Issue link: https://newsleader.uberflip.com/i/352007
On July 22, the Sarasota County Supervisor of Elections Office began mailing absentee ballots for the Aug. 26 primary election to non-military domestic voters, according to Supervisor of Elections Kathy Dent. More than 34,000 ballots went in the mail on that date, a news release says. Mailing of ballots to military and overseas civilian voters began July 11, the release notes. Since then, approximately 1,300 bal- lots have gone out to those voters, it adds. To request a mail ballot, a voter may email absentee@SarasotaVotes.com, request one online at the Supervisor of Elections Office website or call 861-8618. Requests for a ballot to be mailed must be received by the Supervisor of Elections Office no later than 5 p.m. on Wednesday, Aug. 20, the release points out. To be counted, voted absentee ballots must be returned to the Supervisor of Elections no later than 7 p.m. on election day. Voted absentee ballots may not be left at an early voting site or precinct, the release notes. Because of changes in Florida election law, as of Jan. 1, 2014, any voter, except uni- formed service and civilian voters living overseas, who requests a ballot be mailed to an address other than the address on file in the Florida Voter Registration System must submit a signed written request, the release explains. Also effective this year, a voter who returns a voted mail ballot but forgets to sign the certif- icate envelope may cure the missing signature by submitting a signed affidavit and proof of identification to the Supervisor of Elections Office before 5 p.m. on the day before the election, the release adds. A copy of the affi- davit and instructions may be viewed and downloaded from the website. Dent reminds voters that the signature on the absentee ballot certificate must match the voter's signature on file in her office to be counted. Voters may update their signatures by submitting a Florida Voter Registration Application to the Supervisor of Elections Office, the release notes. The Sarasota County Supervisor of Elections Office began mailing absentee ballots on July 22. File photo SUPERVISOR OF ELECTIONS BEGINS MAILING ABSENTEE BALLOTS NEWS BRIEFS