You filled out a Manatee County mail-in ballot. Here’s how to make sure it counts

More than 110,000 mail ballots for the Nov. 3 general election have already been sent to Manatee County voters.

Here’s how to make sure that once you have made your choices, your votes will count.

There are several options for returning your ballot to the election office.

After you sign and date the back of your return envelope, ballots can be sent through traditional mail (the postal service recommends mailing ballots back at least a week before election day). Because Manatee’s is a two-page ballot, the elections office says you will need to affix 70 cents in postage, or two Forever stamps.

Voters can also opt to deliver the ballot by hand to the Manatee County Supervisor of Elections office, 600 301 Blvd. W., Bradenton, across the street from DeSoto Square Mall. Ballots must be received by the close of polls at 7 p.m. on Nov. 3 to be counted.

Another option is to drop off a completed mail-in ballot at one of Manatee County’s six early voting locations during the designated early voting days and hours.

Early voting will be held on Oct. 19 through Nov. 1. from 8:30 a.m.-6:30 p.m. at the following locations:

Any voter who has requested a mail-in ballot but not received it by the time election nears should call the elections office at 941-741-3823.

The status of vote-by-mail ballots can be tracked online at votemanatee.com.

This story was originally published September 28, 2020 at 8:49 AM.