Voter’s Guides, How to Evaluate a Candidate, Election Dates and links to important information on voting locations, required ID and more are on this page.
Please check that you registered to vote in Manatee County and if you Vote by Mail (VBM) that you have re-registered in the last year.
- Call the Supervisor of Elections at 941-741-3823. OR
- check your voting information at https://www.votemanatee.com/Voter-Information/Voter-Status-Information-Check-Your-Registration-Status
Upcoming Election Dates:
Polling Locations Open at 7:00 am on Election Day and close at 7:00 pm.
March 19, 2024 Presidential Preference Primary
- Voter Registration Deadline: Tuesday, February 20, 2024* (February 19 is President’s Day)
- Early Voting: March 9 -16
- This election determines the Presidential candidate on the Republican ballot in November. You can vote ONLY if you are registered Republican. If you are a registered Democrat, No Party Affiliation or a minor party, you will not be able to vote in this election.
- You may change your party affiliation at any time up to 29 days before a Primary Election and the new party affiliation will be valid for that election. If you would like to change your political party affiliation, you can update your voter registration in the following ways:
- by updating your information online at RegisterToVoteFlorida.gov
- by completing a Florida Voter Registration Application that should be signed and mailed or delivered in-person to the supervisor of elections office
August 20, 2024 Primary Election
- Voter Registration Deadline: Monday, July 22, 2024
- Early Voting: August 10 – 17
- This election determines the candidates for the November ballot. For most federal, state and for county commission positions you can only vote for Republican candidates if you are registered Republican and only Democratic candidates if you are registered Democratic. School board and municipal positions such as mayors, city council are nonpartisan. School board positions are determined in the primary unless no candidate receives more than 50%, in which case there is a run-off with the top 2 in the general election.
- You may change your party affiliation at any time up to 29 days before a Primary Election.
November 5, 2024 General Election
- Voter Registration Deadline: Monday, October 7, 2024
- Early Voting: Oct 21 – Nov 3
Voters Guides:
How Do I find out about Candidates?
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- Vote411.org is compiled by League members and is particularly good for county and municipal candidates. To see candidate responses to LWV questions, click on “Find What’s on Your Ballot”. On this site you can also register to vote, find your polling place and much more.
- Ballotpedia For additional candidate information and background, click on “What’s on your Ballot”.
- League of Women Voters of Manatee Voters Guides (below dates will have a link when guide is available, pdf format)
November 7, 2023 Municipal Elections
August 20, 2024 Primary Elections
November 5, 2024 General Election - Candidate Forums Voters can see clearly different candidate positions in these nonpartisan candidate forums.
To request for a vote-by-mail ballot you may:
Apply with an online application,
Apply in writing by email, fax or mail, to the Supervisor of Elections
Call the Supervisor of Elections at 941-741-3823
Apply in person at the Supervisor of Elections office (600 301 Blvd W., Suite 118, Bradenton 34205)
If you would like to have a vote-by-mail ballot mailed to you, all requests must be received by 5 p.m. on the tenth day before an election, in this case.
The person requesting a vote-by-mail ballot must disclose:
- The name of the voter
- The voter’s address
- The voter’s date of birth
- The requester’s name
- The requester’s address
- The requester’s driver’s license number, if available
- The requester’s relationship to the voter; and
- The requester’s signature (written request only).
Completed ballots must be received at the Office of the Supervisor of Elections, 600 301 Boulevard West, Suite 108, Bradenton, not later than 7 p.m. on the day of the election. Do not return your voted vote-by-mail ballot to a polling place.
Day of the Election Voting:
On August 23, registered voters may vote at their assigned precinct only. Visit the SOE website to locate your polling site.
Evaluating Candidates
- Click Here to see “How to Judge a Candidate” by the League of Women Voters
- Click Here for a checklist for evaluating school board candidates.
Important Information
Voting by mail is convenient, saves time, and allows you to research candidates at your leisure. For more information on voting by mail and early voting click on, Vote by Mail and Early Voting.
To track a mail-in ballot, click “Vote By Mail & Early Voting” on the website’s left-hand column, and then click “Track Your Vote By Mail Ballot.”
Check to be sure you have the right location to vote. To find your designated precinct, visit votemanatee.com and click “Where Do I Vote?”
Bring Identification
Voters are required to bring a valid photo ID and signature. Most vote using a Florida Drivers License. For other acceptable forms of ID, according to the Florida Division of Elections, Click Here
If you do not bring proper ID, you can still vote a provisional ballot. As long as you are eligible and voted in the proper precinct, your provisional ballot will count provided the signature on your provisional ballot matches the signature in your registration record.