Supervisor of elections urging voters to return their vote-by-mail ballots in timely fashion for March 20 elections

Early voting to begin March 10 and continue through March 17

The Sarasota County Supervisor of Elections Office’s website homepage features a ‘vote by mail’ icon. Image courtesy of the Supervisor of Election’s Office

Sarasota County Supervisor of Elections Ron Turner is reminding vote-by-mail voters that their ballots for the March 20 elections must be returned in time to reach the Supervisor of Elections Office no later than 7 p.m. on election night, to be counted.

“Turner urges voters to return ballots promptly to avoid postal delays,” a news release says.

Additionally, early voting for the March 20 elections will begin on Saturday, March 10, and continue through Saturday, March 17, Turner pointed out on Feb. 28.

The March 20 elections include the Sarasota County School District Ad Valorem Millage Election, Holiday Park Park & Recreation District Election and the Town of Longboat Key General Election.

Ballots may be returned by mail or in person to any one of the following three elections offices:

  • Sarasota County Terrace Building, located at 2001 Adams Lane in Sarasota.
  • R.L. Anderson Administration Building, located at 4000 Tamiami Trail S. in Venice.
  • Biscayne Plaza, located at 13640 Tamiami Trail in North Port.
The supervisor of elections has an office in the county’s R.L. Anderson Administration Center, located at 4000 Tamiami Trail S. in Venice. Image from Google Maps

Turner also urges voters to follow closely the instructions included with vote-by-mail ballots to ensure their ballots are counted, the release stresses. “Voters should complete and sign the ballot certificate envelope and the voter’s signature should match the signature on file in the voter registration database,” the release says.

Voters may track their vote-by-mail ballots at www.SarasotaVotes.com from the time their requests are processed until the voted ballots are received by the elections office, the release explains. Just click on the “Vote by Mail” icon on the home page, select “Track your Vote-by-Mail Ballot” “and follow the easy directions,” the release adds.

A voter may request a vote-by-mail ballot by emailing votebymail@sarasotavotes.com, including date of birth, or by calling 861-8618. Requests for ballots to be mailed to a voter must be received by the elections office no later than 5 p.m. on March 14, the release notes.

During the early voting period, voters may cast their ballots between the hours of 8:30 a.m. and 4:30 p.m. each day at any one of the three Supervisor of Elections offices in Sarasota (2001 Adams Lane), Venice (4000 Tamiami Trail S.), and North Port (13640 Tamiami Trail), or at the Longboat Key Town Hall (501 Bay Isles Road).

Florida Law requires every voter to present a photo and signature ID prior to casting a ballot. A voter who appears at a polling location without photo and signature ID will be allowed to vote a provisional ballot, the release points out.

Voters who have questions may contact the Supervisor of Elections Office at 861-8619 or visit www.SarasotaVotes.com.