July 25 also the deadline for party changes in advance of August Primary
The deadline to register to be eligible to vote in the Aug. 23 Primary Election, or to change party affiliation for that election, is Monday, July 25, Sarasota County Supervisor of Elections Ron Turner is reminding county residents, with emphasis in a news release.
“New paper voter registration applications must be completed, signed and returned in person to an elections office or postmarked by July 25, and may also be submitted electronically through RegistertoVoteFlorida.gov before midnight on July 25,” Turner said in the release.
Further, requests for party changes must be submitted on a signed Florida Voter Registration Application or submitted electronically and received by the July 25 deadline, the release points out.
Florida Voter Registration Applications are available at all elections offices in the county — in Sarasota, Venice and North Port — as well as at public libraries, military recruitment offices and public assistance offices, the release explains. Additionally, they may be downloaded at SarasotaVotes.com.
Further, applications may be submitted through any driver’s license or tax collector’s office that issues Florida driver licenses or Florida ID cards, the release points out.
“Voters should confirm their voter eligibility and that their registration information is current before the July 25 deadline,” Turner said in the release. “Voters may go to SarasotaVotes.gov and click on the My Voter Status quick link to check voter information and status.”
Moreover, Turner is reminding voters that Florida is a closed primary state, which means only registered Democratic and Republican voters may vote in their respective party’s primary, the release explains. Voters who are registered with minor or no party affiliation may vote only in nonpartisan contests and universal primary contests (UPCs); several of those are on the August primary ballot, the release adds.
“There is something for everyone on the August ballot,” Turner noted in the release. “In addition to the three nonpartisan School Board races (seats 1, 4 and 5), there will be four universal primary contests for hospital board seats and one for State Senate District 22,” he pointed out in the release.
“A UPC occurs when all the candidates for an office have the same party affiliation and the winner will have no opposition in the General Election,” the release notes. “All voters, regardless of political party affiliation, are eligible to vote in those races.”
Additionally, registered voters who reside in the city of Sarasota will have the opportunity to vote in their nonpartisan City Commission contest for at-large seats, the release says.
For more information or assistance, voters may call the elections office at 941-861-8619 or visit SarasotaVotes.gov.