GAINESVILLE - The city becomes inundated with more signs, flyers and advertisements. As the countdown towards election ticks louder and some try to beat the clock before the big day.

Eric Atria, an Alachua County Resident says, "Voting is the most important thing we can do, as citizens. So many people have fought very hard to get the right to vote and I think that I want to have the first opportunity to do so. “ Atria says he’s been taking advantage of early voting ever since Florida officially began early voting in 2004. Atria adds, people should vote even if they think they won’t be directly affected. “I think when people look at a constitutional amendment and say this doesn’t apply to me, so I am not going to vote on it… I feel that voting inherently has some sort of greater good to it, that you are voting for a greater good that may not include yourself. So I think you should vote what you think is right to happen in society,” Atria says.

Pam Carpenter, the Alachua County Supervisor of Elections says all you need to vote early is a picture and signature ID. Carpenter says, “Most of our voters are telling us is that they really appreciate the flexibility that early voting offers them. That they can fit voting into their schedules.”

Early voting lasts through November 3rd. Registered voters are receiving sample ballots such as this one in their mail boxes in order to familiarize themselves with the voting ballot. For these 8 days people can vote at one of three different locations. The County Administration Building in downtown Gainesville, the Millhopper Branch Library or the Tower Road Branch Library. Polls will be open from 8am to 8pm.

Dewey Rawls an Alachua County Resident says that after watching the three presidential debates he has made up his mind and there’s no going back. He’d rather get the process over with. Rawls tells me, “After a couple of months of this I had enough of it so I decided to make up my mind today, well a couple of days ago and come out and vote. Because whatever I hear now it’s not going to make that much difference.”

Carpenter says voting early is useful. “And if you take advantage of early voting then you know you have your voted counted and you don’t have to worry if something comes up on election day that would keep you from getting to the polls,” she adds.

If you cannot vote on any of the early voting days and you do have something come up on election day that will prevent you from going to a polling site. Absentee ballots are available at the supervisor of elections office. You can turn those in practically any day at any time, in their “After-Hours Drop Slot” until 7pm on Election Day.