The parking lot at Bruton Memorial Library has remained filled to capacity as early voting officially kicked off this week.
Unlike on Election Day, registered voters can vote anywhere in their assigned county during early voting. Because of this, the designated open locations are seeing an influx of visitors as people patiently wait in line to cast their vote.
“I have to say that (Monday) I did vote and the library was packed with voters,” Mayor Rick Lott said. “In good Plant City spirit, the turnout was huge and you’d expect it to be in Plant City so it was always encouraging.”
Turnout did, in fact, exceed the first day of early voting in the 2014 midterm election. In 2014, 8,927 voters cast their vote on the first day and in 2018 that number grew to 9,251 voters. This year the county had 73,896 vote by mails as well.
Both Republicans and Democrats camped outside the polling station, chatting with voters before they went in, proudly displaying campaign signs of their favored candidates.
Art Wood has been interacting with people from the very first day of early voting. Some greet him by name, shaking his hand and voluntarily discussing the ballot, while others strike up an immediate camaraderie as they toss him thumbs up and point to the Rick Scott, Ashley Moody and Ron DeSantis yard signs.
“People have been friendly all day,” Wood said. “They’re even asking for yard signs. I’m optimistic, but we’re treating this election like we could lose it. Everybody is working hard.”
Gesturing to the Democrat bystanders mere feet from him he smiled as he said that this election there were a few things on the ballot, specifically the amendments, that were receiving wide bipartisan support. At least in Plant City, the atmosphere was cordial and friendly among the groups at the polling station.
Hillsborough County Public Schools Superintendent Jeff Eakins had been touring the county back in September to ensure as many voters as possible would better understand the Referendum on One-Half Cent Sales Surtax.
The proposed referendum would have Hillsborough County increase the sales surtax up from one eighth of a penny to one half of a penny. This would generate $1.3 billion over 10 years, which would assist current efforts to address the multitude of problems in local schools like deferred maintenance requests, aging buildings and safety issues.
It’s one of the few things on the ballot that both sides of the aisle are beginning to agree on, though that support is not necessarily universal.
Greg Jewell, an organizer for the Democratic Party, said early voting in Plant City has had a phenomenal turnout and the majority of those walking in are very excited to be able to cast their vote.
“Early voting is so important because you never know what life is going to throw at you,” Jewell said. “On Election Day your kids could get sick, you could get called back to work, anything could happen. Don’t put it off, take advantage of the ability to cast your vote early.”
That sentiment seemed to be echoed by those pouring into the library. Vanessa Borges said she is taking the time to make sure she fully understands every single aspect on the ballot before she heads to the polls. She expects to have logged her vote well before early voting officially ends.
“I prefer early voting to avoid the crowds on Election Day,” Borges said. “Election Day is the last day, it’s not the only day.”
Several of those leaving the library on Tuesday morning said they were confident in which candidates they supported, but had to do “quite a lot of research” to understand the complex amendments.
Lindsey Blankenbaker, who came out to support the half-penny referendum, said there had been a lot of miseducation on the real effect of some of the amendments. Citing the confusing language written into the amendments, she said her hope was people who had questions would take the time to do research or stop and ask questions before they went and filled out the bubbles.
Jewell said approximately three quarters of everyone who is showing up to vote is bringing their sample ballots with them to help with the “confusing and messy” lingo.
“We will be out here every day until early voting is over,” Jewell said. “Then on Election Day, I’ll be knocking on doors.”
Early voting will continue until Nov. 4, two days before Election Day, from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. at 20 locations throughout Hillsborough County.