Sarasota County Supervisor of Elections Ron Turner is reminding voters, who vote by mail in the March 17 elections, that completed domestic ballots must be received by the elections office no later than 7 pm on election night to be counted. Voters may return ballots by mail or in-person and, beginning with the March 17 presidential primary, may drop their voted ballots into secure vote-by-mail drop boxes located inside all elections offices and early voting sites Drop boxes are available now in all three elections offices in Sarasota, Venice and North Port during regular business hours 8:30 am to 5:00 pm, Monday-Friday and until 7 pm on election night.

In addition, during the early voting period, beginning Saturday, March 7, through Saturday, March 14, vote-by-mail ballots may be dropped in secure boxes inside early voting locations at the North Sarasota Library and the Sarasota Square Mall, and the three elections offices between the hours of 8:30 am and 4:30 pm daily.  Turner also urges voters to read and follow the instructions included with vote-by-mail ballots to ensure their ballots are counted.  Voters should complete and sign the ballot certificate envelope and the voter’s signature should match the signature on record.

Voters may track their vote-by-mail ballots at SarasotaVotes.com. To track, click on the “Vote by Mail” icon on the home page, select “Track your Vote-by-Mail Ballot,” and follow the easy directions. The March 17 elections include the presidential preference primary, Holiday Park Park and Recreation District election and Longboat Key bond referendum. For more information, voters may contact the supervisor of elections office at 941-861-8600 or visit SarasotaVotes.com.