TAMPA BAY — This is your reminder: Tomorrow is Election Day, and if you haven’t voted yet, TODAY is the day to make your plan!
Not tomorrow morning. Not when you get a chance. Not if the weather clears up.
TODAY!
We’ve all heard somebody say, “My vote doesn’t matter,” or “Why bother voting? They’re going to do what they want anyway.”
But here’s something worth remembering: People fought, marched, were beaten, jailed, and even lost their lives so that generations after them could have a voice at the ballot box.
In 1965, civil rights activists marched across the Edmund Pettus Bridge in Selma, Alabama, demanding equal voting rights. They were met with violence on what became known as Bloody Sunday.
People like John Lewis risked their lives. Jimmie Lee Jackson was killed after being shot by an Alabama state trooper during a voting-rights protest. Viola Liuzzo was murdered while helping voting-rights marchers.
They weren’t fighting for something meaningless.
They were fighting for the right to be heard.
And now, that right belongs to us.
“My Vote Doesn’t Count!” Think Again.
Some people point to the Electoral College as a reason not to vote. But here’s the thing: We’re not even voting for president in this election!
Tomorrow, Florida voters will help decide who becomes the state’s next governor, along with other important state and federal offices.
In St. Petersburg, voters will decide who leads their city as mayor. Local races, including city council contests, are on the ballot, too.
These decisions affect our schools, neighborhoods, roads, public safety, housing, healthcare, taxes, and the future of our communities.
The people elected tomorrow will make decisions that affect your everyday life long after the campaign signs come down.
You may not care about politics, but politics can certainly affect you.
Don’t Let a Little Rain Stop You!
Rain may be in the forecast, but don’t let that become your excuse.
Grab an umbrella. Take a raincoat. Wear comfortable shoes. Give yourself extra travel time.
If you have to work, figure out whether you’re voting before your shift, during a break if your schedule allows, or after work.
Need transportation? Make arrangements TODAY. Coordinate with a friend, neighbor, family member, or community organization.
And if somebody you know needs a little encouragement, give them a call. Check on your parents, grandparents, coworkers, and neighbors.
Don’t just make sure YOU vote. Help somebody else make a plan to vote, too.
Your Election Day Game Plan
Election Day: Tuesday, November 3, 2026
Polls Open: 7:00 AM
Polls Close: 7:00 PM
If you’re standing in line by 7 PM, stay in line. You are still entitled to cast your ballot.
Before you leave home:
- Confirm your assigned polling location. You must vote at your designated precinct on Election Day.
- Bring a current, valid photo ID with a signature, or qualifying IDs that provide both.
- Review your sample ballot so you know which races and amendments you’ll be voting on.
- Set a specific time to vote, and make sure you have transportation.
- Prepare for possible rain and allow extra time.
Have a Mail-In Ballot? Don’t Wait!
If you requested a vote-by-mail ballot and haven’t returned it, do not rely on regular mail at this point.
In Florida, your completed ballot must be RECEIVED by your county’s Supervisor of Elections office by 7 PM on Election Day, not simply postmarked by then.
For voters in St. Petersburg and throughout Pinellas County, that means contacting the Pinellas County Supervisor of Elections for an authorized ballot return location and its hours.
You cannot simply drop your completed mail ballot off at your regular Election Day polling place.
Make sure your return envelope is properly completed and signed, and check your ballot’s status online.
Tampa Bay, This Is Bigger Than One Election
Whether you’re a Democrat, Republican, independent, or someone who doesn’t identify with any political party, your participation matters.
You don’t have to agree with your neighbor. You don’t have to vote like your coworkers. You don’t have to think like your family.
But you should take the time to learn about the issues, consider the candidates, and make your voice heard.
Because the right to vote isn’t just something we inherited.
It’s something generations before us sacrificed to secure.
Somebody endured humiliation so you could walk into that polling place with dignity.
Somebody faced violence so you could cast your ballot in peace.
Somebody gave their life fighting for a right that some people today casually dismiss.
Don’t take that sacrifice lightly.
You’ve heard the expression, “Vote like your life depends on it.”
Well, think about the decisions being made concerning healthcare, public safety, education, economic opportunity, and your family’s future.
In more ways than you may realize, it does.
Tampa Bay, don’t wake up Wednesday wishing you’d made time Tuesday.
Make your plan TODAY. Show up TOMORROW. Let your voice be heard.
Rain or shine. No excuses. VOTE!
101.5 The Vibe — The Soul of the Bay.
