Manatee Co. Voter Guide: Candidates, How To Vote In Nov. 5 Election

MANATEE COUNTY, FL — Manatee County voters will have a say in a number of races — from U.S. president, one U.S. Senate seat, and state senate representative contests to local city and school board elections — in the 2024 general elections.

They will also decide on state constitutional and county charter amendments on Election Day.

Most Florida polling places are open on Election Day from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. EST, while some counties in the Panhandle are open until 8 p.m. EST because they are in the Central time zone.

Be sure to bring a photo ID with you if you vote in person. (See more information on how to find your polling place or track your mail-in ballot below.)

A sample ballot for the general election can be found here.

How to Vote in Manatee County

Polling places are open from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. on Nov. 5. If you are in line at 7 p.m., you will be allowed to vote, but if you arrive at the polling place after 7 p.m., you will not be allowed to vote.

If you’re not sure where to vote, you can look up your polling station on the Manatee County Supervisor of Elections website.

In order to cast your ballot in the 2024 general election, you’ll need to bring a valid and current photo and signature ID to your polling station.

Acceptable forms of ID in Florida include:

• Florida driver license
• Florida ID card (issued by the Department of Highway Safety and Motor Vehicles)
• U.S. passport
• Debit or credit card
• Military ID
• Student ID
• Retirement center ID
• Neighborhood association ID
• Public assistance ID
• Veteran health ID (issued by the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs)
• Concealed weapon license (issued pursuant to F.S. 790.06)
• Employee ID card issued by any branch, department, agency or entity of the federal government, the state, a county, or a municipality.

If your photo ID does NOT contain your signature, an additional ID with your signature is required.
Without proper identification, you may still vote with a provisional ballot, which will later be evaluated by a canvassing board for eligibility.

Vote-by-mail ballots may be mailed in and must be received by 7 p.m. on Nov. 5. If you didn't get a chance to mail yours in by Election Day, they may be dropped off at the Supervisor of Elections Office, 600 301 Blvd. W., Suite 118, Bradenton, by 7 p.m.

If you voted by mail, you can track the status of your ballot here.

Voters are welcome to bring a sample ballot to the polling place marked with their choices so there are no delays in voting.

When you arrive at the polls:

1. Check in with your valid and current photo and signature ID.
2. Receive your paper ballot and proceed to a privacy booth.
3. Using the black pen provided, completely fill in the oval next to each of your selections.
4. Review your ballot. If you wish to make changes, request another ballot.
5. If you have any questions, ask a poll worker before you insert the ballot in the scanner. Once a ballot has been accepted, it cannot be retrieved.

What’s on the Ballot

Here are some of the candidates, depending on where you live, who are on the general election ballot:

President and Vice President

• Donald J. Trump/JD Vance (REP)
• Kamala D. Harris/Tim Walz (DEM)
• Chase Oliver/Mike ter Maat (LPF)
• Claudia De la Cruz/Karina Garcia (PSL)
• Randall Terry/Stephen Broden (CPF)
• Peter Sonski/Lauren Onak (ASP)
• Jill Stein/Rudolph Ware (GRE)

U.S. Senator

• Rick Scott (REP)
• Debbie Mucarsel-Powell (DEM)
• Feena Bonoan (LPF)
• Tuan TQ Nguyen (NPA)
• Ben Everidge (NPA)

Representative in Congress - District 16

• Vern Buchanan (REP)
• Jan Schneider (DEM)

State Representative - District 70

• Michael Owen (REP)
• Luther Keith Wilkins (DEM)

State Representative - District 71

• Will Robinson (REP)
• Adriaan J. Devilliers (DEM)

State Representative - District 72

• William “Bill” Conerly (REP)
• Lesa Miller (DEM)

Board of County Commissioners - District 1

• Carol Ann Felts (REP)
• Glenn Pearson (DEM)
• Jennifer L. Hamey (NPA)

Board of County Commissioners - District 3

• Tal Siddique (REP)
• Diana Shoemaker (DEM)

Board of County Commissioners - District 5

• Robert “Bob McCann (REP)
• Joseph Di Bartolomeo (NPA)

Board of County Commissioners - District 7, At-Large

• George W. Kruse (REP)
• Sari Lindroos-Valimaki (DEM)

School Board - District 1

• Heather Felton
• Mark Stanoch

School Board - District 3

• Charlie Kennedy
• Jon Lynch

City of Anna Maria - Mayor

• Brian F. Seymour
• Mark Short

City of Bradenton - Mayor

• Gene Brown
• Bill Sanders

City of Bradenton - Ward 5

• Pamela Mitchell Coachman
• Iris Thomas Garcia

City of Holmes Beach - Mayor

• Michael John “Mike” Roth
• Judy Holmes Titsworth

City of Holmes Beach - Commissioner (Vote for no more than two)

• Dan Diggins
• Steven W. Oelfke
• Bill Romberger
• Carol Whitmore

City of Palmetto - Mayor

• Charles B. Smith Sr.
• Daniel W. West

City of Palmetto - Commissioner, Seat 1, At-Large

• Sheldon E. Jones
• Scott Whitaker

City of Palmetto - Commissioner, Seat 2, At-Large

• Tamara Cornwell
• Matthew Kezar

Additionally, Manatee County voters will also determine whether a Manatee County School District referendum passes or fails.

They’ll vote yes or no on whether the district will continue its 1 mill per year ad valorem millage beginning July 1, 2025, through June 30, 2029. It will be used to fund operating expenses, including school safety and security, recruiting and retaining teachers and staff, early literacy programs, career and technical education, public charter schools, and STEM, visual and performing arts, and athletics, among other expenses.

A Tourist Development Tax Referendum will also be considered.

Voters will decide whether to allow the county to collect an additional 1 percent Tourist Development Tax from all short-term rentals of lodging or accommodations to provide additional funds for the convention center, sports stadiums, aquariums, beaches and other uses that fall under the Tourist Development Plan.

Voters will also decide on six proposed amendments to the state constitution:

Amendment 1: Partisan School Board Races

This measure proposes to amend the state constitution to require Florida school board candidates to be elected in a partisan election rather than through the nonpartisan elections currently in place.

Amendment 2: Fishing, Hunting Rights

This measure proposes to amend the state constitution to "preserve forever fishing and hunting" as a public right and a preferred way of managing Florida's fish and wildlife populations.

Amendment 3: Recreational Marijuana

Amendment 3 would legalize the use of recreational marijuana in Florida. If the measure passes, adults 21 years and older could possess up to three ounces of marijuana, as well as purchase and use marijuana products and accessories for non-medical reasons.

Amendment 4: Abortion Access

If passed, Amendment 4 would prohibit state lawmakers from creating any law that would prohibit, penalize or restrict a person's right to an abortion before viability — considered somewhere over 20 weeks into pregnancy — or when necessary to protect the patient’s health.

Amendment 5: Adjusted Homestead Exemptions

This measure proposes to amend the state constitution to require an annual adjustment for inflation for the value of current or future homestead exemptions. If passed, the measure would create an inflation adjustment for the second half of a property owner’s $50,000 reduction from the taxable value of their home.

Amendment 6: Public Campaign Financing

This measure proposes to amend the state constitution to repeal public campaign financing, a subsidy currently available for statewide candidates like the governor, attorney general and commissioner of agriculture who agree to spending limits.

• Also Read: FL Voters To Decide On 6 Constitutional Amendments