In-person early voting begins for Naples city council elections

Naples began in-person early voting Wednesday for the Feb. 1 city council election in which five candidates are running for three open seats.

This is the first year since 2006 the city has held early in-person voting days. In 2006 only 20 city voters showed up to early voting sites, Collier Supervisor of Elections spokeswoman Trish Robertson wrote in an email.

Nine voters were in line at the Norris Center across the street from City Hall before poll doors opened at 10 a.m.

Among the voters waiting, Penny Strignano said she just wanted to be sure her vote was cast.

“Because we have to start at the root of the problem, and we have many problems here,” Strignano said. “I think we need to clean up politics and see in some way what we voted for come to fruition.”

When city council elections fall on non-presidential voting years, voter turnout historically has fallen below a third of registered voters in the city, election workers said.

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Robertson wrote in an email that voter turnout is higher during presidential elections because the council election is on the same ballot as the presidential preference primary.

In 2019, during a Naples special election, 28.7% of voters turned out. In 2018, during another city election, 26% of registered voters hit the polls or mailed in ballots.

Naples City Council restarted in-person early voting to provide as many opportunities to vote as possible, City Clerk Pat Rambosk wrote in an email.

“Council expressed that the COVID-19 pandemic may drive up early voting numbers as residents may seek to avoid crowds,” Rambosk wrote.

Council also discussed changes to the postal system may cause concern among residents that mail-in ballots may not reach the proper destination in time, she wrote.

Holding four days of in-person early voting cost the city about $35,000, she wrote.

Candidates Terry Hutchison, Beth Petrunoff, Ray Christman and John Dugan were in front of the Norris Center to rally supporters Wednesday.

Ian Rudnick was not able to attend the early voting hours Wednesday as he is "battling a non-Covid related illness," Clay Cone, who represents Rudnick's campaign, wrote in an email.

Rudnick anticipates being at the polling locations later this week, Cone wrote.

Hutchison said he is a little disappointed at turnout during city elections in non-presidential election years.

“About 28% (of voters) requested mail-in ballots, and the county had forecast 24% participation,” Hutchison said. “I’m now encouraged those projections are now 30% or higher.

"I think the community is becoming engaged and understands voting is the best way to place a candidate (to council) that mirrors their values," he said. "Voting ensures they have their voice.”

Petrunoff said she hears everyone say that local elections matter the most.

“This is as local as you can get,” she said. “I think the whole purpose (of early voting) is that we’re in a community that flies in and out at a whim and may miss the opportunity to vote. This allows as many people as possible to vote.”

Christman said he’s done all he can to reach voters and get them to the polls this year.

“So many decisions that affect the lives of residents are at the local level,” Christman said. “Active participation by voters historically is around 30% during non-presidential years. It’s a good thing for Naples if voter turnout is higher.”

Christman pointed to the national conversations around voting access and said that early voting is one way to maximize voter turnout.

“People are finding a way to get to the polls, and it’s a positive thing for democracy,” Christman said. “We’re in the middle of a pandemic still and there’s an advantage to creating more days.”

Hutchison also noted the variants of COVID-19 still present.

“Spreading out voting over these four days creates less of a risk to residents,” Hutchison said.

Dugan said voter turnout has been on his radar since he helped with the 2020 campaign for Collier County's District 4.

"I'm very concerned about turnout," Dugan said. "The more voters you get into the process the greater accountability there is in government. This was the first and foremost issue during my campaign."

Dugan said he'd like to see a nice step up in the number of voters and early voting is doing more to engage and encourage people to vote.

How to vote early

Early voting for the Feb. 1 city election will take place through Saturday, Jan. 29, and polls will be open 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. at the following locations:

• Norris Center at Cambier Park – 755 Eighth Ave. S.

• Supervisor of Elections Office – 3750 Enterprise Ave.

Karl Schneider is a Naples Daily News reporter. You can reach him at kschneider@gannett.com. Follow on Twitter @karlstartswithk

This article originally appeared on Naples Daily News: Naples city council in-person early voting begins