SARASOTA COUNTY — With the Nov. 6 general election rapidly approaching, a record number of people are taking advantage of absentee voting in advance of the longest ballot in Sarasota County — and, perhaps, Florida — history.

“We are really pushing absentee voting because the ballot is two pages — 17 inches front and back,” said Sarasota County Supervisor of Elections Kathy Dent. “We’ve estimated it’s going to take 20 to 30 minutes just to read (11 U.S.) Constitutional amendments, the county charter amendment and the five North Port charter amendments, along with all of the other things that are on the ballot.”