Early voting to begin on Saturday, March 7, for March 17 Presidential Preference Primary

Supervisor of Elections Office staff provides reminders about acceptable forms of ID and

Sarasota County Supervisor of Elections Ron Turner. Image from www.sarasotavotes.com

Early voting for the March 17 Presidential Preference Primary, the Holiday Park Park and Recreation District election, and the Town of Longboat Key bond referendum will begin Saturday, March 7, and continue through Saturday, March 14, from 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. daily, Sarasota County Supervisor of Elections Ron Turner has announced.

The early voting locations include the three elections offices — in Sarasota (the Terrace Building, located at 2001 Adams Lane), Venice (the R.L. Anderson Administration Center, located at 4000 Tamiami Trail S.) and North Port (Biscayne Plaza, located at 13640 Tamiami Trail). Additionally, early voting centers will be available at the Westfield Sarasota Square mall (8201 S. Tamiami Trail), and the Betty J. Johnson North Sarasota Library (located at 2801 Newtown Blvd. in Sarasota).

Florida law requires each voter to present a current and valid photo and signature ID prior to voting, the release stresses. Acceptable IDs are the following: a Florida driver’s license; a Florida ID card issued by the Department of Highway Safety and Motor Vehicles; a U.S. passport; a debit or credit card; a military ID; a student ID; a retirement center ID; a neighborhood association ID; a public assistance ID; a

veteran’s health ID issued by the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs; a license to carry a concealed weapon, issued pursuant to Florida Statute 790.06; and an employee ID issued by any branch, department or agency of the federal government, state, a county or a municipality.

“If your photo ID does not include your signature, you will be asked to provide a second ID that has your signature,” the release points out. “A voter who appears at a polling location without photo and signature ID will be allowed to vote a provisional ballot,” the release adds.

Turner also reminds voters who vote by mail that they may drop their voted ballots into secure vote-by-mail drop boxes located inside all early voting sites during the early voting hours listed above.

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