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)
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:
- Kim Davis
- L. Tracy Mercer (***UPDATE: Won the November 7, 2023, Regular Municipal Election)
⇒ For Seat 5:
- Johnathon D. Bush (***UPDATE: Candidate in the December 5, 2023, Special Run-Off Election)
- Clifton E. Dollison (***UPDATE: Candidate in the December 5, 2023, Special Run-Off Election)
- 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):
- Mayor Bradley T. Dantzler
- Mayor Pro Tem Nathaniel J. Birdsong, Jr.
- Commissioner Brian Yates
Canvassing Board Member that were present at the L&A Test:
- Mayor Bradley T. Dantzler
- Mayor Pro Tem Nathaniel J. Birdsong, Jr.
- 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):
- Mayor Bradley T. Dantzler
- Mayor Pro Tem Nathaniel J. Birdsong, Jr.
- Commissioner Brian Yates
- Commissioner Tracy Mercer
Canvassing Board Members present at the L&A Test:
- Mayor Bradley T. Dantzler
CANVASSING BOARD MEETINGS:
- 2023 Regular & Special Election – Public Notice – Canvassing Board Meeting – Clerk to Give Report (ENGLISH & SPANISH)
- Canvassing Board Meeting for City Clerk to give a report on vote by mail ballots requested, issued, and returned and request permission of the Canvassing Board to start processing the ballots determined valid – Thursday, November 6, 2023, at 10:00 a.m. at Winter Haven City Hall – John Fuller Auditorium.
- 2023 Regular & Special Election – Public Notice – Canvass Vote By Mail & Provisional Ballots (ENGLISH & SPANISH)
- Canvassing of Vote by Mail & Provisional Ballots – Tuesday, November 7, 2023 at 5:30 p.m. at the Polk County Supervisor of Elections Operations Center.
- 2023 Regular & Special Election – Public Notice – Certify Election Results & Random Race and Precinct Selection (ENGLISH & SPANISH)
- Certify Election Results and Random Race and Precinct Selection – Thursday, November 9, 2023 at 5:05 p.m. at Winter Haven City Hall – John Fuller Auditorium.
- 2023 Regular & Special Election – Public Notice – Post-Election Audit (ENGLISH & SPANISH)
- Post-Election Audit – Tuesday, November 14, 2023, at 10:00 a.m. at the Polk County Supervisor of Elections Operations Center.
- 2023 RUN-OFF Special Election – Canvassing Board Meeting – Clerk to Give Report ENGLISH & SPANISH)
- Canvassing Board Meeting for City Clerk to give a report on vote by mail ballots requested, issued, and returned and request permission of the Canvassing Board to start processing the ballots determined valid – Thursday, December 4, 2023, at 10:00 a.m. at Winter Haven City Hall – John Fuller Auditorium.
- 2023 RUN-OFF Special Election – Public Notice – Canvass Vote By Mail & Provisional Ballots (ENGLISH & SPANISH)
- Canvassing of Vote by Mail & Provisional Ballots – Tuesday, December 5, 2023 at 6:00 p.m. at the Polk County Supervisor of Elections Operations Center.
- 2023 RUN-OFF Special Election – Public Notice – Certify Election Results & Random Race and Precinct Selection (ENGLISH & SPANISH)
- Certify Election Results and Random Race and Precinct Selection – Friday, December 8, 2023 at 10:00 a.m. at Winter Haven City Hall – John Fuller Auditorium.
- 2023 RUN-OFF Special Election – Public Notice – Post-Election Audit (ENGLISH & SPANISH)
- Post-Election Audit – Tuesday, December 12, 2023, at 11:00 a.m. at the Polk County Supervisor of Elections Operations Center.
LINKS TO HELPFUL INFORMATION:
- Polk County Supervisor of Elections
- Florida Commission on Ethics
- Florida Division of Elections
- City of Winter Haven Code of Ordinances
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.
Staff
Vanessa Castillo, BAS, MMC | City Clerk | vcastillo@mywinterhaven.comOffice: 863-291-5600 |
LaTonya Harris | City Historian and Archivist / Deputy City Clerk | lharris@mywinterhaven.comOffice: 863-291-5600 |