Deadline for early voting approaches

Across Sarasota, Charlotte and DeSoto counties, early voting is winding up.

Registered voters have been taking advantage of mail-in ballots as well as early voting.

Voters can still vote early, if they can get to the locations this weekend.

And voters may still vote in the Primary Election on Election Day, Aug. 20.

Polls are open from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. in all Florida counties.

Mail-in ballots may be dropped off at Supervisor of Elections headquarters through Election Day.

CHARLOTTE COUNTYCharlotte County early voting has also seen a high number of mail-in ballots as well as in-person early voters at the Historic Courthouse in Punta Gorda, headquarters for the Charlotte County Supervisor of Elections.

Kim Ferrante, with Charlotte County Voter Services, said there’s been more than 17,000 absentee ballots turned in so far and 5,166 early voters as of Friday morning.

“The numbers are always updated on the website, and people can break those numbers down by party, location and type,” Ferrante said.

There are about 152,575 registered voters in Charlotte County.

Early voting in Charlotte County ends Sunday. Voters can go to the the following locations:

• The Charlotte County Historic Courthouse, 226 Taylor St., Punta Gorda.

• Centennial Park, 1120 Centennial Blvd., Port Charlotte.

• The Mac V. Horton West County Annex, 6868 San Casa Drive, Englewood.

For more information, visit

soecharlottecountyfl.gov

SARASOTA COUNTYSarasota County has seen 49,207 absentee ballots and 9,136 early voters as of Friday. Voters have through Sunday to participate in early voting.

There are about 328,280 registered voters in Sarasota County.

Voters can vote at the following locations:

• The R.L. Anderson Building, 4000 S. Tamiami Trail, Venice.

• North Port Elections Office, 13640 Tamiami Trail, North Port.

For more information, visit

sarasotavotes.gov

DESOTO COUNTYIn DeSoto County, Assistant Supervisor of Elections Kelly Johnson said the office has seen 626 absentee ballots and 1,131 early voters come out to the polling station as of Friday morning.

“It’s still early to tell, since we are still canvassing,” Johnson said.

The county has about 19,500 registered voters.

Voters in DeSoto County have through Saturday to participate in early voting at the Supervisor of Elections Office on 201 E. Oak St., Room 104.

For more information, visit

votedesoto.com