2022 Primary Election – What you need to know

Note – Be sure to check with the Supervisor of elections to make sure your information is correct so you will get your absentee ballot. Your vote-by-mail ballot cannot be forwarded. 

Check your voter status by clicking here

Things to Do Right Now

Here are a few things you should do right now:

Request a vote-by-mail (VBM) ballot if you will not be in town to vote in person or prefer the convenience of voting from home. You can do it online by answering a few questions and then printing out, signing, and mailing in a form. Or you can request a paper form to fill out from the Supervisor of Elections office by calling (239) 252-8683 or by emailing SupervisorofElections@colliergov.net.

What will be on the ballot?

View the Collier County Republicans on Ballot Here

From the Collier County Supervisor of Elections and Florida Department of State websites, the following offices — if contested — will be on the Collier County primary election ballot:

• U.S. Senate: 1 senator
• U.S. House: representatives for Districts 18, 19, and 26, based on the newly-drawn congressional district in which you live (map here)
• Florida Governor, Attorney General, Chief Financial Officer, and Commissioner of Agriculture (elected by all voters statewide)
• State Senate: 1 state senator (all Collier County voters live in the newly-drawn Senate District 28 – map here)
• State House: representatives for Districts 80, 81, and 82, based on the new state House district in which you live (map here)
• County Commission: representatives for Districts 2 and 4, based on the new county commission district in which you live (map here)
• School Board: representatives for Districts 1, 3, and 5 (elected by all voters county-wide)

Other Non-Partisan Races such as Mosquito Control District and Fire Commissioners will be on the November ballot

Judicial Elections

In addition, there will be certain judicial offices on the ballot. Unlike the above positions, the qualifying period for the offices of state attorney, public defender, justices of the Supreme Court, and judges ended on April 29. So we already know which of them will be on the ballot.

Specifically, five incumbent State Supreme Court Justices and eight Second District Court of Appeals judges will be on the ballot for merit retention votes. One Collier County judgeship will also be on the ballot.

Unopposed incumbents who will be considered elected at the General Election are 20th Circuit State Attorney Amira Fox, 20th Circuit Public Defender Kathy Smith, and 20th Circuit Judges Shannon McFee, James Shenko, Nick Thompson, Ramiro Mañalich, Alane Laboda, James Sloan, Kyle Cohen, Lauren Brodie, Robert Branning, and Gilberto Perez.

Details on Voter Schedule

Voter Registration Deadline/Book Closing: July 25

Vote-by-Mail Ballot Mailings: July 9 (UOCAVA)/July 14-August 15 | Ballot Request Deadline: 5 p.m. on August 13

Early Voting: August 13-20  10 a.m.-6 p.m.

Election Day: August 23

During the Primary Election, electors will vote for state and federal representatives within their party affiliations. If opposed within their own parties, the Governor, State Cabinet Members, United States Senators, Representatives in Congress, State Representatives, State Senators and County Commissioners will be on the ballot.

The winning candidates of the Primary Election, who see opposition from another party, will then move on to the General Election in November.

Voters may also see non-partisan races including judicial candidates and candidates for school board depending on their jurisdiction.

FLORIDA IS A CLOSED PRIMARY STATE

Florida is a Closed Primary state. This means that only voters who are registered members of a political party may vote for their respective party’s candidates in a Primary Election. Voters without party affiliation are not eligible to vote for party candidates and voters who belong to a minor party can only vote for party candidates if those candidates are on the ballot in accordance with Florida Statute 101.021.

To make changes to their party affiliation, voters must notify the Supervisor of Elections office by completing and signing a new voter registration application form or other signed written notice that contains your date of birth or voter registration number. You cannot change your party at the polling place. To be eligible for a Primary Election, a party change must be made at least 29 days before the Primary Election as addressed in Florida Statute 97.1031.

Universal Primary: a universal primary is a contest in the Primary Election in which all candidates have the same party affiliation, but will not see opposition during the General Election. During a universal primary, all qualified electors may vote regardless of their party affiliation.