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ITEM: ORDINANCE NO. 2023-11 (MUNICIPAL ELECTION DATE)
AN ORDINANCE OF WELLINGTON, FLORIDA’S COUNCIL MOVING THE DATE FOR THE MUNICIPAL ELECTION TO BE HELD CONCURRENT WITH THE PRESIDENTIAL PREFERENCE PRIMARY; AMENDING THE CANDIDATE QUALIFYING PERIOD; AND PROVIDING AN EFFECTIVE DATE.
REQUEST: Approval of Ordinance No. 2023-11 moving the election date to be held concurrent with the presidential preference primary and amending the qualifying period for Wellington’s March, 2024 municipal election.
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EXPLANATION: Wellington’s Charter sets forth the qualifying period and dates for Wellington’s municipal elections. Pursuant to Section 9.C., “any resident of the Village who wishes to become a candidate for a village elective office shall qualify with the Village Clerk no sooner than noon on the last Tuesday in January nor later than noon on the second Tuesday in February of the year in which the election is to be held.” Section 100.3605 of the Florida Statutes permits municipal governments, by ordinance, to change the dates for qualifying and for election of members of the governing body of the municipality.
The Palm Beach County’s Supervisor of Elections has requested that Wellington move its election date to coincide with the presidential preference primary and amend the qualifying period.
The proposed ordinance would move the election date to March 19, 2024 and would set the qualifying period to run from noon on November 7, 2023 to noon on November 21, 2023.
BUDGET AMENDMENT REQUIRED: NO
PUBLIC HEARING: YES QUASI-JUDICIAL: NO
FIRST READING: YES SECOND READING:
LEGAL SUFFICIENCY: YES
FISCAL IMPACT: NO
WELLINGTON FUNDAMENTAL: Responsive Government
RECOMMENDATION: Approval of Ordinance No. 2023-11 moving the election date to be held concurrent with the presidential preference primary and amending the qualifying period for Wellington’s March, 2024 municipal election.