5 p.m. Thursday, Oct. 22, the deadline for requesting vote-by-mail ballot
More than 77,000 vote-by-mail ballots are being sent to domestic voters in the initial mailing for the Nov. 3 General Election, Sarasota County Supervisor of Elections Ron Turner announced on Sept. 24.
“The ballots are in the mail to registered Sarasota County voters who have a vote-by-mail request on file with the elections office,” a news release noted. “Turner said the domestic mailing follows the mail ballots sent last week to registered military and overseas voters with requests on file,” the release added.
“Voting by mail continues to be a secure and convenient way to vote,” Turner pointed out in the release. “More than 53,000 Sarasota County voters returned a vote-by-mail ballot during the Aug. 18 Primary Election,” he continued. “I expect the totals for the General Election to be even higher.”
Turner acknowledged in the release that, “with recent news reports surrounding voting-by-mail, some voters may have questions. “He explained, “In Florida, there have been no recent changes to the vote-by-mail process. The Nov. 3 General Election will be conducted like past elections, and that includes voting by mail, early in person or on Election Day,” Turner added.
Voters have until 5 p.m. Thursday, Oct. 22, to request a ballot be mailed to them for the coming election, the release notes.
A vote-by-mail ballot request may be submitted in one of the following ways, the release says:
- Online at SarasotaVotes.gov/VotebyMail.
- In person at any of three elections offices — in Sarasota, Venice or North Port
- By phone: 941-861-8618
“Voted ballots may be returned by mail or in person to the supervisor of elections but must be received in the elections office no later than 7 p.m. on Election Night to be counted,” Turner pointed out in the release. “Vote-by-mail ballot voters must sign the certificate on the return envelope, and their signature should match the signature on file,” he added.
A voter may update his or her signature any time by submitting a new Florida Voter Registration Application to the Elections Office, the release also notes.
For more information, visit SarasotaVotes.gov or call 941-861-8618.