Know Your Ballot

Understanding your ballot allows for more confidence on election day. It's important to get to know the contents of your ballot before casting your vote. Here are some ways to obtain information on the General Election ballots for your county in Florida:

• Visit the Official Website of Your County Supervisor of Elections:
  • Each county in Florida has a Supervisor of Elections (SOE) who manages elections. Visit official websites by clicking on the links below. 
    • Charlotte County Supervisor of Elections
    • DeSoto County Supervisor of Elections
    • Manatee County Supervisor of Elections
    • Sarasota County Supervisor of Elections
      
      
• Look for the Voter Information Section:
  • Most SOE websites will have a section designated for upcoming elections where you can find sample ballots, polling locations, early voting information, and more.
    
    
• Find Sample Ballots:
  • Once on the SOE website, typically, you'll see a link or section where you can view a sample ballot for the upcoming election.
  • A sample ballot lists the candidates running for various offices along with any ballot measures you can expect to see. It is a great resource to make your choices and keep on hand while filling out your official ballot.
    
    
• Contact the Supervisor of Elections Office for:
  • Troubleshooting online, specific or general information, and election or ballot questions/guidance.
    
    
• Use State Resources:
  • Florida has a centralized voter information portal called the Division of Elections website. On it you can find general information about elections in Florida.
    • Specific ballot details are typically managed at the county level.
      
      
• Attend Public Meetings or Forums:
  • Leading up to elections, there may be public meetings, candidate forums, or debates where you can learn more about the candidates and ballot issues.
    • Check out your local Tiger Bay chapter (a non-partisan political organization) for thorough, moderated debates and discussions. 

By following these steps, you should be able to easily obtain ballot information specific to your county. Use these tools to prepare yourself for voting in the General Election on November 5, 2024. 

Not all SOE websites are as user-friendly as one would hope, so remember you can always acquire ballot information from your local political party headquarters, Vote411.org (non-partisan), Vote.org (non-partisan), and many other online resources.