About Know Your Candidates
Times recommendations
[Times art: Rossie Newson]
Your Guide to 2008 Primary Election in Tampa Bay
Looking for updates for the 2008 general election?
Know Your Candidates is a special report by the St. Petersburg Times. From candidate information to the logistics of voting, you'll find it here.
The information on this site pertains to the Aug. 26 primary elections.
Use the tabs above to view all races by county. Use the links at left to quickly select a specific race.
The Candidates
We've interviewed each one, examined their public records and candidate questionnaires to compile information for one-stop shopping before you vote. Financial information about each candidate was obtained from financial disclosures the candidates are required to file to run. Use the links to the left or the tabs at the top of this page to find individual races.
Where can I vote?
Visit your county's Supervisor of Elections Website or call the office. With just your address, you can find your precinct and political districts online.
- Pinellas (727) 464-6108; votepinellas.com
- Hillsborough (813) 272-5850; votehillsborough.org
- Pasco 1-800-851-8754; pascovotes.com
- Hernando (352) 754-4125; hernandovotes.com
When can I vote?
There's no need to wait until Aug. 26. Under Florida's early voting system, a small number of polls are open six-days a week for the two weeks leading up to the primary. You can request an absentee ballot (through Aug. 20) or locate early voting sites and their hours using the contact information above. On election day, polls are open from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. When you go to the polls, bring a valid photo I.D. with a signature.
Can I vote in another party's primary?
In Florida, only registered voters who belong to a political party may vote in that party's primary, with one exception. If all the candidates for the office are from one party and there are no general election opponents, all voters are eligible to cast ballots in that race.
Nonpartisan races, such as judicial seats and school boards, are open to all voters.
Florida no longer has a second primary, meaning the candidate in a partisan primary who gets the most votes will advance to the general election. In nonpartisan races with more than two candidates, however, a winner is determined only if the candidate wins more than 50 percent of the vote. If not, a runoff between the top vote getters face off in November.
Only voters who registered by July 28 are eligible to vote in this primary. The deadline to register to vote in the November general election is Oct. 6. For more information about Florida voting laws go to the state elections Web site: http://election.dos.state.fl.us
Credits
Political editors: Joni James, Bridget Hall Grumet, Morris Kennedy, Mike Konrad
Contributing writers: Jon Abel, Saundra Amrhein, Barbara Behrendt, Bill Coats, David DeCamp, Rita Farlow, John Frank, Stephanie Garry, Kevin Graham, Colleen Jenkins, Thomas Marshall, Molly Moorhead, Dong-Phuong Nguyen, Cristina Silva, Letitia Stein, Jamal Thalji, Christopher Tisch, Thomas Tobin, Will Van Sant, Michael Van Sickler, Bill Varian, Donna Winchester, Alexandra Zayas.
Online Presentation: Jeremy Bowers, Martin Frobisher, Tracee Stockwell, Catriona Stuart
Editors: Gustavo Hernandez, Robert Sitten, John Schlander
Illustration: Rossie Newson
Research: Caryn Baird, Carolyn Edds, Will Gorham, Shirl Kennedy, John Martin
Comments or questions?
Please email us at kyc@sptimes.com
