwest Library is closed today — it was an early vote site only. New temporary locations include the Fricker Center at the main library downtown and Precinct 70 at the Gathering Place at Pensacola Christian College near I-10.

Lost Your Mail-In Ballot

Just show up and vote in person. The system updates in real time — if your mail-in ballot has not been scanned you will receive a regular ballot at your precinct. If you want to drop off a completed mail-in ballot the only option today is the Supervisor of Elections office downtown — no other locations accept them on election day. All ballots must be in Bender's possession by 7 p.m. tonight. Mailing a ballot today is possible but a gamble — postmark does not count in a primary.

Voting Machines

Bender addressed the persistent question directly — voting machines are not sitting connected to the internet. Results are transmitted via a closed network system initiated by election workers after polls close — a 30-second upload. Bender expects the majority of results to be posted between 7:35 and 7:45 tonight. An independent audit will run all ballots through again in the next two days to confirm totals.

One More Thing

No firearms at polling places. It is one of the designated prohibited locations under Florida law — bringing a weapon to the polls is a felony charge. Leave it at home.

Questions can be directed to the Supervisor of Elections office at 850-595-3900 or escambiavotes.gov. Polls close at 7 p.m.