There has been a lot of talk about our “new normal” with the spread of the Covid-19/Coronavirus pandemic and voting in one of the most crucial and historic United States Presidential Election in years, couldn’t escape the conversation. People are planning ahead and making adjustments to stay safe and make sure their vote counts.

Many voters in Central Florida are voting early – either by mail-in ballot (completing them and dropping them off to their Supervisor of Elections Office) or by voting early in person. In Orange and Seminole counties, early voting will start today, Oct. 19 and run through Nov. 1.

The early voting hours for Orange County: 8 a.m. – 8 p.m. and for Seminole County: 7 a.m. – 7 p.m.

Early Voting Locations or Centers are spread out throughout both counties. Orange County has 20 Early Voting Locations, including the elections office at 119 W. Kaley St. in Orlando and Seminole County has eight Early Voting Centers, including the elections office at 1500 E. Airport Blvd in Sanford. Just go to your local elections office website to see the other locations and addresses. Orange County: http://www.ocfelections.com and Seminole County: http://www.voteseminole.org.

In Orange County, every early voting location will have a drop-box for vote-by-mail ballots during early voting hours, according to election officials. The only exception is for the newly added early voting location at the Amway Center (home of the Orlando Magic National Basketball Association team). That location will accept vote-by-mail drop-offs on early voting days from 7 a.m. – 8 p.m. (So it opens one hour earlier than the other locations for vote-by-mail drop offs.)

Same thing in Seminole County: Voters can use election office drop-boxes at each early voting location throughout the county. (Same hours as early voting, 7 a.m. – 7 p.m.)

Voters can further prepare for voting early in person by completing their sample ballot and taking it with them to vote early. That will save time and keep people safer (by avoiding being in crowds for extended periods of times.)

-Trish Martin, OCN Founder & Editor, orlandocommunitynews@gmail.com