Aquarium Ballot Sent to Absentee, Overseas Voters

Absentee and overseas voters will soon get a chance to cast their vote regarding the Clearwater Marine Aquarium’s plan to expand to a waterfront facility where City Hall is.

Mail ballots will be sent to absent military and overseas voters who have requested them starting Sept. 20. State law requires ballots for absent military and overseas voters to be mailed at least 45 days before an election.

Ballots to domestic voters who have requested them will be mailed starting Oct. 1. State law requires domestic ballots to be mailed between 35 and 28 days before an election.

Ballots for all of these elections must be received in any of the three Supervisor of Elections offices by 7 p.m. Nov. 5.

Aquarium officials have proposed a three-floor, $160 million facility for the downtown waterfront space.

Absent military and overseas voters include all active-duty military, their spouses and dependents, currently absent from their places of residence; and civilians who are U.S. citizens residing outside the United States. Domestic voters are civilian voters residing within the United States and active-duty military voters residing in Pinellas County.

Additional mail ballot requests will be fulfilled as received, according to the officials.

To request a mail ballot, visit www.votepinellas.com, call 727-464-8683, or email absentee@votepinellas.com.

Related coverage:

• Aquarium Deal for Downtown Could be Worth $14 Million
• Super Voters to Get Aquarium Referendum Information in Mail
• Aquarium Referendum Wording Set
• Aquarium Referendum Comes Back to Council in June
• Clearwater Marine Aquarium Plan Could Bring Changes to Coachman Park
• Clearwater Marine Aquarium Eyes City Hall for $160 Million Expansion