A coalition of voting rights groups, local leaders and community organizations is urging Pinellas County’s Supervisor of Elections to add an early voting site in South St. Petersburg, pointing to what they describe as persistent access gaps in the area.
In a letter sent this week to Supervisor Julie Marcus, the group argued that current early voting options in South Pinellas County are limited to a single downtown location for the 2026 primary elections, with a second site in Gulfport only opening during the general election.
“Voters in South St. Petersburg continue to face limited access due to the lack of an early voting site,” the letter states, citing both logistical barriers and broader concerns tied to accessibility.
The coalition includes organizations such as All Voting is Local, Black Voters Matter and the League of Women Voters of the St. Petersburg Area, along with neighborhood associations, clergy and elected officials.
South St. Petersburg includes some of the county’s more densely populated neighborhoods, often exceeding 1,000 residents per square mile, while lacking a dedicated early voting location.
The letter raises concerns about voter behavior tied to those locations, noting that voters in areas such as Childs Park often travel farther to vote downtown, even when Gulfport is geographically closer.
In a statement accompanying the letter, Jackie Azis, president of the League of Women Voters of the St. Petersburg Area, said the request is aimed at improving access and turnout.
“We are proud to join this coalition of local, state and national leaders and organizations to advocate for an additional early voting site in South St. Petersburg,” Azis said in the release. “Adding an additional early voting site will expand voter access to the ballot and help address racial disparities in voter turnout in Pinellas County.”
The request comes as changes to Florida’s vote-by-mail system are expected to increase reliance on in-person voting. State law now requires voters to re-enroll in vote-by-mail after each general election and meet updated identification requirements.
The letter also points to a significant drop in mail ballot usage between 2020 and 2024, along with survey data showing lower confidence in vote-by-mail among Black voters.
Turnout data further underscores the concern. According to the letter, Pinellas County ranked near the bottom statewide for Black voter turnout in the 2024 general election, lagging 20 percentage behind white voters.
For that reason, the coalition is asking the Supervisor of Elections to establish at least one early voting site in a predominantly Black neighborhood in South St. Petersburg, specifically pointing to Childs Park and the 33711 and 33712 zip codes.
“Ensuring equitable access to early voting strengthens public confidence in our elections,” the letter states.
The Supervisor of Elections has not yet publicly responded to the request. This article will be updated when more information is released.