Manatee County has blocked the League of Women Voters from placing nonpartisan voter guides in public libraries before the Nov. 3 election.

The ban marks the first time the county has refused the guides, which were distributed in county-owned libraries through 2024, according to WUSF, which first reported the story Oct. 28. The printed guides publish general voter information and verbatim candidate responses without endorsements. The policy applies to all Manatee County library branches, including the Lakewood Ranch branch.

County spokesperson Casey Zempel cited a 2017 memorandum from the county attorney's office. That memo specifically addresses political petitioning and campaigning in public libraries, according to WUSF. Zempel said the same restrictions are now being applied to library display materials.

Zempel said in an emailed statement that the policy is not meant to single out the League or discourage civic participation. The intent, Zempel said, is to manage county facilities consistently while letting library staff focus on serving residents.

Manatee County commissioners have never voted on the policy.

Ruth Harenchar, president of the League of Women Voters of Manatee County, addressed commissioners during public comment at a meeting in late October. She said her volunteers learned ahead of the 2026 primary that their guides violated the county's display policy.

Harenchar told commissioners the guides had been distributed for years without controversy. She said restrictions on civic information and educational programming at libraries appear to have increased in recent years, and that those policies were never publicly discussed or approved by the board.

The League was also prohibited from hanging flyers at library branches advertising informational events reviewing 2026 constitutional amendments, according to emails between the League and county staff shared with WUSF. County staff cited the flyers' "political nature."

The policy came up at a July 28 commission meeting. Chairman Tal Siddique echoed concerns from the county attorney that allowing one nonprofit to distribute information would require allowing every group to do so, which he said could burden staff.

"I would favor not allowing any campaign material, nonpartisan or otherwise, to be in the library," Siddique said.

"I disagree," Commissioner George Kruse said.

Palm Beach County reversed a similar ban on its League of Women Voters chapter's guides in early October after public pushback, as reported by WLRN. Palm Beach County Administrator Joe Abruzzo authorized the guides' return after consulting with the county attorney.

The Lakewood Ranch Branch Library, which opened in January 2024 as the county's newest public library, occupies over 40,000 square feet at its location. Harenchar urged commissioners to reconsider the display policy in a public forum.