Amalie Arena will be open for Early Voting in the 2020 General Election, Hillsborough County Supervisor of Elections Craig Latimer announced Friday.
With this new site, Hillsborough County voters will now be able to vote in any of 26 Early Voting sites from October 19 through November 1, from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m.
"I'm seeing our community come together in a very powerful way to support this election," said Supervisor of Elections Craig Latimer. "The Tampa Bay Lightning is one of many community partners who are getting involved through voter registration drives, voter education, poll worker recruitment and more. This is a unique opportunity because Amalie Arena does not have other scheduled events during the Early Voting period."
"We are grateful to be able to work with the Supervisor and his office to create another Early Voting location in Hillsborough County," said Jeff Vinik, Chairman and Governor of the Tampa Bay Lightning. "The Lightning share in the community goal of increasing participation in our elections and we are pleased to offer up Amalie Arena this fall to those that wish to cast their ballots early."
The Early Voting period allows voters who want to vote in-person to choose the time and location that is most convenient to them, rather than waiting until Election Day to vote, when, by law, they must vote in the polling place assigned to their precinct.
This new site provides another option for Vote By Mail voters, as well. During Early Voting, the elections office sets up curbside tents outside each site for voters who want to drop off their mail ballot. In-person voting is expected to take longer than usual because of necessary health and safety precautions, which include limiting the number of people inside each location, setting things up to allow for social distancing, and continuous cleaning of equipment and surfaces.
Below is a map of where Hillsborough County residents can vote:
Richard Battles predicts the Amalie site will be a big hit in the Channelside District.
“I vote all the time, every time," said Battles. "This at least opens up the opportunities to get out and vote."
Voters who prefer to vote from home can click here or call (813) 744-5900 to request a Vote By Mail ballot.
The office began mailing ballots to those who request them on September 24.
