MCAT To Offer Free Bus Rides To Voters On Election Day: Manatee County

MANATEE COUNTY, FL — Manatee County Area Transit will offer free fixed-route bus service to voters on Nov. 2, Election Day. Simply show your voter ID card when boarding.

The initiative is designed to encourage voters to participate in the election process, the county said in a news release.

MCAT Route 99 buses traveling into Sarasota County will also be included in this service, the county said. Handy Bus passengers can ride free by pre-scheduling a ride to or from a designated polling location.

All county voters will consider renewing a School Board of Manatee County school funding tax referendum. The 1-Mill Referendum originally passed in 2018 and voters will select yes or no to continue this 1 mill tax.

Its renewal will primarily be used to pay teachers' salaries, increase instructional time, and expand career, technical, STEM, and art programs, according to the district's website.

Holmes Beach voters will choose three city commission members from five candidates: first-time candidate Renee Ferguson, former commissioners John A. Monetti and Pat Morton, and incumbents Terry W. Schaefer and Carol Soustek.

Residents will also consider a right-of-way land swap referendum to vacate a 2,500 square feet right-of-way at 104 34th Street in exchange for 2,911 square feet of beachfront property.

City of Bradenton Beach residents will elect a mayor, choosing between incumbent John Chappie and contender David Galuszka. They'll also consider a city charter amendment eliminating term limits, while requiring each term to last two years.

In Anna Maria, incumbents Carol Carter and Jonathan Crane are running unopposed and have retained their city commission seats.

In the town of Longboat Key, residents will consider a referendum that will determine the residential density of property in the Buttonwood Harbour neighborhood.

The owner of 597 Buttonwood Drive is seeking permission to increase the density from office-institutional uses, which allows no density, to R-3SF zoning, which will allow a maximum of three residential units to be built on the land. The owner plans to only build two residential units on the property.

Voters within the Trailer Estates Fire District will also vote to dissolve the district effective Sept. 30, 2022.

A Manatee County sample ballot can be found here.