The August 2024 primary is a critical election for our community.  However, not all races are primaries. Aug 20 is likely to be the final election for two School Board (all voters countywide), and a County Commission seat (District 1 voters only), with voters of any party eligible to vote. To encourage informed participation in this primary, the League of Women Voters of Sarasota County is kicking off a get-out-the-vote campaign. Designed to reach “snowbirds,” who are registered to vote in Florida, as well as full-time residents, this nonpartisan, multimedia outreach will be delivered in English and Spanish. The League’s 2024“Your Vote is Your Voice” campaign is designed to emphasize the importance of the August primary, eliminate confusion regarding who can vote and to provide voters with the information they need to register to vote and renew their vote-by-mail status. Historically, the August primary has had low voter turnout.  In 2022, only 36 percent of eligible voters participated. Consequently, the winners were elected by just 19 percent of those qualified to vote. For hospital board, only 26 percent of voters participated. Many voters are unaware this is a nonpartisan final election for school board (unless there is a runoff) and that vote-by-mail requests made prior to the Nov. 8, 2022 General Election must be renewed.  There’s too much at stake in the August election to have just a sliver of our residents take part.  That’s why we are launching the most ambitious and comprehensive educational outreach plan in our history.” says Shawn Bartelt, President of League of Women Voters of Sarasota County. To maximize the reach of this campaign, the League will be distributing professionally created media toolkits to their community partners.  Please contact President Shawn Bartelt at president@lwvsrq.org if you wish to receive one.