Election Day 2026 in Bartow
Depending on where one looked, it could have been the adage, “Looks can be deceiving.” That is, going by the dearth of political road signs that usually festoon the polling places in Bartow, the perception could have been that voter turnout was light.
That may have been the case at the Access Church (located on South Broadway Avenue) and First Baptist Church (located on Church Street) Tuesday morning. Very few people were seen entering or exiting the entrances where registration and voting booths were set up. However, this was shortly before noon.
Meanwhile, voter turnout at the Bartow Civic Center and at the Polk Street Community Center differed from those observed at the church sites.
“It’s been a constant turnout,” said Wendy Grice, precinct clerk at the Civic Center. “It’s been busy since 7 this morning.” As she spoke, people were entering the building in ones and twos, likewise to those exiting having already cast their ballots.
Among those admitting surprise at the turnout at the Civic Center was Brenda Nerad, who lives in Floral Lakes Home Owners Association, a 55+ manufactured home development on South Floral Avenue, directly across from the center. She was in and out of the Civic Center within minutes.
“I didn’t have a hard time finding a place to park. It was great,” said Nerad. “I figured there would be a lot of golf carts.” She was referring to the fact that the main mode of transportation within the park, as well as through limited street access in Bartow, is by golf carts.
While political road signs were very few at the Civic Center, Access Church and First Baptist, these were in abundance across town, at the Polk Street Community Center. So, too, was the number of early voters.
“We had a pretty good crowd at the start,” said Steven Vines, a deputy at the Polk Street Community Center facility at 1255 Polk Street. He said there was a line of people when the polling station opened, but it had tapered off, but not by too much. “It’s been more or less steady.”
Precinct clerk Judy Hill seconded that.
“It’s been steady,” said Hill. She added that turnout was similar to the previous 20 years, and she’s been doing this for a reason. “I wanted to do something for my community.
Meanwhile, Vines intercepted a person about to enter the community center.
“Are you ready to vote?” he asked the person, who nodded yes. “All you need is to show your driver’s license.” This is what he said he had been doing all day thus far. “I greet them, show them where to go, and when they come out I thank them for voting.”
Steve Steiner can be reached at: [email protected]
