Numerous precincts changed for Nov. 5 General Election in Sarasota County, as a result of hurricane issues

Supervisor of Elections Turner and his staff offer details to aid citizens in voting

This is the top the homepage of the Sarasota County Supervisor of Elections Office.

Given the multitude of Hurricane Milton’s effects on Sarasota County, Ron Turner, the supervisor of elections, this week provided a number of updates and reminders for citizens in advance of the Nov. 5 General Election.

Several precincts have been relocated, he has pointed out:

  • Precinct 203 (Municipal Auditorium) has temporarily moved to the Bayfront Community Center, which stands at 803 N. Tamiami Trail in Sarasota.
  • Precincts 211 and 213 (St. Armands Key Lutheran Church) have been moved temporarily to the Bayfront Community Center, standing at 803 N. Tamiami Trail in Sarasota.
  • Precinct 335 (Harbor Cove) has been relocated temporarily to the North Recreational Center (within Harbor Cove), which is located at 219 Marlette Drive in North Port.
  • Precincts 411 and 421 (St. Boniface Episcopal Church on Midnight Pass Road on Siesta Key) has been moved temporarily to Siesta Key Chapel, which stands at 4615 Gleason Ave. on Siesta Key.
  • Precincts 427 and 503 (Nokomis Beach Plaza) have been relocated temporarily to Our Savior Lutheran Church, which stands at 2705 N. Tamiami Trail in Nokomis.

“Additional polling locations may relocate,” Turner said in a news release, based upon continuing assessments.

Siesta Chapel is on the north end of Siesta Key, near the Out-of-Door Academy. Photo from Google Maps

Further, Turner is reminding citizens of the three ways to vote in Florida:

  • Mail ballots — The deadline to request a vote-by-mail ballot is 5 p.m. on Monday, Oct. 21. Voters may return their ballots by mail or take them during regular business hours to one of the secure ballot intake stations, which are inside the elections offices in Sarasota, Venice and North Port. “We must receive a voter’s ballot in the elections office by 7 p.m. on election day for it to be counted,” the Supervisor of Elections Office advisory stressed.
  • Early voting (in person) — Monday, Oct. 21, through Sunday, Nov. 3, from 8:30 a.m. to 6:30 p.m. daily. Voters may vote at any one of 10 locations. Check the “Early Voting” list on the Supervisor of Elections Office website, www.sarasotavotes.gov.
  • Election Day — On Tuesday, Nov. 5, the polls will be open from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. Voters must vote at their assigned polling locations. “High turnout expected; voters may experience longer than usual wait times,” the advisory pointed out.
This is the list of Early Voting Locations for the Nov. 5 General Election. Image courtesy Sarasota County Supervisor of Elections Office

Frequently asked questions

Turner’s staff also has provided answers to frequently asked questions, as follows:

Where can I find my precinct and polling location?

  • “Voters can click the ‘find my precinct’ icon on SarasotaVotes.gov and enter their address (house number and street name). The system will display their precinct number and polling location (including relocation, if applicable).”

How can I find out if other polling locations are relocated?

  • If an Election Day polling location is not usable, an alternate site will be selected and affected voters will be notified by mail. These changes will also be publicly noticed on SarasotaVotes.gov.
  • If an early voting location is not usable for the election, that information will be posted on SarasotaVotes.gov.

What should I do if I was displaced by the storm or if mail is undeliverable at my residence?

  • The U.S. Postal Service “reports that vote-by-mail ballots are being delivered where possible.” Vote-by-mail ballots that cannot be delivered are being held at the voters’ local post offices for pick up.
  • Sarasota County voters who were affected by the recent storms and are concerned about receiving their vote-by-mail ballots may contact the Elections Office at 941-861-8618 for assistance.