Early voting result are in

The Town Clerk’s office reported Tuesday that 135 registered voters on Longboat Key took advantage of early voting on the mainland for the town’s March 16 municipal election.

That’s an 88% decrease from 2009 municipal election early-voting numbers, which resulted in 1,201 votes, or an 18% voter turnout, compared to two weeks of early voting in 2008 that drew in 1,277 votes, or a 24% voter turnout.

In Sarasota County, 125 votes were cast at the Sarasota County Supervisor of Election Office. In Manatee County, 10 votes were cast at the Manatee County Supervisor of Elections Office.

The drop-off in early-voting numbers can be attributed to commission's decision not to hold early voting on the island this year.

Town Clerk Trish Granger also reported that 117 out of 253 absentee ballots have been returned in Manatee County, for a return rate of 46%. And 282 out of 496 absentee ballots have been returned in Sarasota County, for a return rate of 57%.

There are 2,135 registered voters in Manatee County and 4,195 registered voters in Sarasota County.

Contact Kurt Schultheis at [email protected].