Election 2024 - Special Events and Opportunities

Canvassing Saturdays in Ellenton and Palmetto

Get Out the Vote for our amazing candidates! Help neighbors get the voting information they are entitled to. Meet outside at the Rocky Bluff Library to get walk lists and materials. Go from there directly to canvass at doors in local neighborhoods. No experience needed. Let us know if you prefer to talk with voters, drive for a canvasser or both.

Join Our Voter Outreach Canvassing Team

Manatee Dems are planning canvassing events throughout the county on Wednesdays, Saturdays and Sundays. Sign up to let us know you are interested.

Saturdays in Bradenton at the Westgate Shopping Center parking lot, 4009 Manatee Ave West

Tuesdays in Palmetto at the Riverside Boat Ramp, 899 Riverside Drive

We will be in Bradenton every Saturday from 9:30 am to 11:00 am September 21 through November 2. We will be in Palmetto every Tuesday from 8:00 am to

9:00 am October 1 through October 29. Partial shifts are appreciated.

We provide the signs - you provide the enthusiasm!

To sign up, first choose your location and then the date(s) you would like to participate.

Attending the meet and greets will be Sari Lindroos-Valimaki candidate for Manatee County Commissioner district 7 and Adriaan DeVilliers candidate for Florida House district 71. Other candidates will be attending. This is an opportunity to meet our candidates and review volunteer opportunities while spending time with like-minded people at great social events.

Friday, September 6, 5:00 pm

Amuse 5 Bakery, 5850 14th Street W, Bradenton

Amuse 5 Bakery will open after hours, for our meet and greet. They will be offering coffee, beer, pastries, crepes, salads, charcuterie, and much more!!

Thursday, October 3, 6:00 pm

Mila's on the Manatee, 955 Riverside Drive, Palmetto

Mila's will offer 50% off all house cocktails to those who attend the meet and greet.

Early voting tables will operate daily between October 21 and November 2. There will be 3 shifts a day running from 8:30 am to 5:30 pm.

Staff an outdoor table with the Manatee Dems that is a minimum of 150 feet from the polling station. Greet voters and offer slate cards or other information. No formal training is required. Choose the location(s) where you would like to serve, then select your shift(s).

There are three ways you can protect the right to vote and help elect Democrats on November 5th. You can be an inside Poll Watcher, a Canvassing Board Observer, or a Ballot Curer Assistant.

INSIDE POLL WATCHER:

Be the campaigns' 'eyes and ears' on the ground at select polling locations. Help to resolve voting and polling place issues, provide a vital first-hand record of incidents or violations and ensure that as many voters as possible legally cast their ballot. 

A 1.5-hour FDP virtual training session and additional practice with the reporting system is required along with a commitment to one or more shifts during Early Voting days (October 21 - November 2) and/or Election Day (November 5.)

BALLOT CURING:

The campaign’s ballot cure team works to make every Manatee vote-by-mail ballot count by fixing "curing" the ballots that contain correctable mistakes. These mistakes usually number in the thousands!

Calling begins around the first of October and can be made from anywhere. Anyone familiar with the Virtual Phone Bank is ready to go. Scripts will be provided. Training will be available for those new to the Phone Bank.

CANVASSING BOARD OBSERVER:

Observers monitor the County’s Canvassing Board, which is the 3-person panel that oversees the conduct of elections. Activities include overseeing the testing of election related machines before the start of ballot counting, determining the eligibility of Vote-by-Mail ballots with irregularities in signatures and ambiguities in voters’ intent, and approving or rejecting signature cure affidavits and provisional ballots. 

Observers are required to attend an hour-long FDP training session. They serve during scheduled meetings of the Board, as well as any special meetings. The schedule of regular meetings will be posted to the SOE website. They are expected to start in October. It is preferable to have had some Florida election or campaign experience for this position.

If you want further information about any of these important volunteer positions, please contact either: Lewis Wasserman, (631) 848-2271, lwlmw1983@gmail.com

or Phyllis Myers, (941) 993-2170, phylsmyers@gmail.com.

Event Highlights

Attend our Sunday Social. This is a great opportunity to spend time with other Democrats in a relaxed environment. Contact Rob Hall for more information.

All are welcome.

