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ITEM: ORDINANCE NO. 2025-18 (PROPOSING AN AMENDMENT TO WELLINGTON'S CHARTER TO MOVE THE QUALIFICATION PERIOD TO A TWO WEEK PERIOD IN NOVEMBER)
AN ORDINANCE OF WELLINGTON, FLORIDA'S COUNCIL PROPOSING AMENDMENTS TO SECTION 9C OF WELLINGTON'S MUNICIPAL CHARTER RELATING TO CANDIDATE QUALIFYING DATES BY AMENDING SECTION 9, SUBSECTION C, "QUALIFYING FOR OFFICE" TO MOVE THE QUALIFYING PERIOD TO A TWO WEEK PERIOD IN NOVEMBER PRIOR TO THE MARCH GENERAL ELECTION; PROVIDING FOR THE SUBMISSION OF THE PROPOSED CHARTER AMENDMENT TO THE ELECTORS OF WELLINGTON AT THE ELECTION TO BE HELD ON MARCH 10, 2026; PROVIDING FOR FILING WITH THE FLORIDA DEPARTMENT OF STATE; PROVIDING FOR PUBLICATION; PROVIDING FOR CONFLICT; PROVIDING FOR CODIFICATION; PROVIDING FOR SEVERABILITY; AND PROVIDING FOR AN EFFECTIVE DATE.
REQUEST: Approval of Ordinance No. 2025-18 proposing an amendment to Wellington's Charter to move the qualification period to a two week period in November.
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EXPLANATION: The Charter currently provides that residents wishing to qualify to become a candidate for a Village elective office must qualify with the Clerk no sooner than noon on the last Tuesday in January and not later than noon on the second Tuesday in February of the year in which the election is to be held.
Wellington's municipal elections are held during the uniform municipal elections period, which occurs on the second Tuesday in March of each election year.
The Palm Beach County Supervisor of Elections requires at least 95 days prior to an election to have sufficient time to prepare, print, and test municipal ballots and to convert such ballots into an accessible format for persons with disabilities and has therefore requested that municipalities ensure that their candidate qualifying periods be moved to accommodate such time period.
Moving the qualifying period to November avoids conflict with various Fall and Winter holidays and promotes participation by those who may seek to become c...
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