Voter registration deadline for the March 19 Presidential Preference Primary quickly approaching

Feb. 20 also the last day before primary to change party affiliation

The ‘Register to Vote’ and ‘My Voter Status’ icons are the first and second from the left among those shown in this image of a portion of the homepage of the Sarasota County Supervisor of Elections Office. Image courtesy Supervisor of Elections Ron Turner

The deadline to register to vote in the Presidential Preference Primary (PPP) is Tuesday, Feb. 20 — less than one week away, Sarasota County Supervisor of Elections Ron Turner is reminding county residents.

Only registered Republican voters may vote in the March 19 Presidential Preference Primary, a news release points out.

Further, Turner noted in the release that the Feb. 20 voter registration deadline is also the last day to change political party affiliation for the PPP.

“It’s important to remember that since the state Democratic Party already selected its candidate for the party’s nomination for president,” Turner said in the release. Therefore, “Only the Republican Party will hold a statewide presidential primary,” he added. “To vote in it, you must be a registered Republican by the voter registration deadline on February 20.”

An individual may register to vote, or a registered voter may change his/her party affiliation by taking one of the following steps, the release notes:

Online at RegisterToVoteFlorida.gov.
In person at any of three elections offices — in Sarasota, Venice or North Port.
By mail (application and mailing address available by visiting SarasotaVotes.gov).

Existing Sarasota County voters can go to SarasotaVotes.gov and click on the My Voter Status tool to review their voter information, the release points out.

For more information or assistance, call the elections office at 941-861-8619 or visit SarasotaVotes.gov.