We strongly urge everyone to vote either by mail (with a drop-off at the elections office if you are apprehensive about the mail) or by early voting in one of the many locations throughout the county. Between the pandemic and the expected heavy turnout, voting on Election Day will be more challenging than usual. Make your voice heard! VOTE!
Here are our recommendations for officeholders and amendments:
Federal, State and Local Offices:
President and Vice President of the United States: Joseph R. Biden and Kamala Harris
Representative in Congress, District 16: Margaret Good
Representative in Congress, District 17: Allen Ellison
State Attorney, 12th Judicial Circuit: Betsy Young
State Senator, District 23: Katherine Norman
State Representative, District 72: Drake Buckman
State Representative, District 74: Lisa Stortstrom
Sarasota County Commission, District 1: Mark Pienkos
Sarasota County Commission, District 3: Cory Hutchinson
Sarasota County Commission, District 5: Alice White
Sarasota Soil and Water Conservation District Group 1: Sean Patton
Shall Supreme Court Justice Carlos G. Muniz be retained: NO
Shall District Court of Appeals Judge Drew Atkinson be retained: NO
Shall District Court of Appeals Judge Morris Silberman be retained: YES
Shall District Court of Appeals Judge Daniel H. Sleet be retained: NO
Shall District Court of Appeals Judge Andrea Teves Smith be retained: NO
State Constitutional Amendments:
Amendment 1: FOR Citizenship required to vote: NO (US citizenship already is required by the state constitution)
Amendment 2: FOR Raising Minimum Wage: YES
Amendment 3: FOR All Voters Vote in Primary Elections: YES
Amendment 4: FOR Requirement of Two Separate Votes on Future Amendments: NO
Amendment 5: FOR Portability of Save-Our-Homes Benefits to 3 years: YES
Amendment 6: FOR Ad Valorem Tax Discount for Spouses of Certain Deceased Veterans: YES