Voter registration deadline nears for March 15 elections

Supervisor of elections urging voters to verify that their information on file is correct

Image from the Supervisor of Elections Office website.
Image from the Supervisor of Elections Office website.

Sarasota County Supervisor of Elections Kathy Dent is reminding voters that Tuesday, Feb. 16, is the deadline to register to vote or change political party affiliation to be eligible to vote in the March 15 Presidential Preference Primary (PPP), Town of Longboat Key Bond Referendum and Holiday Park Park & Recreation District elections.

New voter registrations must be submitted on a Florida Voter Registration Application (FVRA), available on the Supervisor of Elections Office (SOE) website at www.SarasotaVotes.com, as well as at city halls, county libraries, county offices, social service agencies and many area banks, a news release points out.

Dent also recommends that voters verify that their registration information on file with the elections office is current. While the deadline to register to vote or change party affiliation for the coming election is Feb. 16, the release says, “address changes and name changes may continue to be made after the books close.” Signature updates must be received prior to the start of the absentee ballot canvass, which is scheduled for Friday, March 4, the release adds.

Voters may visit the SOE website to verify their voter status or call the supervisor of elections at 861-8600 for assistance, the release continues.

“Since Florida is a closed primary state, only voters registered as Democrats or Republicans are eligible to vote in their party’s PPP,” the release points out. “However, registered voters in Holiday Park and Longboat Key with no party or minor party affiliation are eligible to vote in their respective elections,” it notes.