The Collier County Supervisor of Elections started sending Vote-by-Mail ballots on Thursday, July 9, for the upcoming primary. Ballots for overseas and military voters were mailed July 2.
All Vote-by-Mail requests from 2024 have expired and the deadline for voters to request a ballot to be delivered by mail for the 2026 Primary Election, is 5 p.m., Thursday, Aug. 6.
Vote-by-Mail ballot requests can be made online at CollierVotes.gov or voters can call in their request at 239-252-VOTE (8683).
Voted ballots must be physically returned (not just postmarked) to the supervisor of elections by 7 p.m. on Election Day, Aug. 18.
The Post Office recommends that voters mail their voted ballots one week before the due date.
Voted ballots can also be dropped off at any of the 11 early voting locations between the hours of 10 a.m. and 6 p.m., August 8 through 15.
Voters who receive a ballot in the mail and decide to vote in person should bring their marked or unmarked ballot to their polling location so it can be canceled.
Three Collier public schools recognized
Collier County Public Schools recently announced that Lavern Gaynor Elementary, Palmetto Elementary and Manatee Elementary have been recognized as 2026 “Exceeding Expectations Award Schools” by the East Coast Technical Assistance Center.
Launched in 2012, the award identifies high-poverty schools demonstrating exceptional progress in enhancing student achievement for all learners. Based on 2025 school-grade data, only 61 schools out of 3,437 statewide met the criteria established by ECTAC.
Award selection is based on multiple measures, including: Student achievement, learning gains, performance among student subgroups and percentage of economically disadvantaged students.
As part of this recognition, each Collier County award school presented at the 2026 Exceeding Expectations Conference in Orlando, Florida
Leaders from Lavern Gaynor, Palmetto and Manatee elementary schools will be recognized during the next CCPS School Board Meeting at 3 p.m., Thursday, July 30.
FWC manatee and sea turtles decals
Whether it’s rescuing manatees or collecting nesting data for sea turtles, conservation takes a village, says the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission, who just has released its 2026-2027 manatee and sea turtle decals.
This year’s manatee decal commemorates 25 years of the Manatee Rescue & Rehabilitation Partnership (MRP), a network of over 20 organizations that team up to rescue, rehabilitate, release and monitor manatees (notice the satellite tracking tag depicted on the manatee in this year’s decal design). Since 2001, the MRP has successfully rescued over 2,350 manatees.
The new “Protect Their Path” sea turtle decal highlights Florida’s record year for leatherback sea turtle nests in 2025 and the importance of giving nesting sea turtles plenty of space as they come ashore. Every year, hundreds of dedicated marine turtle permit holders help the FWC by collecting data on sea turtle nests, including leatherback nests, which can appear as early as February in Florida.
You can join the conservation team by purchasing a manatee or sea turtle decal for a $5 donation at your local tax collector’s office. Every decal purchased funds research, management and rescue efforts for manatees and sea turtles across Florida. Every purchase of a “Save the Manatee” or “Helping Sea Turtles Survive” specialty license plate supports these conservation efforts as well.
If you observe an injured, sick, entangled, distressed or deceased manatee or sea turtle, call the FWC’s 24-hour Wildlife Alert Hotline (888-404-3922) to ensure our rescue and research teams can respond in a timely manner.
For more information, visit MyFWC.com/Manatee or MyFWC.com/SeaTurtle.
Summer offer from Audubon’s Corkscrew Swamp Sanctuary
This summer, Audubon’s Corkscrew Swamp Sanctuary is enticing visitors and residents of Southwest Florida half-price admission.
There are sunset strolls, night tours, a community free day and hands-on nature programs for all ages. Corkscrew is also recognized as an important bird area, the regional gateway site for the Great Florida Birding Trail, and a Ramsar-designated Wetland of International Importance. It’s also home to the largest old-growth bald cypress forest in North America.
Find out more at Audubon.org/corkscrew/visit.
Live, work or play on Marco Island, South Naples or Everglades City? If so and you have something you’d like featured in Now You Know, send your information to mail@marconews.com.
This article originally appeared on Marco Eagle: Now You Know: Manatee Elementary recognized; ballots headed your way
Reporting by Will Watts, Special to the Eagle / Marco Eagle
USA TODAY Network via Reuters Connect
By Will Watts, Special to the Eagle | USA TODAY Network
