MANATEE COUNTY – If you received a vote-by-mail ballot, you must return it in time for it to be received by the Manatee County Supervisor of Elections Office by Tuesday, Nov. 3 at 7 p.m., regardless of the postmarked date.
The U.S. Postal Service suggests returning your ballot no later than one week prior to election day.
About 45% of Manatee County’s registered voters received vote-by-mail ballots, according to elections office figures. As of Monday, Oct. 19, 124,130 vote-by-mail ballots were sent out, Elections Office Chief Deputy Sharon Stief said. As of Saturday, Oct. 24 – the deadline to apply for mail-in ballots – Manatee County had 274,344 registered voters, including 118,799 registered Republicans, 83,815 registered Democrats and 71,730 voters registered as having no party affiliation.
According to Stief, 480 vote-by-mail ballots were sent to voters in Anna Maria, 374 ballots were sent to Bradenton Beach voters and 1,441 ballots were sent to Holmes Beach voters.
Returning a ballot by mail requires 70 cents postage, or two Forever stamps. The use of one Forever stamp will result in the ballot being returned to sender for lack of adequate postage.
You can track your vote-by-mail ballot here.
Vote-by-mail ballots can be returned in person at several drop off locations throughout Manatee County. Ballots can be dropped off 24 hours a day, seven days a week at the drop box located at the Supervisor of Elections Office at 600 301 Blvd. W., Suite 108 in Bradenton.
Ballots can also be returned to the following early voting drop box locations from 8:30 a.m. to 6:30 p.m. through Sunday, Nov. 1:
- Lakewood Ranch Town Hall, 8175 Lakewood Ranch Blvd., Lakewood Ranch;
- Palmetto Library, 923 Sixth St. W., Palmetto;
- Rocky Bluff Library, 6750 U.S. Hwy. 301 N., Ellenton;
- Florida DOT Administration Office, 14000 S.R. 64 E., Bradenton;
- Manatee County Utilities Administration Office, 4410 66th St. W., Bradenton.