Terri Kondos from the League of Woman Voters will be discussing the constitutional amendments that will be on the November ballot. In addition, Glenn Pearson will discuss his candidacy for the Manatee County Commission.



The cost of the luncheon is $15 payable at the door by cash or check (made out to Manatee Democratic Club). To register for the luncheon email Paul Dain at pauldain73@gmail.com.

Note: This event is approaching capacity. When you signup you will be informed of status.

Meeting topic: Political talk and volunteer opportunities.

Some general election candidates will attend the meeting. The goal is to create an opportunity to interact. In addition, Rob Usher, our district 5 coordinator, will present volunteer opportunities with the Manatee County Dems.

Sign up by emailing Lucy at lucy@lwrdems.com.

Meeting Topic: Will Young People Vote in November?

Guest speakers will be Maxwell Frost, U.S. Representative (FL 10th District), and

David Hogg, Stoneman Douglas Shooting Survivor and Co-Founder and President, Leaders We Deserve.

Watch the debate at the Manatee Democratic Headquarters. Enjoy refreshments, music and conversations. Meet new Democrats.

The agenda includes an affordable housing update along with progress reports on get out the vote and voter registration efforts. Email vrain1964@gmail.com for the meeting link.

Featured speaker will be Ruth Lawler, co-chair of the Manatee County Environmental Caucus, who will address the environmental issues we face along with the potential threats of Project 2025.

The cost of the luncheon is $20.00. For reservations contact Joanie LeBaron at joanielebaron0108@gmail.com or (941) 243-0169.

The Hispanic Democratic Caucus will conduct its August business meeting online. The mission of the caucus is to bring Hispanics together to actively support and promote causes that benefit the Latino community. New members are always welcome.

The Anna Maria Island and West Manatee Democratic Club is fired up and ready to begin their club year. Chris Wetherington, Manatee County Democratic Party Chair, will waive the checkered flag and get us started with an inspirational message. Rev up your engines and get in gear with us!

Contact Barbara Beckwith at bbeckwith02@gmail.com to sign up If you are not an AMI-WM member.

Help sort and pack bags of fresh produce for Mobile Produce Pantry distributions. These fruits and vegetables provide needed nutrients to Manatee County children and families. No heavy lifting. Seating is available if needed.

Guest speaker will be Charlie Kennedy, district 3 candidate for the Manatee County School Board. Charlie is a former school board member and experienced teacher.  Contact manateelgbtqdems@gmail.com to request link if you wish to attend virtually.

Join us to discuss neighborhood networking strategies, goals and action items preparing us for the 2024 election. Open to all.

*Note the change in time. Come early to attend the library's program "Alexander Hamilton & the Constitution",10:00 am to 11:00 am.

Democrats are welcome at the monthly business meeting of the DEC. If you are not a DEC member, please sign up to attend.

The purpose of the Manatee County Democratic Black Caucus is to ensure that Black voters are involved, engaged, elected and active participants in the democratic process. 

For more information contact susieb.copeland@gmail.com

Support Save Florida Home Rule

Support local efforts to save home rule in Florida and most immediately

prevent any moves to consolidate or dissolve Anna Maria, Holmes Beach and

Bradenton Beach. Come meet the Steering Group members of Save Florida Home Rule at the Island Shopping Plaza (Marina Drive and Gulf Drive) from 11:00 am to 3:00 pm on Saturday, September 7. Learn about our advocacy efforts and get your very own T-shirt and button for a donation. Visit Website.

Note: Save Florida Home Rule is not affiliated with the Manatee County Democratic Party.

Call Manatee Democrats for Vote by Mail

Make calls from home or at our Manatee Dem office. All you need is a phone and a laptop, tablet or PC at home, or come to our headquarters where we have all that is required. (See office location and hours below.)

Additional Information

Democratic Party Headquarters is located at 435 Cortez Rd.

Office hours are Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday and Friday from noon to 4:00 pm and Saturday from 11:00 am to 3:00 pm.

Sign Up for the Mailing List

If you are not currently on our mailing list and would like to keep up with all that is happening with the Manatee Democrats, sign up for our mailing list HERE.

Donate to the Manatee County Democrats

Manatee County Democratic Party

435 Cortez Road W, Bradenton Fl 34207

941-301-4336 info@manateecountydemocrats.com

ManateeCountyDemocrats.com