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Welcome to VoxPopuli's Guide to the June 24 Democratic Primary for Florida Senate District 15 and Florida House District 40. The winners will face Republican challengers in a special general election on Sept. 2. There is no Republican Primary as only one GOP candidate filed to run in each race so they automatically became the nominees.
These special elections were triggered by the untimely death of the State Sen. Geraldine F. Thompson who died in February following complications from knee surgery. First, the Senate District 15 election was needed to fill Thompson's seat through the end of her term in 2028. Then, another election was required in House District 40 when Thompson's frequent legislative partner State Rep. LaVon Bracy Davis resigned her House seat to run for Thompson's.
In addition to Bracy Davis, a sitting legislator, this Democratic Primary has attracted a mix of first-time candidates and old guard politicians who'd like another shot. All of the candidates except former State Sen. Randolph Bracy III talked with us about their platforms and goals. Bracy hung up on the VoxPopuli reporter who put together his profile as soon as she identified herself. That doesn't mean he doesn't have a profile here, only that he chose not to participate in the crafting of it.
This voting guide was put together by contributing reporters Kathryn Brudzinski and Andrea Charur; former Orlando Sentinel reporter Terry O. Roen; and Norine Dworkin, editor in chief. For questions or comments, email info@wintergardenvox.com.
Voting by mail makes casting a ballot in the June 24 Democratic Primary election very convenient. But first, you need to REQUEST YOUR MAIL-IN BALLOT by 5 p.m., JUNE 12.
Since all vote-by-mail requests expire after each federal election cycle, if you had a vote-by-mail ballot for the 2024 elections, you will need to request another one. To request your ballot, call the Orange County Supervisor of Elections office at 407-836-VOTE, visit the site, or download and complete the Vote-By Mail Written Request Form (DS-DE 160) and either mail it back or drop it off at the OCSE office.
Once you make your request, you'll receive your ballot in the mail. You can also pick up a mail-in ballot yourself or you can designate someone to pick it up for you. Find designee pick-up forms and affidavits at OCSE.
Once you complete your ballot, return it to the Supervisor of Elections Office at 119 Kaley Street in Orlando. Your ballot needs to be at the Supervisor of Elections Office by 7 p.m. on JUNE 24 for it to be counted. Remember to sign the envelop.
Then, sign up for BallotTrax to receive email or text updates about the status of your ballot from printing to mail-out to acceptance.
Signatures can change because of age, injury, arthritis. It’s easy to update your signature with a new voter registration application. Mismatched signatures are one of the main reasons that mail-in ballots don't get counted. Update yours here to ensure your vote counts. Mail-in ballots with missing signatures on the outside envelop also won’t don’t get counted. Fortunately, voters have two days after the election to “cure” their ballots with this affidavit.
Early voting for the Democratic Primary will take place June 14-June 22, daily, 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. at these locations:
Apopka Community Center
519 S. Central Ave, Apopka
Eatonville Town Hall
307 E. Kennedy Blvd., Eatonville
Supervisor of Elections Office
119 W. Kaley St., Orlando
West Oaks Library
1821 E. Silver Star Rd., Ocoee
If you are in line by 6 p.m., YOU CAN VOTE. You’ll need ID with a photo and signature. Accepted forms include: valid Florida driver’s license, U.S. passport, debit/credit card, student or military ID, public assistance ID, Florida firearms license. (If your ID only has a photo, bring a second one with an updated signature.) Early voting locations will have Spanish translators and ADA-compliant voting equipment for those who need it. For more information, visit the Orange County Supervisor of Elections website.
Completed mail-in ballots can be dropped off at the Supervisor of Elections Office at 119 Kaley Street in Orlando by 7 p.m. on June 24. On Election Day, mail ballots can only be dropped off at the Supervisor of Elections Office. You can designate someone to drop your mail-in ballot off for you. To avoid the appearance of “ballot harvesting,” designees are limited to two ballots with just one for a non-family member.
Returning citizens who have completed their sentences and paid all fines and fees or completed community service in lieu of payment can get their voting rights restored (except for those convicted of murder or felony sex offenses).
That said, voting eligibility can still be challenging to figure out as those who believed they were eligible to vote in the 2020 election only to be arrested by Gov. Ron DeSantis’s election police discovered. The Formerly Incarcerated Convicted People & Families Movement’s “Can I Vote?” tool may help returning citizens determine if they can vote in the 2025 elections.
