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City Clerk

Election Information / Información Electoral

ELECTION INFORMATION

Welcome to the City of Winter Haven Election Information Center. The information contained on this page is intended to familiarize City Commission candidates, campaign treasurers, and residents with upcoming election information.

Per the City of Winter Haven Charter, elections for City Commission occur in odd-numbered years on the first Tuesday after the first Monday in November. (If a Run-Off election is needed, it would occur the first Tuesday in December.)

The City Clerk serves as the supervisor of elections for all City elections and is the official qualifying officer for candidates seeking elected office within the City of Winter Haven.

VOTER CITY LIMITS MAP

Click here: Voter City Limits Map*

(*As of October 27, 2023)


Qualifications to become a candidate:

  • U.S. citizen & resident of Florida
  • Registered voter in Florida (you must be at least 18) & a registered voter in Polk County
  • Reside in the City limits of Winter Haven at the time of qualifying

IMPORTANT 2023 ELECTION DATES:

Regular Election AND Special Election – Tuesday, November 7, 2023 (Polls open 7am-7pm)

2023 Election – Public Notice – Notice of Elections (ENGLISH)

2023 Election – Public Notice – Notice of Election(s) (SPANISH)

2023 SPECIAL Election – Public Notice – Notice of Election (ENGLISH)

2023 SPECIAL Election – Public Notice – Notice of Election (SPANISH)

Special Run-Off Election  – Tuesday, December 5, 2023 (Polls open 7am-7pm)

2023 RUN-OFF SPECIAL Election – Public Notice – Notice of Election and Precinct & Polling Locations (ENGLISH)

2023 RUN-OFF SPECIAL Election – Public Notice – Notice of Election and Precinct & Polling Locations (SPANISH)


COMMISSION SEATS:

Seat No. 1  – Currently held by Commissioner Tracy Mercer

Seat No. 2 – Currently held by Mayor Pro Tem Nathaniel J. Birdsong, Jr.

Seat No. 3 – Currently held by Commissioner Brian Yates

Seat No. 5** – Was held by the late Commissioner James H. “J.P.” Powell (**Special Election for Seat No. 5 to fill the remaining unexpired term to 2025)

Seats are:

  • At-large
  • Non-partisan
  • Terms are 4 years

QUALIFYING:

Began Monday, September 18, 2023 at NOON

Ended Friday, September 22, 2023 at NOON

QUALIFYING FEES FOR 2023 ELECTION:  

Qualifying fee for the November 7, 2023 Election: $50.00 + $130.48 = $180.48 (Qualifying fee and 1% of the position’s annual salary.)

OR

$50.00 AND petitions  + $130.48.  (Once petition signatures are verified, $50.00 will be returned)

2023 Election – Public Notice – Candidate Qualifying Reminder

QUALIFIED CANDIDATES THAT WERE PLACED ON THE BALLOT:

For Seat 1:

  1. Kim Davis
  2. L. Tracy Mercer (***UPDATE: Won the November 7, 2023, Regular Municipal Election)

For Seat 5:

  1. Johnathon D. Bush (***UPDATE: Candidate in the December 5, 2023, Special Run-Off Election)
  2. Clifton E. Dollison (***UPDATE: Candidate in the December 5, 2023, Special Run-Off Election)
  3. Tom D. Freijo

QUALIFIED CANDIDATES THAT WERE UNOPPOSED:

Seat 2 – Nathaniel J. Birdsong, Jr.

Seat 3 – Brian Yates


CANDIDATE PACKET:

2023 Municipal Candidate Packets were made available in the City Clerk’s Office. An electronic version is also available. For information, please contact the City Clerk’s Office.


SAMPLE BALLOT WITH QUALIFIED CANDIDATES:

2023 Regular & Special Election – Sample Ballot (ENGLISH & SPANISH)

2023 RUN-OFF SPECIAL Election – Sample Ballot (ENGLISH & SPANISH)


POLLING & PRECINCT INFORMATION:

Polk County Supervisor of Elections – Specific Information

2023 Election – Precinct & Polling Locations (ENGLISH)

2023 Election – Precinct & Polling Locations (SPANISH)


LOGIC AND ACCURACY TESTING:

The L & A Test for the 2023 Regular and Special Election was held on October 31, 2023, at 2:30 p.m. at the Polk County Supervisor of Elections Operations Center.  The Public is welcome to attend.

70 Florida Citrus Blvd.
Winter Haven, Florida 33880
(863) 534-5888

(NOTE: This L & A public notice is published by the Supervisor of Elections and also posted under their “Public Notices” section on their homepage: https://www.polkelections.gov)

Canvassing Board Members (consists of Commissioners not running for candidacy):

  1. Mayor Bradley T. Dantzler
  2. Mayor Pro Tem Nathaniel J. Birdsong, Jr.
  3. Commissioner Brian Yates

Canvassing Board Member that were present at the L&A Test:

  1. Mayor Bradley T. Dantzler
  2. Mayor Pro Tem Nathaniel J. Birdsong, Jr.
  3. Commissioner Brian Yates

The L & A Test for the 2023 Special Run-Off Election will be held on November 28, 2023, at 3:00 p.m. at the Polk County Supervisor of Elections Operations Center.  The Public is welcome to attend.

70 Florida Citrus Blvd.
Winter Haven, Florida 33880
(863) 534-5888

(NOTE: The L&A public notice will be published by the Supervisor of Elections and also posted under their “Public Notices” section on their homepage: https://www.polkelections.gov)

Canvassing Board Members (consists of Commissioners not running for candidacy):

  1. Mayor Bradley T. Dantzler
  2. Mayor Pro Tem Nathaniel J. Birdsong, Jr.
  3. Commissioner Brian Yates
  4. Commissioner Tracy Mercer

Canvassing Board Members present at the L&A Test:

  1. Mayor Bradley T. Dantzler

CANVASSING BOARD MEETINGS:


LINKS TO HELPFUL INFORMATION:


VOTER REGISTRATION:

To register to vote, make changes to your voter registration, obtain due dates, and other information, please contact the Polk County Supervisor of Elections at 863-534-5888 or www.polkelections.gov. Printed applications are available at both Polk County Supervisor of Elections offices, City of Winter Haven City Hall, and at local post offices and libraries.


PLEASE BE AWARE THAT IT IS NOT THE RESPONSIBILITY OF THE THE CITY CLERK’S OFFICE TO INTERPRET FLORIDA STATUTES CONTAINED WITHIN FLORIDA LAW. FOR ANY INTERPRETATION OF THE LAW OR FOR A LEGAL OPINION, CONTACT THE FLORIDA DIVISION OF ELECTIONS AT (850) 245-6200. 

Locations
City Hall
451 Third Street NWWinter Haven, Florida 33881
Get Directions
Contact Information

Staff

Vanessa Castillo, BAS, MMC
City Clerk
LaTonya Harris
City Historian and Archivist / Deputy City Clerk
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