title
EARLY VOTING (B)
ORDINANCE NO.: 0-05-98
An ordinance of the City of Gainesville amending Chapter 9 Elections by amending Sections 9-5 and creating Section 9-6.5 by providing early voting in municipal elections; providing directions to the codifier; providing a severability clause; providing a repealing clause and providing an immediate effective date.
recommendation
The City Commission adopt the proposed ordinance.
explanation
On September 12, 2005, the City Commission authorized the City Attorney to draft, and the Clerk of the Commission to advertise an ordinance that would provide early voting for regular elections.
Florida Law requires early voting be made available in State elections, which consist of primary elections, special primary elections, special elections, general elections, and presidential preference primary elections. Municipal elections are not included in the list of elections for which early voting is mandatory. Recently, the legislature provided that "municipalities may provide early voting in municipal elections that are not held in conjunction with county or state elections". It is up to the individual municipalities to decide whether they will provide for early voting and for what period of time.
This ordinance will provide early voting for regular elections. The elections will last for a period of seven days before the first election and for seven days before the runoff election, if one is held. Early voting will be conducted only at the Office of the Supervisor of Elections.