Bradenton Voter Guide 2020: Vote-by-Mail, Early Voting

BRADENTON, FL — As the Nov. 3 election approaches, Bradenton-area voters can submit their ballots at early voting locations, at drop-off boxes and by mail. They can also vote at their local voting precinct on Election Day. Patch has deadlines for voting, how to request a Florida ballot, where to return a ballot and more 2020 election information.

If voting in person, either early or on Nov. 3, voters must bring a current and valid ID with their name, photo and signature. Acceptable IDs include Florida driver’s license, a Florida ID card issued by the Department of Highway Safety and Motor Vehicles, a United States passport, a debit or credit card, military ID or a student ID. Find a full list of acceptable IDs here.

Vote by Mail

If you’re registered to vote in Manatee County, you may request a vote-by-mail ballot online here. You may also request a ballot by:

• Email: info@votemanatee.com
• Fax: 941-741-3820
• Phone: 941-741-3823
• Mail: PO Box 1000, Bradenton, FL 34206

It’s important to remember that vote-by-mail ballots cannot be forwarded, so make sure your correct address is on file.

Vote-by-mail ballots may be returned using the U.S. The return postage for a vote-by-mail ballot is two Forever stamps or $.70. They must be received by 7 p.m. Election Day. Additionally, they can be dropped off at any early voting location listed below via a secure drop box.

And be sure to remember to sign your ballot and that your signatures matches the one you have on file with the elections office. File out this form to update your signature.

Voters are not permitted to drop off their vote-by-mail ballots at their regular voting precincts on Election Day. Learn more about voting by mail here.

And if you choose to vote by mail, you can check to see if your ballot has been accepted here.

Early Voting

Early voting is offered for the Nov. 3 election starts Monday, Oct. 19 and ends Sunday, Nov. 1. Voting takes place between 8:30 a.m. and 6:30 p.m. daily at the following locations:

• Florida Department of Transportation Office: 14000 SR 64 E., Bradenton, FL 34212
• Lakewood Ranch Town Hall: 8175 Lakewood Ranch Blvd., Lakewood Ranch, FL 34202
• Manatee County Utilities Administrator’s Office: 4410 66th St. W., Bradenton, FL 34210
• Palmetto Library: 923 6th St. W., Palmetto, FL 34221
• Rocky Bluff Library: 6750 US Hwy 301, Ellenton, FL 34222
• Supervisor of Elections Office: 600 301 Blvd. W., Bradenton, FL 34205

Election Day Voting

If you choose to vote in person on Nov. 3, you can look up your voting precinct online here. For your vote to count, you must vote in the precinct in which you reside. Polls are open from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. on Election Day.

Who and What are on the Ballot?

Bradenton-area voters can find sample ballots with a complete list of candidates – including federal, statewide, countywide and municipal races – as well as proposed constitutional amendments for all Florida voters online here. Below are a few of the key races you might see on your ballot.

President and Vice President

• Joseph R. Biden, President and Kamala D. Harris, Vice President - Democrat
• Donald J. Trump, President and Michael R. Pence, Vice President - Republican
• Jo Jorgensen, President and Jeremy F. "Spike" Cohen, Vice President – Libertarian

Representative in Congress, District 16

• Vern Buchanan, Republican
• Margaret Good, Democrat

Manatee Board of County Commissioners, District 1

• Dominique Shauntel Brown, Democrat
• James A. Satcher, Republican

Manatee Board of County Commissioners, District 3

• Matthew J. Bower, No Party Affiliation
• Kevin Van Ostenbridge, Republican

Manatee Board of County Commissioners, District 5

• Vanessa A. Baugh, Republican
• Carol Ann Felts, Write-in
• Chris Gilbert, Write-in

Manatee Board of County Commissioners, District 7, At Large

• Thomas Whitten Dell, Write-in
• George W. Kruse, Republican

Manatee County Supervisor of Elections

• Michael S. Bennett, Republican
• Charles William, Jr., Democrat

Constitutional Amendments

• Amendment 1: Provides that only U.S. citizens who are at least 18 years old, a permanent resident of Florida and registered to vote may vote in a Florida election.
• Amendment 2: Raises Florida’s minimum wage to $15 per hour by 2026.
• Amendment 3: Allows all registered voters to vote in primaries for state legislature, governor and cabinet regardless of political party affiliation.
• Amendment 4: Requires proposed amendments or revisions to Florida’s constitution be approved in two elections.
• Amendment 5: Increase the period of time accrued Save-Our-Homes benefits may be transferred from a prior homestead to a new homestead from two to three years.
• Amendment 6: Allows a homestead property tax discount to be transferred to the surviving spouse of a deceased veteran.

For more information about the 2020 elections, check out the Manatee County Supervisor of Elections website.