Town prepares for election

Longboat Key Town Clerk Trish Granger said the Manatee and Sarasota counties Supervisor of Elections offices tested and approved the voting equipment that will be used starting Friday for the town’s District 1 preliminary election.

The voting machines underwent a logic and accuracy testing and ballot proofing procedure at the election offices. The testing is a part of the $30,000 the commission approved to perform a weeklong early voting event at Town Hall at the end of the week.

The machines will be delivered to Town Hall Thursday, Jan. 14 in preparation for early voting, which begins Friday, Jan. 15.

All three candidates are expected to make appearances at Town Hall Friday to talk to voters and encourage voting.

The town of Longboat Key will hold a town-wide preliminary election for District 1 candidates Lynn Larson, Lee Pokoik and incumbent Mayor Lee Rothenberg Friday, Jan. 15 through Friday, Jan. 22 at Town Hall, 501 Bay Isles Road.

Early voting hours are 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. Saturday; 1 p.m. to 5 p.m. Sunday; and 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Tuesday through Friday. Early voting will not be held Monday, Jan. 18 in observance of the Martin Luther King, Jr. holiday. Remember to bring your picture ID with signature.

The preliminary election will be held from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. Tuesday, Jan. 26.

Contact Kurt Schultheis at [email protected].