Lee County voters have several ways to cast a ballot in August Primary | Here’s what you need to know

LEE COUNTY, Fla. (WINK) — With the Aug. 18 Primary Election just weeks away, election officials are reminding voters to make a plan now, whether that means voting by mail, taking advantage of early voting or heading to the polls on Election Day.

Lee County Supervisor of Elections Jenna Persons-Mulicka said the county is preparing for nearly 500,000 registered voters and hopes to see a higher turnout than in recent primary elections.

Vote-by-mail deadline approaching

If you plan to vote by mail, you must request your ballot by 5 p.m. on Aug. 6.

Lee County has nearly 500,000 registered voters. So far, about 109,000 vote-by-mail ballots have been requested, and about 26,000 have already been returned.

Persons-Mulicka said voting by mail has become the most popular way for people to cast their ballots.

Voters can also track their ballot online to see when it is received by the Supervisor of Elections Office and when it has been counted.

Completed vote-by-mail ballots must be received by the Supervisor of Elections Office no later than 7 p.m. on Election Day, Aug. 18, to be counted.

Early voting begins Aug. 8

For voters who prefer to cast their ballot in person before Election Day, early voting runs Aug. 8 through Aug. 15, from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. each day.

There will be 12 early voting locations across Lee County, and voters can cast a ballot at any of those sites, regardless of their assigned Election Day precinct.

Election officials say voters can also check wait times online before heading to a polling location, making it easier to choose the most convenient time and place to vote.

Why this primary matters

While turnout in primary elections has traditionally been low, election officials say this year’s ballot includes several important local races.

Turnout in Lee County was about 26% in 2022 and dropped to 23% in 2024.

This year, there are nearly 495,000 registered voters, including more than 37,000 first-time registered voters since the last major election.

The Aug. 18 primary includes judicial races, some school board contests and the Lee County Commission District 5 race. The county commission contest is a universal primary, meaning all registered Lee County voters can participate in that race regardless of party affiliation.

Persons-Mulicka said she hopes more voters will take part in this year’s election and encouraged everyone to make a voting plan ahead of time.

Whether voting by mail, during early voting or on Election Day, voters who cast a ballot in person should bring a valid photo ID with a signature.

Election Day is Tuesday, Aug. 18.