Two-week early voting period begins today

While tens of thousands of ballots have already been cast by mail in Florida’s upcoming Aug. 23 primary election, today marks the first time people will be able to vote in person.

The two-week early voting period, which runs through Aug. 21, begins in most of the state's large counties today, including at 21 locations in Palm Beach County. For the first time, county voters will be able to make appointments so they can avoid lines.

The results of the election will determine which Democratic candidate will face off against Republican Gov. Ron DeSantis in November as well as a myriad other federal, state and local general election lineups. Some non-partisan races, like two judicial contests, will be decided.

Voting in the primary: You can now schedule an appointment to vote: Palm Beach County tests new system

More: Elections 2022: Qualified candidates on the ballot for federal and state government posts

In hopes of making it easier to vote, Elections Supervisor Wendy Link is giving voters the chance to pick where and when they want to cast their ballots. If successful, she said the system will be used in the Nov. 8 election.

Voters can reserve their spots by clicking on a link at the county elections website at www.pbcelections.org/Voters/Early-Voting.

Those who want to vote in the privacy of their own homes have until Aug. 13 to ask that a ballot be sent to them. Requests can be made online or by calling (561) 656-6200.

Already, 65,490 county voters, including 14,726 Republicans and 39,085 Democrats, have cast their mail-in ballots, according to the latest numbers from state election officials. Statewide, 776,335 votes have been cast, including 300,518 from Republicans and 347,846 from Democrats.

Florida is a closed-primary state, which means only Republicans and Democrats can vote in partisan races. Non-partisan races, such as hotly contested district races between school board candidates and countywide judicial elections, are open to all registered voters.

The county’s early voting locations will be open from 10 a.m. to 7 p.m. daily. Voters can also use them to drop off mail-in ballots. The locations are:

• Jupiter Community Center: 200 Military Trail, Jupiter

• FAU Jupiter Campus: 5353 Parkside Drive, Jupiter

• Gardens Branch Library: 11303 Campus Drive, Palm Beach Gardens

• Wells Recreation and Community Complex: 2409 Avenue H West, Riviera Beach

• Acreage Branch Library: 15801 Orange Blvd., Loxahatchee

• SOE West County Branch Office: 2976 State Road #15, Second Floor, Belle Glade

• Belle Glade Branch Library: 725 NW Fourth St., Belle Glade

• Howard Park Community Center: 1302 Parker Ave., West Palm Beach

• South Florida Fairgrounds: 9067 Southern Blvd., West Palm Beach

• Summit Main Library: 3650 Summit Blvd., West Palm Beach

• Wellington Branch Library: 1951 Royal Fern Drive, Wellington

• Greenacres Community Center: 501 Swain Blvd., Greenacres

• Lantana Road Branch Library: 4020 Lantana Road, Lake Worth

• Ezell Hester Community Center: 1901 N. Seacrest Blvd., Boynton Beach

• Hagen Ranch Road Branch Library: 14350 Hagen Ranch Road, Delray Beach

• Delray Beach Community Center: 50 NW First St., Delray Beach

• South County Civic Center: 16700 Jog Road, Delray Beach

• West Boca Branch Library: 18685 State Road 7, Boca Raton

• Spanish River Library: 1501 NW Spanish River Blvd., Boca Raton

• Boca Raton Downtown Library: 400 NW Second Ave., Boca Raton

• Sugar Sand Park Community Center: 300 S. Military Trail, Boca Raton

Jane Musgrave covers federal and civil courts and occasionally ventures into criminal trials in state court. Contact her at jmusgrave@pbpost.com.

This article originally appeared on Palm Beach Post: Florida primary 2022: Early voting period begins for Aug. 23 primary