Editor's Note: For information on early voting for the November 2008 Presidential Election, go to our post "Early Voting in Florida Begins! Get to the Polls!"

Early voting begins today for the Aug. 26 primary! With many important races to our community on the ballot, I encourage all our readers to make sure they get out and vote.

Also, this is the first election since the switch from the touch-screen voting machines to the new paper/optical scan ballots. More than half of the state's voters live in 15 counties that will use paper ballots for the first time in the primary.

Please take the time to vote early. Leave yourself plenty of time and patience to work with the new ballots- and be sure to follow all the directions carefully to make sure your vote counts. We cannot afford to let the chance to make our voices heard as a community slip by. It is time to stand up and make sure we get representation on every level of government!

For information on early voting times and locations near you, visit the Florida Division of Elections webpage.