Cape council primary election day is Tuesday
With early voting wrapping up this weekend, the primary election is scheduled for Tuesday.
As of Thursday afternoon, 9.34 percent of the total number of eligible Lee County voters had cast a ballot early for the upcoming election. Only 32 precincts out of the county’s 127 are able to take part as it is a municipal election for seats on the Cape Coral City Council and the Fort Myers City Council.
According to the Lee County Elections Office website, a total of 10,590 people voted by using a mail-in ballot. Another 542 people cast a ballot by stopping by one of the four, early voting locations.
“It’s probably just about what we expected,” Vicki Collins, a spokeswoman for the Lee County Elections Office, said. “We didn’t expect it to be in the double digits but hoped it would be.”
In the primary, Cape residents can vote in the following races:
City Council, District 2
* Michael Steven Bogliole
* John Carioscia (incumbent)
* Kirk LaGrasta
* Richard L. Repasky
City Council, District 3
* Chris L. Cammarota
* Jerome “Jerry” Doviak
* Marilyn Stout
City Council, District 7
* Timothy Barrier
* Jessica Cosden
* Sam Fisher
Early voting will run through Saturday from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. at the four designated sites.
“They can vote at any one of the locations, whether you live in Cape Coral or Fort Myers,” Collins said, noting that two of the sites are in the Cape. “You can use any one of those locations.”
She added that no problems had arisen at any of the polls as of Thursday.
Voters who want to cast a ballot early need to bring their photo identification with signature.
Mail-in ballots must be received at the main office by 7 p.m. Tuesday, Election Day.
“That’s the only place that they can be dropped off,” Collins said.
Voters simply need to fill out the ballot and drop it in the mail; no return postage is necessary.
“Make sure that they sign it, that’s one of the major things that we see,” she said.
Some people become confused as to what version of their name to sign.
“What that name is on the mail ballot envelope, that’s how they sign,” Collins said. “That’s how we have your signature in the system.”
Voters should read over the entire ballot and fill in the ovals completely.
On Election Day, the polls will be open from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m.
“Everybody is elected citywide, but you still have to go to your precinct,” she said.
Those who need to locate their polling site can contact the Lee County Elections Office or visit the website. Those looking for their precinct, or in need of an address change, should do so immediately.
“Don’t wait until Election Day,” Collins said. “It’ll save you time at the polls.”
Again, voters will need their photo identification with signature.
Those who received a mail-in ballot can still vote in person on Election Day if they want.
“They can surrender their ballot at the precinct,” she said, adding that they need to bring their entire packet, including ballot and envelope. “They can’t turn it in to vote, but they can surrender it and vote.”
As for foot traffic at the polls on Tuesday, officials are not expecting long lines.
“I don’t think that we have a really high expectation,” Collins said. “Unfortunately, there’s not usually a high turnout for municipal elections nationwide.”
But, she stressed the importance of them and urged people to cast a ballot.
“Your city elections affect your world and your life before anything else. That’s where you work, that’s where you play, that’s where your children grow up,” she said. “You should get out and vote.”
Cape Coral City Council races are non-partisan, citywide elections meaning registered voters can cast a ballot in each race, no matter party affiliation, no matter the district in which they live.
For more information about elections, candidates, early voting, mail in ballots or precinct locations, contact the Elections Office at (239) LEE-VOTE (533-8683) or visit: leeelections.com.
Voters can also follow along on Facebook and Twitter for updates.