Manatee County restricts voter guide distribution in public libraries
The League of Women Voters faces new display limits based on a 2017 memo about political campaigning, a policy the commission has never formally voted on.
By Beatriz Bailey ·
Public libraries in Manatee County have long served as free distribution points for local civic information. This year, that practice stopped for one major group.
The League of Women Voters of Manatee County learned this month that it can no longer place its printed voter guides in county-owned libraries. These guides contain general voting information and verbatim responses from local candidates. They do not include endorsements. Printed copies were distributed in these locations through 2024 without issue.
Ruth Harenchar, president of the local chapter, addressed the county commission last week. She stated that the change came without prior notice. Harenchar noted that restrictions on civic information have increased over the past several years. She argued that these policies have never been publicly discussed or approved by the board.
Casey Zempel, a county spokesperson, explained that the restriction stems from a long-standing policy on political display material. This policy aims to keep standards neutral for outside organizations using public facilities. Zempel cited a 2017 memorandum from the county attorney’s office. That memo originally addressed political petitioning and campaigning. The county now applies those same rules to library displays.
Zempel said the intent is to manage facilities fairly, not to discourage civic participation. The county also blocked the League from hanging flyers for informational events on 2026 constitutional amendments. Staff cited the political nature of the content in emails shared with reporters.
Commission Chairman Tal Siddique voiced support for the restriction during a July 28 meeting. He expressed concern that allowing one nonprofit to distribute materials would require allowing every group to do so. Siddique said this could burden library staff. He suggested that it is easier to deny everyone access to display space. He expressed a preference for excluding all campaign material, whether partisan or nonpartisan, from the libraries.
Commissioner George Kruse disagreed with Siddique's position. Palm Beach County recently reversed a similar ban on voter guides after public pushback. Manatee County commissioners have not yet taken a formal vote on the library policy.
Source: WUSF Public Media
