Convenience and no lines: You win with vote by mail

If you ever missed voting in an election because getting to the polls was not convenient for you, here is the answer. The Manatee County Supervisor of Elections has a robust Vote By Mail program, currently serving more than 60,000 registered voters in the county. These voters automatically receive their ballots at their local or requested mailing address about four weeks prior to each election, and mark them when it suits their schedule. Why don’t you join in? There’s no reason not to:

Myth: A voter must have a reason to receive a Vote By Mail ballot.

Fact: Florida law permits any registered voter to Vote By Mail, regardless of their motivation for doing so. You will not be asked “Why?” You will be signed up!

Myth: Vote By Mail ballots are counted only when there is a close race.

Fact: Vote By Mail ballots are the first to be processed! Your Vote By Mail ballot is counted if properly executed, which includes making sure the return envelope is signed, and that your signature matches the one in our voter registration database. In fact, you can track your Vote By Mail ballot online. Our website will show the date that your ballot was sent out, and the date that we received it back from you. After the election, you will also see the tabulation (counted) status of your ballot.

Myth: Vote By Mail is a permanent decision.

Fact: You control the elections for which you receive a Vote By Mail ballot. You may opt to Vote By Mail for a specific election, or for all elections through the next two general elections. You may cancel your request at any time without affecting your voting eligibility. Furthermore, if you receive a Vote By Mail ballot but decide to instead vote in person, you may surrender that ballot at Early Voting or Election Day Voting and be checked in to vote then and there.

Signing up for Vote By Mail is easy: Any registered voter may contact our office by phone, in writing, in person, or online to make the request. This may be done up to six days prior to an election. And if you need to register to become a Manatee County voter, just give us a call and we can help with that, too.

Using Vote By Mail is easy: The ballot is sent to you with clear instructions, printed on what is the secrecy sleeve, and a return envelope. You will mark your ballot, place it in the secrecy sleeve, place that in the return envelope, and sign and date the sealed envelope where indicated. You will affix a 47 cent or Forever stamp and drop the envelope in the mail with enough time for it to reach our office by 7 p.m. on Election Day. So, no parking, no lines, no waiting, and you regain that time!

If you prefer to hand deliver your Vote By Mail ballot, there is a Ballot Drop Box built into the front of the Supervisor of Elections office. It is available 24/7 starting from the day the ballots are mailed out, and it closes at 7 p.m. on Election Day.

There is also a Vote By Mail Ballot Drop Box available at each Early Voting site during the scheduled Early Voting days and hours. Election Deputies on duty at those locations will direct you to the Drop Box.

Manatee County voters will want to know that the following races and issues will be decided in the Aug. 30 Primary Election, and will not be on the Nov. 8 General Election ballot:

▪ Manatee County Commissioner District 1 and District 5.

▪ No. 4 Constitutional Amendment on Solar Devices or Renewable Energy Source Devices, Exemption from Certain Taxation and Assessment

▪  City of Bradenton Beach Charter Amendment #1, Timeframe of Residency in Order to Hold Public Office

▪ City of Bradenton Beach Charter Amendment #2, Removal of Term Limits

▪ Town of Longboat Key Density Referendum.

The Manatee County Supervisor of Elections staff is ready to sign you up for Vote By Mail and answer any questions. Please call 941-741-3823, email info@VoteManatee.com, or visit www.VoteManatee.com.

This story was originally published August 12, 2016 at 1:17 PM with the headline "Convenience and no lines: You win with vote by mail."