Governor Charlie Crist

Charlie Crist
P.O. Box 1547
St. Petersburg, FL 33731
September 24, 2016
Deborah Clark
Pinellas County Supervisor of Elections
13001 Starkey Road
Largo, FL 33773
Dear Ms. Clark,
I write this letter strongly urging you to heed the communitys request to add an
early voting location in South St. Petersburg.
With extraordinary turnout levels expected for this years presidential election, we
can assume there will once again be long lines for the people to exercise their
constitutional right to vote. While civic participation is a wonderful thing, multihour waits can be an undue hardship for many in our community.
While voting by mail is an excellent option, many voters prefer to vote in person
at the polls and voters deserve more choices, not less. At present, many
South Pinellas residents would have to travel more than five miles to reach the
closest early voting site. For those without reliable transportation or those utilizing
public transit, that distance presents an unreasonable barrier to voting early.
And for a community that has been historically disenfranchised, adding an early
voting location in South St. Petersburg would ensure equal opportunity to take
part in one of our most sacred rights of American democracy.
As Floridas Governor, I signed an executive order to expand early voting hours,
to ensure as many people can participate in the electoral process as possible. It
was the right thing to do. I encourage you to do the right thing for the people of
Pinellas, and add an additional early voting location in South St. Petersburg.
Thank you and God Bless,

Charlie Crist

P.O. Box 1547, St. Petersburg, FL 33731