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PUBLIC MEETING

PUBLIC MEETING OF THE SARASOTA COUNTY CANVASSING BOARD AND CANVASS OF ABSENTEE BALLOTS FOR THE JANUARY 29, 2008 PRESIDENTIAL PREFERENCE PRIMARY ELECTION

The Sarasota County Canvassing Board will meet at 8:30 a.m. on Wednesday, January 23, 2008, at the office of the Supervisor of Elections, 2001 Adams Lane, Sarasota, Florida, to conduct the initial canvass of absentee ballots received for the January 29, 2008 Presidential Preference Primary Election. Immediately thereafter, the canvassed absentee ballots will be opened and processed. However, no result will be released until after 7 p.m. on Election Day, Tuesday, January 29, 2008.

The board will reconvene at 12:30 p.m. on Monday, January 28, and again at 4 p.m. on Election Day, Tuesday, January 29 to continue the canvass of absentee ballots. The board will canvass election results from the precincts after the polls close at 7 p.m. The board will reconvene at 4 p.m. on Friday, February 1, to canvass provisional ballots and at 3 p.m. on Friday, February 8, to canvass overseas absentee ballots and will remain in session until the results of the election are certified.

In accordance with the Sunshine Law of Florida, all Canvassing Board meetings are open to the public.

Pursuant to §101.68(2) (c) 2, If any elector or candidate present believes that an absentee ballot is illegal due to a defect apparent on the voter’s certificate, he or she may, at any time before the ballot is removed from the envelope, file with the canvassing board a protest against the canvass of that ballot, specifying the precinct, the ballot, and the reason he or she believes the ballot to be illegal. A challenge based upon a defect in the voter’s certificate may not be accepted after the ballot has been removed from the mailing envelope.

Unopened absentee ballots will be available for inspection from 8 a.m. to 9 a.m. on Wednesday, January 23 and then for one hour prior to the start of each subsequent canvassing board meeting.

Note: §286.0105, Florida Statutes, states that if a person decides to appeal any decision by a board, agency, or commission with respect to any matter considered at a meeting or hearing, he or she will need a record of the proceedings, and that, for such purpose, he or she may need to ensure that a verbatim record of the proceedings is made, which record includes the testimony and evidence upon which the appeal is to be based.

/s/
Kathy Dent
Supervisor of Elections
Sarasota County, Florida
Published January 18, 2008