To register and vote, you must be 18 years of age, a U.S. citizen and a legal resident of the state of Florida and of the county in which you seek to be registered. A minor who is otherwise qualified may pre-register upon reaching his/her 16th birthday, and may vote in any election conducted on or after his/her 18th birthday. (See § 97.041, Florida Statutes)

PERSONS NOT ENTITLED TO REGISTER OR VOTE

• A person who has been found by a court in any state to be mentally incapacitated with respect to voting and who has not had his or her right to vote restored

• A person who has been convicted of any felony in any court of record and who has not had his or her right to vote restored

• A person who is not a citizen of the United States of America

• A person who is not registered may not vote (See § 97.041, Florida Statutes)

To register to vote, you must complete a Florida Voter Registration Application. Applications are available online at RegistertoVoteFlorida.gov, and at elections offices in the Sarasota County Terrace Bldg., 101 S. Washington Blvd., Sarasota; the R.L. Anderson Bldg., 4000 Tamiami Trail S. Venice; and Biscayne Plaza, 13640 Tamiami Trail, North Port.

Applications are also available at driver license offices, state agencies that provide public assistance, public libraries, post offices and many other public locations. You may also print a registration application from our website at SarasotaVotes.gov or from the Florida Division of Elections.

You will be offered the opportunity to apply to register to vote or update your voter registration when you obtain your driver license or when you apply for public assistance at state agencies.

Applications may be submitted in person at any supervisor of elections office or by mail to PO Box 4194, Sarasota, Florida, 34230-4194.

You can apply to register to vote at any time online, by mail or in person. However, you must be registered at least 29 days before you can vote in an election. The date your voter registration application is postmarked or hand-delivered to the supervisor of elections will be your registration date. If your application is complete and you are qualified as a voter, a voter information card will be mailed to you.

You can use this handy online tool provided by the Sarasota County Supervisor of Elections to make sure your voter registration is active and up-to-date. You can also call the Sarasota County Supervisor of Elections Office at 941-861-8600.

All you will need to look up your record is your first name, last name, and date of birth .

If you need to update your voter registration information, you can go to the Sarasota Supervisor of Elections Update Your Voter Information page or by contacting the Sarasota County Supervisor of Elections Office at 941-861-8600.

Florida is a closed primary state. If you want to change your party affiliation so you can vote in a party’s primary election, you need to make that change by the 29-day voter registration deadline. If the deadline has already passed, you can still submit an application with those changes at any time, and they’ll be applied for future elections.

Note: A new election law was passed in 2021. To change or update their address, name, or party affiliation, voters now must provide the last four digits of their Social Security number, a Florida driver’s license number, or a Florida state identification card. If you cannot provide one of these, call the Supervisor of Elections office for assistance.

Important: Your polling place may have changed! If you plan to vote in person on Election Day, please double check your polling location.

Two easy options are the Precinct and Polling Finder page on the Sarasota Supervisor of Elections website and vote411.org, the League of Women Voter's website where you can find not just where to vote, but who is on your ballot and where they stand on the issues. You can also call the Sarasota County Supervisor of Elections Office at 941-861-8600.

Generally, you cannot vote in a precinct other than the one in which you live and are registered. However, if you are residing temporarily outside your home county and have no permanent address in the county, you can apply to be registered and vote in the precinct that contains the main office of the supervisor of elections. These voters are not allowed to vote in municipal elections. (See § 97.1031, and § 101.045, Florida Statutes)

When a polling place becomes unavailable, is inadequate for the efficient handling of voters, or is not accessible to people with disabilities, the supervisor of elections will move the polling place to another site that is accessible to the public on election day.

When a polling place is moved, the supervisor of elections will mail a notice of the change of polling place to each registered voter or to each household in which there is a registered voter affected by the change of polling place at least 14 days prior to an election. A notice will also be posted on the elections website or in a newspaper of general circulation in the county. (See § 101.001, and 101.71, Florida Statutes)

Please be aware that the polls open at 7 a.m. and close at 7 p.m. on Election Day. If you are in line by 7 p.m. you have a right to vote.

