Early voting attracts 21.9% turnout rate

Longboat Key’s Gulf of Mexico Drive undergrounding referendum attracted 1,185 registered voters to vote during the town’s early voting period that ended Oct. 30.

The referendum asks voters whether the town can obtain bonds not to exceed $25.25 million to bury the road’s utilities.

If voters approve the referendum on Nov. 3, construction could begin in 2017 and would take three years to complete.

At the close of the early voting period Oct. 30, 1,310 voters, or 21.9% of the town’s 5,986 registered voters, took advantage of early voting or via absentee ballots.

In Sarasota County, 456 Key voters took advantage of early voting. In Manatee County, 142 voters took advantage of early voting.

Out of the 1,206 absentee ballots mailed to voters, 712 voters have returned their ballots as of Oct. 30.

Registered voters can still cast their votes at the polls on Election Day from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. Nov. 3.

Contact Kurt Schultheis at [email protected].