Sarasota Voter Guide 2020: Vote-by-Mail, Early Voting, Candidates

SARASOTA, FL — As the Nov. 3 election approaches, Sarasota-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 Sarasota County, you may request a vote-by-mail ballot online here. You may also request a ballot by:

• Email: votebymail@sarasotavotes.com
• Fax: 941-861-8617
• Phone: 941-861-8618
• Mail: PO Box 4194, Sarasota FL 34230-4194

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. Postal Service. 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:

• Supervisor of Elections - Terrace Building: 2001 Adams Lane, Sarasota 34237
• Supervisor of Elections - RL Anderson Building: 4000 Tamiami Trail S., Venice 34293
• Supervisor of Elections - Biscayne Plaza: 13640 Tamiami Trail, North Port 34287
• Sarasota Square Mall: 8201 S. Tamiami Trail, Sarasota 34238
• North Sarasota Library: 2801 Newtown Blvd., Sarasota 34234
• Fruitville Library: 100 Apex Rd., Sarasota 34240
• Shannon Staub Library: 4675 Career Lane, North Port 34289
• Bee Ridge Park: 4430 S. Lockwood Ridge Rd., Sarasota 34231

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?

Sarasota-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

State Senator, District 23

• Joe Gruters, Republican
• Katherine Norman, Democrat
• Robert Kaplan, No Party Affiliation

State Representative, District 71

• Will Robinson, Republican
• Andy Mele, Democrat

Sarasota Board of County Commissioners, District 1

• Michael Moran, Republican
• Mark E. Pienkos, Democrat

Sarasota Board of County Commissioners, District 3

• Nancy Detert, Republican
• Cory Hutchinson, Democrat

Sarasota Board of County Commissioners, District 5

• Ron Custinger, Republican
• Alice White, 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 Sarasota County Voters Guide visit the Sarasota County Supervisor of Elections Office website.