Tuesday is Election Day for primaries in Palm Beach County and the rest of the state.
Polling stations in the region are open from 7am to 7pm in 799 constituencies at 377 polling locations.
In a county with 862,008 registered voters, 113,984 ballots had been cast as of 10:30 a.m. Sunday, according to the Palm Beach County Supervisor of Elections website. Of those, 87,827 were by mail — or 77% of the vote.
On Election Day, you must vote at the polling place assigned to your precinct. If you are unsure, your precinct and polling place are listed on your voter information card. You can also find your precinct online at votepalmbeach.gov/Voters/Precinct-Finder.
If you have completed a mail-in ballot, you can drop it off in person at an election office, but in order for it to be counted, the envelope containing the voter certificate must have your signature and be received by Election Day. Offices will accept ballots until 5 p.m. Tuesday at one of four county election office locations:
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Main Supervisor of the Election Office: 4301 Cherry Road, West Palm Beach.
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Branch North Province: 3188 PGA Blvd., Room 2401, Palm Beach Gardens.
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South County Branch: 345 S. Congress Ave., Room 103, Delray Beach.
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West County Branch: 2976 State Road 15, second floor, Belle Glade.
The head office will accept them until 7:00 p.m. Postal ballots cannot be delivered to polling stations. A voter can cast their vote at the designated polling station on Tuesday between 7:00 a.m. and 7:00 p.m.
The election primarily features Democratic and Republican Party voters’ choices for seats on the County Commission, Port of Palm Beach, sheriff, state attorney, public defender, and in the state legislature and Congress. However, the ballot also includes a judicial race and contests for two school board seats, which are open to all voters regardless of party affiliation.
There is also a question on the ballot that applies to a single county, asking voters to decide whether to continue a tax credit program for new or expanding businesses.
The election office also has an online tool that allows voters to track the results of their mail-in ballots, from “requested” to “counted.” Ballot sorting and counting began in July, but results won’t be announced until 7 p.m. on Tuesday.
Here’s a look at the races on the primary ballot:
US Senate
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GOP: Rick Scott (seated), John Columbus, Keith Gross
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DEM: Stanley Campbell, Rod Joseph, Debbie Mucarsel-Powell, Brian Rush
State Attorney
ELECTION FOR STATE PROSECUTOR: Meet the Candidates Running to Become Palm Beach County State’s Attorney
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GOP: Sam Stern, Forrest Freedman
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DEM: Alexcia Cox, Craig Williams, Rolando Silva, Gregg Lerman
Public Defender
RACE FOR PUBLIC DEFENDERS: Two Candidates to Replace Palm Beach County Public Defender Carey Haughwout
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DEM: Daniel Eisinger, Adam Frankel (winner replaces Carey Haughwout, who is retiring after 24 years)
Palm Beach County Commission, District 7
COMMISSION COMPETITION: One seat will be contested between two Democrats
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DEM: Bobby Powell, Richard Ryles
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Winner will face Leonard Serratore (GOP) in November
Sheriff
SHERIFF BREED: Controversial primaries for Democrats and Republicans
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GOP: Mike Gauger, Lauro Diaz
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DEM: Ric Bradshaw (seated), Alex Freeman
School Board District 1 – North County
SCHOOL BOARD ELECTIONS: Who’s Running in Jupiter School Board Elections? A Look at the Candidates and Their Finances
School Board District 5 – South County
SCHOOL BOARD ELECTIONS: Boca School Board Elections: Barbieri’s Endorser Tries to Stop Former Principal’s Daughter
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Gloria Branch, Mindy Koch, Mike Letsky, Suzanne Page, Charman Postel
Port of Palm Beach Group 2
PORT OF PALM BEACH RACE: What Candidates Say About Cruise Expansion
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DEM: Varisa Dass, Kelly Fleury, Jeffery Jackson
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Winner to face Ted Sarandis (GOP) in November
County Court Judge Group 2 seat
MAIN CASE BEFORE THE COUNTRY COURT: Three attorneys are running for county court judge, replacing retiring Ted Booras
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Lourdes Casanova, Douglas Leifert, Jean Marie Middleton (winner replaces Ted Booras, who is retiring)
Statehouse District 89
STATE ELECTIONS: One Democrat, one Republican primary on August 20 for state House of Representatives districts
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DEM: Destinie Baker Sutton, Debra Tendrich
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Winner to face Daniel Zapata (GOP) in November
Statehouse District 94
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GOP: Christian Acosta, Anthony Aguirre, Jon Carter, Gabrielle Fox, Meg Weinberger
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Winner will face Democrat Rachelle Litt in November
US House District 21
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GOP: Brian Mast (seated), Rick Wiles
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Winner will face Democrat Thomas Witkop in November
US House District 22
US HOUSE ELECTIONS: Three GOP primaries looming for Palm Beach County districts
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GOP: Deborah Adeimy, Dan Franzese, Andrew Gutmann
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Winner will face Democrat Lois Frankel (incumbent) in November
US House District 23
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GOP: Gary Brave, Darlene Cerezo Swaffar, Joe Kaufman, Carla Spalding, Joe Thelusca, Robert Weinroth
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Winner will face Democrat Jared Moskowitz (incumbent) in November
What is the only question in Palm Beach County on the primary ballot?
Should economic development property tax exemptions for new businesses and expansions of existing businesses continue?
THE COUNTY’S QUESTION: Voters in the province must decide whether to continue the tax credit program for new, growing businesses
The program currently offers a tax break to businesses that expand or relocate to Palm Beach County. The idea is that it will provide an additional economic development incentive, allowing businesses to create new, full-time jobs in Palm Beach County.
The vote takes place every 10 years and expires on August 31, 2024.
James Coleman is a reporter for The Palm Beach Post, part of the USA TODAY Florida Network. You can reach him at jcoleman@pbpost.com and follow him on X (formerly known as Twitter) at @JimColeman11. Support our journalism. Subscribe today.
This article originally appeared on Palm Beach Post: A Palm Beach County Guide to Florida’s Primary Day
