Early voting begins for Longboat Key

Why wait for the March 10 election when you can vote early all week?

Early voting on Longboat Key began today, March 2, at Town Hall.

Voters are given the choice of Phill Younger and Gene Jaleski for at-large town commissioner and Jack Daly and Larry Grossman for district four town commissioner.

This election can have a direct impact on the lives of Longboat Key residents. Commissioners are those who decide day-to-day things, such as where to park and who answers your 911 calls.

The voter turnout for commissioner elections is, however, relatively low on the Key compared to presidential elections.

In 2012, voter turnout for town elections was 37.06%; in 2013, turnout was 40.06%; and in 2014, turnout was 36.29%.  Compare that with the presidential election turnout at 85.62% in 2008 and 83.32% in 2012, and the voting is lackluster.

It is not too late to make your vote count, and it is not too late to increase voting turnout for this general election.

Absentee ballot requests must be received by the Manatee County Supervisor of Elections, votemanatee.com, or the Sarasota County Supervisor of Election, sarasotavotes.com, by 5 p.m. on March 4. In order to be counted, the absentee votes must be received by 7 p.m. on March 10.

The early voting takes place from 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. March 2 to 7 at Longboat Key Town Hall, 501 Bay Isles Road. Both Sarasota County and Manatee County residents can early vote at Town Hall.

From 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. on election day, Sarasota County residents can vote at Town Hall, and Manatee County residents can vote at Longboat Island Chapel, 6200 Gulf of Mexico Drive.

Nearly 75% of votes in last year’s town election were cast early or absentee.