Note: If you have a mail ballot, you cannot just drop it off at your polling place on Election Day, but you CAN exchange your mail ballot for an in-person ballot and vote in person instead.

The Sarasota Supervisor of Elections will mail a sample ballot to each eligible voter who has not requested a vote-by-mail ballot for a specific election or to each household in which there is a registered voter at least seven days before an election. A voter may also fill in the form on the Sample Ballots page of the Sarasota Supervisor of Elections website to access his or her personalized sample ballot for a current election. This will enasble you to:

• View your personalized sample ballot, when available
• Find where you vote on election day
• Check your vote-by-mail ballot requests
• Track your vote-by-mail ballot to see when it is mailed to you and when it is received by our office.

As a convenience to the voter, the supervisor of elections must provide early voting at designated early voting sites beginning 10 days prior to an election that contains state or federal races and ending three days before the election. In addition, early voting prior to an election that contains state or federal races may be extended at the discretion of the supervisor of elections. (See § 101.657 Florida Statutes)

EARLY VOTING TIMES AND LOCATIONS

Early voting sites may be open between eight and 12 hours each day. Early voting locations will be designated 30 days prior to an election and locations and times will be publicized on the SarasotaVotes.gov, on sample ballots and in local media.

Both a current and valid photo and signature ID are required when you go to the polls to vote. A voter who fails to show photo and signature ID will be required to vote a provisional ballot. (See § 101.043, Florida Statutes)

Acceptable forms of identification include:

• Florida driver license

• Florida ID card

• U.S. passport

• Debit/credit card

• Military ID

• Student ID

• Retirement center ID

• Neighborhood association ID

• Public assistance ID

• Veteran health ID issued by U.S. Dept of Veterans Affairs

• Concealed weapon or firearm license issued pursuant to § 790.06

• Employee ID issued by any entity of federal, state, county or municipal government

Any eligible voter who is unable to read or write or who, because of a disability, needs assistance to vote is eligible to receive assistance at the polls. The need for assistance will be designated on the voter’s registration record, upon request. The voter is entitled to receive the assistance of two election officials or someone of his or her own choice, other than the voter’s employer or an officer or agent of the voter’s union. It is illegal for any person to be in the voting booth with any voter except as authorized by an election official. A person at a polling place or early voting site, or within 150 feet of the entrance of a polling place or early voting site, may not solicit any voter in an effort to provide assistance to vote. Persons assisting a voter to cast his or her vote, except for elections officials, must subscribe to an oath. (See § 97.061 and 101.051, Florida Statutes)

Those services are explained here.

The supervisor of elections may not deliver a vote-by-mail ballot to an elector or an elector’s immediate family member on the day of an election unless there is an emergency that precludes the voter from going to his or her assigned polling place. (See § 101.62, Florida Statutes) 

A request for a ballot to be mailed must be received by the supervisor of elections no later than 5 p.m. on the 12th day before the election. Marked ballots must be received in the supervisor of elections office no later than 7 p.m. on the day of the election. If you have obtained a vote-by-mail ballot but decide to vote in your precinct on election day, you must return the ballot, whether or not it has been marked, to the election board at your precinct or early voting site. If you are unable to return the vote-by-mail ballot, you may be required to vote a provisional ballot. (See § 101.62, 101.67 and 101.69, Florida Statutes) 

Yes! Call Toll Free 1.866.308.6739 (in English and Español), available Monday - Friday, 8:00 a.m. - 5:00 p.m., with extended hours on the day registration ends and on Election Day for the upcoming statewide elections.

If you are hearing or speech impaired, please contact the Division using the Florida Relay Service, 1.800.955.8771 (TDD), 1.800.955.8770 (Voice), or 1.877.955.8773 (Español). For more information visit the Florida Relay Service.

