A yes vote on Gainesville's only city ballot question ends special elections for empty City Commission seats; commissioners would appoint instead. Here is what changes.

Gainesville voters are deciding whether the City Commission should fill its own empty seats. Right now, a seat that falls vacant early in a term goes to a special election. If the charter amendment on the Nov. 3 ballot passes, the remaining commissioners would appoint a replacement instead.

It is the only city question on the ballot. No City Commission races are on the November ballot this year. Early voting began Monday and runs through Sunday, Nov. 1.

The question on your ballot

The Alachua County Supervisor of Elections sample ballot lists it as “City of Gainesville Charter Amendment: Filling Vacancies in City Commission Offices.” Only voters who live inside city limits will see it. The question reads:

“Shall the city charter be amended to provide that vacancies in the offices of mayor or city commission be filled by appointment by the remaining city commissioners until the next regular municipal election if the vacancy occurs with sufficient time before the candidate qualifying period for such election, and otherwise by appointment for the remainder of the unexpired term, as proposed by Ordinance No. 2026-165?”

The answer is yes or no. The same question appears in Spanish on the ballot.

What would change

The amendment rewrites the vacancy rules in Article II, Section 2.04 of the city charter. The city published the full section in its legal notice of the proposed amendment.

The rule now. If less than six months remain in a term, or until the next regular election, the commission appoints a successor by majority vote. If more than six months remain and no general election is scheduled within six months, the commission must call a special election within 60 days of the vacancy.

The rule if voters say yes. There would be no special elections. Commissioners would fill every vacancy by appointment, in one of two ways:

  • Early in a term. If the seat falls vacant at least six weeks before candidate qualifying opens for the city election held midway through that term, the commission appoints someone to hold the seat until that election. The seat then goes on the ballot, and the winner serves out the rest of the term.
  • Late in a term. If the vacancy comes after that point, the appointee serves the remainder of the term.
Today If the amendment passes
Less than six months left Commission appoints Commission appoints
More than six months left Special election within 60 days Commission appoints until the next regular city election, or for the rest of the term
Who picks the long-term holder Voters, at a special election Voters, at the next regular city election, if the vacancy came early enough

Commissioners serve four-year terms, and city elections are held every other year in even years, on the same day as the statewide primary in August, the charter says. Every appointee must meet the charter’s usual qualifications for office.

What it means for you

  • If you live in Gainesville city limits, the question is on your ballot whether you vote early, by mail or on Election Day.
  • A yes vote means an empty seat would be filled by the six remaining commissioners, with voters choosing at the next regular city election when there is time.
  • A no vote keeps the current rule, under which a vacancy early in a term goes to a special election, called within 60 days.
  • Mail ballot requests close at 5 p.m. Thursday, Oct. 22. Completed mail ballots must reach the elections office by 7 p.m. on Nov. 3.

Early voting runs 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. daily at eight sites in the county, including the Supervisor of Elections office at 515 N. Main St., the Reitz Union and the Millhopper and Tower Road branch libraries. Our voting guide lists every site, the ID rules and the mail ballot deadlines. The commission’s members and how to reach them are on our who to call at City Hall page.

This newsroom takes no position on ballot measures.