Like so many in the community, our thoughts are with those hit hardest by Hurricane Ian. We realize it may be weeks before our neighbors are able to return to some level of normalcy.

As we hope for a quick recovery following the storm, our efforts to prepare for a fair, secure and accessible election continue. This page is dedicated to providing information related to the November 8 General Election and the impacts of Hurricane Ian.
 

Voters Impacted by Hurricane Ian

If you have been impacted by Hurricane Ian, there are important steps you can take to ensure you can vote in the November 8 General Election.

3 Ways to Vote
Damage from Hurricane Ian may potentially disrupt the normal voting process for some residents. The first thing to understand is that there are three ways to vote in Florida: by mail (absentee), in person during early voting or on Election Day. We are here to help. Please contact us by calling 941.861.8618 and we will discuss the voting options available to you.

Vote by Mail
If you have requested a vote-by-mail ballot for the November 8 General Election and have been displaced by Hurricane Ian, you can:

• Visit your local United States Postal Service location to determine if your mail is being held. You can look up postal locations using the United States Postal Service Location Finder. We have also prepared a list that includes affected Sarasota County USPS locations and the zip codes they service.
   
• Contact our office to learn about updating your mailing address and requesting a replacement vote-by-mail ballot. Call 941.861.8618.
   
• Learn about alternate ways of voting. If you are currently unable to receive your vote-by-mail ballot, there are alternate ways to cast your vote. Learn more below.

Early Voting
There are 14 days of early voting in advance of the November 8 General Election. If you are having difficulty receiving your vote-by-mail ballot because of Hurricane Ian, a convenient alternative is in person early voting. Early voting begins Monday, October 24 and continues through Sunday, November 6, 8:30 a.m. – 6:30 p.m. daily at nine sites throughout Sarasota County. Learn more.

Election Day Voting
Tuesday, November 8 is Election Day. Polls are open 7 a.m. – 7 p.m. If you choose to vote on Election Day, remember that you must vote in your assigned polling location based on your residential address. You can find your polling location listed on your Voter Information Card or you can verify your polling location using the Find My Precinct quick link on our website. 

Temporary Election Day Polling Place Changes
The following polling places are being temporarily relocated for the November 8 General Election due to damage from Hurricane Ian. 

WATERFORD SPORTS CLUB (PRECINCT 301)
Temporarily moved to:
Church of the Nazarene
1535 E Venice Avenue
Venice, FL 34292

NORTH PORT COMMUNITY UNITED CHURCH OF CHRIST (PRECINCT 317)
Temporarily moved to:
North Port Elections Office
Biscayne Plaza
13640 Tamiami Trail
North Port, 34287

ST. NATHANIEL'S EPISCOPAL CHURCH (PRECINCTS 329, 339)
Temporarily moved to:
North Port Elections Office
Biscayne Plaza
13640 Tamiami Trail
North Port, 34287

 

Important Dates

Tues., Oct. 11: Voter Registration Deadline
Mon., Oct. 24 - Sun., Nov. 6: Early Voting
Sat., Oct. 29, 5 p.m.: Deadline to request a vote-by-mail ballot be mailed
Tues., Nov. 8: Election day, polls open 7 a.m. - 7 p.m.
 

Hurricane Ian FAQs

I saw that Governor DeSantis issued an executive order regarding Hurricane Ian and the election. What does that mean for Sarasota County?
Executive Order 22-234 contains several provisions that grant supervisors of elections in Charlotte, Lee and Sarasota counties discretionary authority and provide limited flexibility for the coming election. Sarasota County was fortunate that it did not experience the level of damage and destruction as some counties to our south. Therefore, we are only implementing Provision #3 from the order: Allowing voters to request a vote-by-mail ballot to be sent to an address other than the voter’s address on file without a signed request. Voters are still required to provide Florida driver license or ID number, or the last four of Social Security Number when making the request. If you have any questions regarding the Governor's order or voting in the November 8 General Election, please call 941.861.8618.

When will I receive my vote-by-mail ballot?
The UOCAVA (Uniformed and Overseas Citizens Absentee Voting Act) ballots were mailed as scheduled on Friday, September 23. The domestic vote-by-mail ballots originally scheduled for Thursday, September 29 were sent Tuesday, October 4. If you have a vote-by-mail ballot request on file with our office, you should expect to receive your ballot shortly thereafter, barring any postal delays due to Hurricane Ian.

I was displaced by Hurricane Ian, how can I receive my vote-by-mail ballot?
You can begin by contacting your local post office to determine if they are holding your mail. If you have questions about your vote-by-mail ballot or would like to request a replacement ballot, call us at 941.861.8618. Additionally, you may want to consider all the ways in which you can cast your vote. In Florida, you can vote by mail (absentee), in person during early voting or on Election Day. 

How do I request a vote-by-mail ballot?
The easiest way to request a vote-by-mail (absentee) ballot is online using the Mail Ballot Request Service or by calling 941.861.8618. Learn more.

Early voting begins in just a few weeks, will there be any changes to locations?
There are no changes to the early voting schedule for the November 8 General Election. All nine sites are set to welcome voters when early voting begins Monday, October 24. Learn more by visiting our Early Voting page. .

I have questions about the November 8 General Election. Who can I speak with?
We are happy to answer any questions regarding the coming election. Call us at 941.861.8618.

This section will be updated as needed. Please check back frequently for updates. Page last updated 10/20/2022.