Early voting for primary to wrap up this weekend
Election Day set for Aug. 18
The last day for early voting in the primary is Aug. 15, with Election Day set for Aug. 18.
Sanibel and Captiva voters can still cast a ballot early at 12 locations throughout Lee County from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. daily. Open to all regardless of their precinct, the early voting sites are as follows:
– Bonita Springs Election Office, at 25987 S. Tamiami Trail, Suite 105, Bonita Springs
– Cape Coral Elections Office, at 1039 S.E. 9th Ave., Cape Coral
– Cape Coral-Lee County Library, at 921 S.W. 39th Terrace, Cape Coral
– Dr. Carrie D. Robinson Center, at 2990 Edison Ave., Fort Myers
– East County Regional Library, at 881 Gunnery Road N., Lehigh Acres
– Estero Recreation Center, at 9200 Corkscrew Palms Blvd., Estero
– Fort Myers Regional Library, at 1651 Lee St., Fort Myers
– Lakes Regional Library, at 15290 Bass Road, Fort Myers
– Lee County Elections Center, at 13180 S. Cleveland Ave., Fort Myers
– North Fort Myers Recreation Center, at 2000 N. Recreation Park Way, North Fort Myers
– Northwest Regional Library, at 519 Chiquita Blvd. N., Cape Coral
– Veterans Park Recreation Center, at 55 Homestead Road S., Lehigh Acres
The following local races are on the ballot for island voters, regardless of party affiliation:
– Lee County Board of County Commissioners: District 5
Incumbent Republican District 5 Commissioner Trish Petrosky and Republican challenger Amanda Cochran have qualified. The seat is a two-year term from 2026-28.
– Lee County School Board: District 1
Incumbent District 1 School Board Member Sam Fisher and challenger Jenn McDaigle qualified. The seat is a four-year term from 2026-30. School board members are non-partisan officeholders.
– Lee County School Board: District 6
Incumbent District 6 School Board Member Jada Langford-Fleming and challenger India Palencia qualified. The seat is a four-year term from 2026-30. School board members are non-partisan officeholders.
– 20th Judicial Circuit Judge: Group 19
Incumbent Circuit Judge James Stewart and challenger Vera Bergermann qualified. The seat is a six-year term from 2026-32. Judges are non-partisan officeholders.
– 20th Judicial Circuit Judge: Group 27
Incumbent Circuit Judge Amanda Levy-Reis and challenger Ryan Kuhl qualified. The seat is a six-year term from 2026-32. Judges are non-partisan officeholders.
– Lee County Judge: Group 5
Incumbent County Judge Javier A. Pacheco and challenger Mike Colombo qualified. The seat is a six-year term from 2026-32. Judges are non-partisan officeholders.
Florida is a closed primary election state. As such, voters not registered as members of a political party may not get to vote for respective party candidates or nominees for an office in a primary election.
The following additional races are on the ballot for Republican island voters:
– United States Senator
– Representative in Congress, District 19
– Governor and Lieutenant Governor
– Chief Financial Officer
– Commissioner of Agriculture
The following additional races are on the ballot for Democratic island voters:
– United States Senator
– Representative in Congress, District 19
– Governor and Lieutenant Governor
– Chief Financial Officer
– Commissioner of Agriculture
The primary will be held on Aug. 18 from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. On Election Day, voters will only be allowed to cast a ballot at their assigned polling precinct. The on-island sites are as follows:
– Precinct 105: The Community House, at 2173 Periwinkle Way, Sanibel
– Precinct 116: Sanibel Recreation Center, at 3880 Sanibel-Captiva Road, Sanibel
Florida law requires voters to present valid photo and signature identification when voting in person. The photo identification cannot be expired. To view the list of acceptable forms of identification, visit https://www.lee.vote/242/Voting-ID-Requirements.
The deadline to return a vote-by-mail ballot is Aug. 18 at 7 p.m.
Before Election Day, ballots may be dropped off at any of the 12 early voting locations in Lee County from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. daily or at any Supervisor of Elections office during regular business hours.
On Election Day, the following offices will accept vote-by-mail ballots:
– Bonita Springs Election Office, at 25987 S. Tamiami Trail, Suite 105, Bonita Springs
– Cape Coral Elections Office, at 1039 S.E. 9th Ave., Cape Coral
– Lee County Elections Center, at 13180 S. Cleveland Ave., Fort Myers
– Lehigh Acres Branch Office, at 600 Homestead Road S. Suite 9, Lehigh Acres
– Main Office, at 2480 Thompson St., 3rd Floor, Fort Myers
For more information, visit https://www.lee.vote/ or call 239-533-8683.
To reach TIFFANY REPECKI / trepecki@breezenewspapers.com, please email