Election
Date
A General Election is held
in November of every even-numbered year. Primary elections, which
precede each November General Election, are normally scheduled during
September and October. Additionally a Presidential Preference Primary is
scheduled in March of Presidential election years. Special countywide
elections may be called at any time during the year. Announcements of
special elections will be made through the media.
Voter
Registration Book-Closing Dates
To vote in an election, you
must be registered in the county where you live by the book-closing
date, which is normally the 29th day before each election. You may apply
for voter registration by submitting a Florida Voter Registration
Application form to the Supervisor of Elections. These forms are
available at libraries, post offices, banks and many government offices.
Or, register
online.
Party
Affiliation
Florida is a "closed
primary" state. If you wish to be eligible to vote in the
Democratic or Republican primary elections, you must be registered with
that political party. Voters registered with a minor political party or
without party affiliation may not vote for partisan candidates in
primary elections; they may vote for issues and nonpartisan candidates.
Party changes must be made by the end of the 29th day before the First
Primary. Party changes requested after the books close for the First
Primary do not become effective until after the Second Primary.
Residence
Address
If you move within Sarasota
County after you have registered to vote, please notify the Supervisor
of Elections as soon as possible. If you move to another Florida county
and wish to be eligible to vote, you must register to vote in that
county before the books close.
Voter
Registration Changes
Changes to your voter
registration record must be signed and submitted in writing. You may
write the change on the reverse side of your Voter ID card, send a
letter, or complete a Florida Voter Registration Application form and
submit it to the Elections Office.
Absentee
Ballots
If you will be unable to go
to the polls on election day and wish to vote by absentee ballot, you
may write or call the office of the Supervisor of Elections. You may
request absentee ballots for all elections which are held in a calendar
year. If you write, please include your name, Sarasota County residence
address, date of birth, the elections for which you wish to receive
absentee ballots, and a mailing address. Absentee ballots are mailed
about four weeks before each election.
Poll
Workers
Poll workers are needed for
every election. If you would like to become a Poll Worker at one of our
many precincts, please call the Poll Worker Coordinator at 941-861-8640 to
set up an appointment. Applicants must:
Poll workers are paid for
working on election day.
