FORT MYERS, Fla.-- The countdown is on with just hours left until Election Day in Southwest Florida. But there's a few things you can do ahead of voting that may save you some time once you get to the polls.
Sharon Harrington, the Lee County Supervisor of Elections tells FOX4 the biggest delay at the polls will come from the address on your license not matching the one one file. However, if that happens to you you'll still be able to fill out a provisional ballot that will be reviewed back at the Supervisor of Elections Office. But even if that doesn't affect you, you may want to plan for lines.
"Maybe at like the very beginning because we noticed that in early voting the very first day before the doors opened there was a bit of a line because everybody just wanted to get in get it out," said Harrington.
Unlike the saying the early bird gets the worm, Harrington warns the earlier you go, the greater the chance for delays. But despite having to wait it out, the process of how you vote has changed since 2012 in an effort to make it a smoother experience.
"We purchased our poll pads right after the 2012 election. we've been using those every election for people to sign in it's a much faster process," said Harrington.
Ditching the ole fashion pen and paper for the newest technology, at least on the front end of the process. But even how you submit your ballot this year has improved.
"We have a 1 page ballot in 99% of the area of lee county and we have two pieces of equipment at every polling location at the least so we should be just fine at the polls," said Harrington.
If the any reader is to malfunction, the Supervisor of Elections Office plans to replace it within a short period of time.
It's important to note all polling locations throughout Southwest Florida will be open from 7:00 a.m. to 7:00 p.m. You must be in line by 7:00 p.m. for you ballot to count.
