Siesta Key polling place moves off island

Clarification: This article has been modified to clarify that the new polling place will only affect voters in precinct 411.

Mid-Siesta Key residents will be casting their votes at the Devyn Event Venue this election season, which has prompted one resident to voice concerns regarding traffic safety.

Residents in precinct 411, which stretched north of Stickney Point Road to just south of the Village, previously voted at St. Michael the Archangel Church at 5394 Midnight Pass Road. The polling station was moved off the key after the Archdiocese of Venice decided not to offer their churches as polling locations this year.

Sarasota County Supervisor of Elections Kathy Dent said the Archdiocese’s decision came just before sample ballots were set to be sent to Sarasota County voters. The move won’t affect voters in precincts 401 or 403, who vote at Siesta Key Chapel, or those on the south end of the island in precinct 421, who can cast their ballot at the Turtle Beach recreation building.

“We couldn’t mail them to anyone until we had a location so we quickly went with the Devyn,” Dent said.

Voters will have to travel off the key on Aug. 30 and make a U-turn on Tamiami Trail to cast their votes at the Devyn. 

In an email correspondence with Dent, Siesta Key resident Rosemary Bloch expressed concerns that encouraging residents to make what she believes is an unsafe U-turn without the assistance of a traffic light will increase the likelihood of an accident.

“Whoever made the decision of this location may not be aware of the dangers posed to voters by driving to the Devyn from Siesta Key,” Bloch said in an email to Dent.

Bloch requested Siesta Key voters be allowed to use the downtown polling location due to the additional distance required to make a U-turn with the assistance of a traffic light at the intersection of Tamiami Trail and Beneva Road. 

Dent said staff plans on reevaluating the location, but not until after the general election in November. 

“It’s very confusing for our voters to change midstream,” Dent said.

Those concerned about traffic can vote via mail-in ballot or cast their vote during the early voting period, which began Aug. 20 and will continue until Aug. 27.

Sarasota voters can cast their early ballots at Westfield Sarasota Square Mall located at 8201 S. Tamiami Trail or the Sarasota County Elections office in the Sarasota County Terrace Building located at 2001 Adams Lane.