Aug. 1 deadline looming for voter registration and party affiliation changes

Supervisor of Elections Office encouraging eligible persons to submit or update registration information if they want to participate in Aug. 30 primaries

The Supervisor of Elections website provided these voter statistics on July 11. Image courtesy Supervisor of Elections
The Sarasota County Supervisor of Elections website provided these voter statistics on July 11. Image courtesy Supervisor of Elections

Monday, Aug. 1 is the deadline to register or to change political party affiliation to be eligible to vote in the Aug. 30 Primary Election, Sarasota County Supervisor of Elections Kathy Dent is reminding voters.

A new registration must be submitted on a Florida Voter Registration Application (FVRA), available on the Supervisor of Elections (SOE) website at www.SarasotaVotes.com and at city halls, county libraries, county offices and social service agencies, a news release explains.

Dent also recommends that voters verify that their registration information is current with the elections office. Address changes and name changes may continue to be made after the books close, the release says. Signature updates must be received prior to the start of the absentee ballot canvass, which is scheduled for Friday, Aug. 19, the release points out.

Voters may visit the SOE website to verify their status, the release adds, or they may call the Supervisor of Elections Office at 861-8600 for assistance.

Since Florida is a closed primary state, only voters registered with party affiliation are eligible to vote in their respective party’s primary, the release notes. All registered voters, regardless of party affiliation, will be able to vote in non-partisan contests and for issues on the ballot.