Annie Blanks | Pensacola News Journal

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Even as the coronavirus pandemic cripples the economy, forces millions of people indoors and shuts down the state's and nation's top metropolitan areas, one thing is going to continue as normal Tuesday: presidential primary voting in Florida.

Gov. Ron DeSantis said last week that the state will have its primary voting day on Tuesday as scheduled, and local precincts are taking precautions to ensure the safety of those heading to the polls.

In Santa Rosa and Escambia counties, there have been several polling location changes, and supervisors of elections in both counties are directing poll workers and staff to wash their hands frequently, wipe down equipment and stay home if they are sick.

The show must go on: Coronavirus sparks extra sanitization, changes to polling sites ahead of Florida primary

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Additionally, voters in both counties can pick up "over-the-counter" vote-by-mail ballots until 5 p.m. Monday, and on Tuesday in case of emergency. Designees are also allowed to pick up vote-by-mail ballots for a loved one.

The busiest voting times, according to the Escambia County Supervisor of Elections, are from 7 to 9 a.m. and 4 to 6 p.m.

Polls will be open from 7 a.m. until 7 p.m. Tuesday.

Escambia County

In Pensacola, there have been two polling place changes in response to the COVID-19 outbreak:

Precinct 25 will vote at the UWF Conference Center Ballroom, Building 22, at 11000 University Parkway in Pensacola, not at Azalea Trace on Moreno Street.

Precinct 88 will vote at Olive Baptist Church, 1836 E. Olive Road in Pensacola, not at University Pines Retirement.

There have also been several non-coronavirus related polling place changes from the 2018 election to the 2020 election, which can be found on the Supervisor of Election's website, escambiavotes.com. All those who live in areas where polling locations have changed have received mail-outs from the Supervisor of Elections.

According to a media release sent out by Escambia County on Monday, polling places are being provided with "a limited supply of hand sanitizer, disinfectant wipes and tissues," but voters are encouraged to bring their own personal sanitary items with them to the polls as well.

The Supervisor of Elections office can be reached at 850-595-3900.

Santa Rosa County

Several emergency polling place changes are taking place in Santa Rosa County for Tuesday's election. Precinct 17 is being changed due to construction, while Precincts 28 and 37 (which vote at the same place) and 23 are being changed due to building closures as a result of COVID-19. The changes are temporary and apply only for Tuesday's election.

Precinct 17 will vote at the Linda Carden Community Center located behind Jay City Hall (Highway 4 West), 5259 Booker Lane in Jay, not the Fidelis Community Center

Precincts 28 and 37 will vote at the Tiger Point Community Center at 1370 Tiger Park in Gulf Breeze, not Community Life United Methodist Church.

Precinct 23 will vote at Midway Baptist Church, 5471 Gulf Breeze Parkway in Gulf Breeze, not the Midway Fire District Station.

Precinct 15, which votes at the Milton Community Center, will continue to vote there Tuesday, despite the city's announcement Monday that it will shut down the Milton Community Center as a precaution until further notice.

The Supervisor of Elections' website has information for all voters about polling place locations and any temporary changes at votesantarosa.com.

The Supervisor of Elections office can be reached at 850-983-1900.