County Commission approves Supervisor of Elections Turner’s request for changes
In unanimously approving their Nov. 18 Consent Agenda of routine business matters, the Sarasota County commissioners formally approved revised boundaries for 14 precincts, along with the dissolution of five precincts by combining them with others, at the request of Sarasota County Supervisor of Elections Ron Turner.
A memo included in the Nov. 18 agenda packet explained that, because of “previous and future annexations by municipalities located within Sarasota County,” Turner had recommended that the boundaries of precincts 301, 305, 307, 431, 435, 437, 507, 513, 515, 517, 519, 521, 523 and 525 be changed to accommodate these areas of annexation.
“Additionally,” the memo said the supervisor of elections recommended “combining precincts 109 & 111, 205 & 207, 211 & 213, 223 & 225, and 427 & 503 since they share the same districts and polling locations.” If approved, the memo added, the new combined precincts would be 109, 205, 211, 223 and 427.
Then the memo noted, “The Supervisor of Elections recommends the adoption of [an attached] resolution by the Board of County Commissioners to facilitate a streamlined precinct formulation within the county. The adoption of this resolution will enable the Supervisor of Elections to continue to offer premium electoral services to the registered voters of Sarasota County as well as maintain the precinct maps with greater efficiency.”
That resolution pointed out that that Turner would notify the office of Florida’s secretary of state “in writing within ten days of the reorganization of the Precincts and shall furnish a copy of the geographical information system compatible map showing the geographical boundaries and designation of each new precinct.”
Further, the resolution said, “Within ten days following the adoption of this Resolution, the Supervisor of Elections shall prepare an accurate written description of the new and reconfigured precincts, setting forth the boundary lines and polling places, which description shall be posted at the Supervisor’s office. Polling places are subject to change in accordance with law.”