Time runs short to register for primary

The deadline for new voters to register for Florida’s presidential primaries is fast approaching, and Central Florida elections officials are urging anyone interested to act quickly.

Residents who haven’t previously registered to vote must do so by Tuesday to participate in the state’s March 15 presidential primaries.

That’s also the deadline for voters to change party affiliation, which is important because Florida uses a closed-primary system. To vote in the Democrat or Republican primary here, you have to be registered for that party.

“If, by Feb. 16, you are not registered in the Democratic party or the Republican party, then you don’t have a ballot,” said Bill Cowles, elections supervisor for Orange County. “You cannot change your party affiliation at the polls.”

Voters, especially those who recently relocated from other states with different rules, sometimes don’t find that out until it’s too late, said Michael Ertel, elections supervisor for Seminole County.

“It is our No. 1 concern” leading in to a presidential primary vote,” Ertel said, adding, “We’re telling the poll workers, ‘This will be your No. 1 frustration on Election Day.’ ”

Want to register or swap parties? The forms are available in person or online through local supervisor of elections’ offices, the state Division of Elections, or at any local library or driver’s license office.

Meanwhile, early voting for the primaries will vary by county:

In Orange, early voting runs Feb. 29 through March 13. The county this year is increasing from 12 to 17 locations, which will be open 10 a.m. to 6 p.m.

Voting locations can be found online at OCFElections.com.

In Seminole, early voting starts March 5 and runs through March 12. As in Orange, early voting stations will be open from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. Locations are online at Vote- Seminole.org.

In Lake, early voting runs from Feb. 29 through March 12. Hours vary, and are available at Elections.LakeCountyFL.gov.

In Osceola, early voting begins March 5 and runs through the 12th. Hours are 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. and locations are available at VoteOsceola.com.

The deadline to request an absentee ballot for the primary is March 9, and all absentee votes must be received by the local elections supervisor’s office by 7 p.m. on Election Day.

With a week to go before the deadline, Cowles said Tuesday registration was “relatively quiet.”

Ertel said he doesn’t expect long lines at the polls, either. That’s partly because there are just a few municipal elections on the ballots, and many voters are unaffiliated.

In Orange County, for example, no-party and third-party voters outnumber Republicans.

Ertel also cautioned that, because ballots are printed early, there will be candidates listed March15 who have already left the race.

Early dropouts, like Rick Santorum and Martin O’Malley, will be on the ballots, as will candidates who drop out over the coming weeks, as more than two dozen states weigh in before most Florida voters go to the polls.