If you face any problems voting, you can call the nationwide non-partisan voter assistance hotline at 866-OUR VOTE.

Hotlines are available in multiple languages:

• English: 866-OUR-VOTE
• Spanish: 888-Ve-Y-Vota
• Arabic: 844-Yalla-US
• Asian Languages: 888-API-VOTE (Mandarin, Cantonese, Korean, Vietnamese, Tagalog, Urdu, Hindi, and Bengali)
• Disability Rights Florida also has a hotline at 800-342-0823

You can also call the Supervisor of Elections Office at 941-861-8600.

Violations relating to Chapters 104 and 106, Florida Statutes, should be reported by sworn written complaint to the Florida Elections Commission (FEC), 107 W. Gaines Street, Suite 224, Tallahassee, Florida 32399-1050, telephone 850.922.4539. The FEC is not aligned or affiliated with the Division of Elections, Department of State. (See § 106.25, Florida Statutes) 

Violations of either the National Voter Registration Act of 1993 or Help America Vote Act, or any irregularities or fraud involving voter registration, removal procedures or voting under the Florida Election Code should be reported in writing to the Division of Elections, Office of the General Counsel, R.A. Gray Bldg., 500 S. Bronough St., Tallahassee, Florida 32399, or call toll free 877.868.3737. (See § 97.023 and 97.028, Florida Statutes) 

All other violations should be reported to the local state attorney. 

Yes. Voters can wear political t-shirts, buttons, hats, or other paraphernalia when they go into the polling place to vote.

However, voters may NOT campaign or solicit other voters within 150 feet of the entrance to any polling place or secure ballot intake station (mail ballot drop box).

A voter, or if directly instructed by the voter, a member of the voter’s immediate family or the voter’s legal guardian, may request a vote-by-mail ballot from the supervisor of elections in person, by mail, by telephone or online through the supervisor of elections’ website. Go to VOTE BY MAIL to request your ballot and to get more information on voting by mail.

The person requesting a vote-by-mail ballot must disclose:

• The name of the voter for whom the ballot is requested

• The voter’s address

• The voter’s date of birth

• The voter’s Florida driver license number, Florida ID card number or last 4 of the SSN

• The requester’s name

• The requester’s address

• The requester’s Florida driver license number, Florida ID card number or last 4 of SSN

• The requester’s relationship to the voter

• The requester’s signature (written request only)

All qualified electors are permitted to vote by mail under Florida law. (See § 97.021, Florida Statutes) A request to receive a vote-by-mail ballot covers all elections through the end of the calendar year of the next ensuing regularly scheduled general election (through December 31, 2024), unless the requester specifies certain elections only within such period.

Vote-by-mail FAQs can be found here.

Yes. All requests for a vote-by-mail ballot to be mailed to a voter must be received no later than 5:00 p.m. on the 12th day before the election.

The Sarasota Supervisor of Election's 2024 Voter Guide has detailed information that applies to you. You can also get all the information you need on their website.

You can track your ballot online to see if it has been mailed to you.

If you have not received your ballot within a reasonable time of it being sent to you, call the Supervisor of Elections office at 941-861-8600.

If your ballot has been lost in the mail, you can request a replacement ballot. You can go pick up your replacement ballot at the Supervisor of Elections office if necessary. Each voter has a right to receive up to two replacement ballots, but only the first ballot received will be counted.

You also have the option to vote in person during Early Voting or on Election Day.

Your signature is very important in the elections process. It is used to verify your signature on vote-by-mail ballot certificates and on candidate and initiative petitions. If your signature or identifying mark has changed, you may update it:

• In person at any of our three locations
• By mail after completing a Florida Voter Registration Application (English/Español)

No. Vote-by-mail ballots cannot be forwarded, so be sure we have your correct mailing address on file with our office. Learn more about updating your voter information.

The actual process of voting by mail is very similar to the process of voting in person.

