Longboat residents can vote early on mainland or by mail

On Election Day, Longboat Island Chapel and Longboat Key Town Hall are bustling with residents wishing to cast their vote, but early voting is only available on the mainland.

For Longboat Key residents, the closest early voting location depends on what side of the island they’re on. The town is in Sarasota County to the south and Manatee County to the north.

For the 4,174 registered Longboat Key voters in Sarasota County, the closest early voting location is downtown at the Sarasota County Terrace Building (2001 Adams Lane), which houses the Property Appraiser, Tax Collector and Supervisor of Elections offices. As of noon Monday, Aug. 10, there have been 24 Longboat Key-registered voters who have cast their vote early in person. Many more, 704, have sent in their ballot by mail.

Sarasota County Supervisor of Elections Supervisor Ron Turner wrote in a statement to the Observer that early voting is “off to a great start” in the county.

“During the first weekend of early voting, slightly more than 3,000 voters cast their ballot,” Turner wrote. “I encourage others to do the same and vote early. It’s quick, easy and with six early voting sites available throughout the county, there’s an early voting location near just about everyone.”

The closest early voting location Longboat Key residents in Manatee County is at the G.T. Bray Recreation Center (5502 3rd Ave. Dr. W.) in Bradenton. Manatee County Longboat residents have cast 170 votes by mail or in-person. With 1,437 registered Manatee County voters in Longboat Key, that marks an 11.8% turnout rate so far compared to Sarasota County’s 17.4% Longboat early/mail-in ballot rate.

Early voting is one of three ways — mail-in, early in-person, and election day in-person — to vote in this year’s primary. Turner reminds voters that the registered party of voters dictates who they can vote for in the primary. Democrat and Republican registered voters will see different ballots.

“Florida is a closed primary state which means only voters who are registered members of a political party may vote in that party’s primary election,” Turner wrote in a press release. “Still, there’s something for every voter in this election, regardless of party affiliation, including countywide races for three school board seats, and for City of Sarasota voters there will be two at-large city commission seats.”

Early voting continues through Sunday, Aug. 16. Polls close at 4:30 p.m. in Sarasota County and 6 p.m. in Manatee County.

Mail-in ballots can be requested at votemanatee.gov or sarasotavotes.gov and are accepted until election day Tuesday, Nov. 3.