Manatee County elections officials hope to get more people to vote this year, and they're looking at neighboring Pinellas County for some ideas as to how to accomplish that.
Mike Bennett said to increase voter turnout this year, he is encouraging voters to do more from home and vote by mail in the next election.
Bennett said Pinellas County has a high voter turnout, with 68 percent voting by absentee or mail-in ballots. He’s now pushing for Manatee residents to do the same, as he thinks this will lead to a higher turnout.
“We know that there is a higher participant in votes if people have knowledge sitting at home, discussing with their spouse, their friend, they will fill out that ballot,” Bennett said. “It’s substantially higher.”
As something new this year, Bennett said he’s adding remote drop-off boxes for voters who get an early voting ballot, but want to drop it off themselves.
Bennett has also increased the number of early voting sites from one to four. The early voting sites will be located at the Lakewood Ranch Town Hall, the Ricky Bluff Library in Ellenton, the Bradenton Area Convention Center in Palmetto and the Supervisor of Elections Office in Bradenton.
Bennett said he’s currently looking for a fifth spot in West Bradenton.
Earlier this year, Manatee County commissioners approved a cut in the number of regular polling places. Bennett said the precincts that were closed were not handicapped accessible and had low voter turnout. The move is also expected to save some money.
The supervisor of elections said he will review everything at the end of the year, and if things do not work out well, he will change them.
New voter cards are being sent out in the mail to Manatee residents. It will contain up to date information about assigned precincts.
To request a mail ballot, call the Supervisor of Elections office at 941-741-3823 or go to the website.