• Read the ballot carefully before marking for any candidate or issue.
• Use a black or blue pen. Completely fill in the oval by the candidate or issue of your choice. To write in a name, blacken the oval and write the name on the line provided.
• If you make a mistake or change your mind, contact the elections office for instructions.
• Fold ballot and place in secrecy sleeve.
• Place secrecy sleeve in certificate (return mailing) envelope.
• Sign and date the certificate envelope and mail or return in person to the elections office. 

A voter who returns a vote-by-mail ballot without signing the voter’s certificate or whose signature on the voter’s certificate does not match the signature on file in the voter’s registration record may cure the missing/mismatched signature by completing an affidavit (English/Español)  and returning it to the supervisor of elections along with an ID prior to 5 p.m. on the 2nd day after the election. (See § 101.68 Florida Statutes)

A vote-by-mail ballot will not be counted if the voter’s certificate or ballot affidavit is not signed or the signature does not match the one on file. The signature on file at the time the vote-by-mail ballot is received by the supervisor of elections will be used to verify a voter’s signature. (See § 101.68, Florida Statutes) 

Yes. Voters who have a disability may request assistance in marking their choices on their ballot. They can request assistance from any person of their choice. However, the person assisting cannot be the voter’s employer or union representative.

In Sarasota County, all voting materials must be provided in both English and Spanish. If a voter speaks another language or has barriers to reading or writing, they can also request assistance from any person of their choice, as long as the assister is not their employer or union representative. (See § 101.661, Florida Statutes).

If you make a mistake or change your mind, contact the elections office for instructions. A voter can receive up to two replacement ballots if he or she makes a mistake prior to the ballot being cast.

You can find the answers to these questions and more on the 2024 Sarasota Elections page. If you are mailing your ballot, it will require a first class stamp. Read the ballot sleeve before you seal the envelope.

You may return your vote-by-mail ballot by mail or in person. If you mail your ballot, allow at least one week for your ballot to reach our office. You may also return your ballot in person to a secure ballot intake station located inside any of our three office locations or at an early voting location during hours of operation (early voting dates, hours and locations will be posted prior to each election).

Your Signature is Important

You must sign the Voter’s Certificate on the ballot return envelope and return the ballot promptly so that it reaches our office no later than 7 p.m. on election day. In the event there is an issue with your signature on the certificate, elections staff will attempt to contact you. There is space on the ballot return envelope for you to voluntarily provide your contact information. A vote-by-mail ballot will NOT be rejected solely due to the absence of this requested contact information.  

If you return your ballot without signing the Voter’s Certificate or are notified by us that your signature on the certificate does not match your signature on file with the elections office, you will need to complete and return a vote-by-mail cure affidavit (English/Español) to the elections office by 5 p.m. on the second day following the election.

You may pick up a vote-by-mail ballot from the elections office. A designee also may pick up a vote-by-mail ballot for a voter from the supervisor of elections office beginning nine days before election day but may pick up only two ballots per election, other than his or her own ballot or ballots for members of his or her immediate family. Designees must have written authorization from the voter, present a photo ID and sign an affidavit (English/Español).

You can track your vote-by-mail ballot from the time your request is processed until the voted ballot is received back in the elections office. To do that, sign up for Vote-by-mail Status Notifications.

The Florida election law that was passed in 2021 (SB 7050) changed legal requirements around mail ballot drop-offs. Now you are only permitted to drop off mail ballots for your spouse, parent, child, grandparent, grandchild, sibling, spouse’s parent, spouse’s child, spouse’s grandparent, spouse’s grandchild, or spouse’s sibling. You are limited to delivering two additional ballots outside of the family members listed here.

If you have obtained a vote-by-mail ballot but decide to vote in your precinct on election day, you must return the ballot, whether or not it has been marked, to the election board at your precinct or early voting site. If you are unable to return the vote-by-mail ballot, you may be required to vote a provisional ballot. (See § 101.62, 101.67 and 101.69, Florida Statutes)