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St. Pete General Election 2021: registration deadline, vote by mail, what’s on the ballot

St. Pete General Election 2021: registration deadline, vote by mail, what’s on the ballot

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The St. Pete General Election is set for November 2, and the deadline to register to vote is October 4. Those interested in registering can do so online. To request a mail ballot, call the Pinellas County Supervisor of Elections Office at (727) 464-VOTE (8683), or visit Vote Pinellas’s online portal. Those who would rather not register to vote online can download a PDF of the voter application form in English and Spanish.

Not sure if you’re already registered? You can check your status online.

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A ballot must be requested no later than 5 p.m. on the 10th day prior to an election in order for the Elections office to mail it to you. After that, you may still pick up a mail ballot through the day before the election. By state law, mail ballots cannot be issued on Election Day except in the case of an emergency, to the extent that the voter will be unable to go to his or her assigned polling place.

In order to submit an online voter application you will need the following:

Your Florida driver license (Florida DL) or Florida identification card (Florida ID card) issued by the Florida Department of Highway Safety & Motor Vehicles.

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The issued date of your Florida DL or Florida ID card; and

The last four digits of your Social Security Number (SSN4)

You may still register to vote if you don’t have any of the above materials. You may still use the online system to prefill a voter registration application form; however, you will have to print, sign, and then mail or deliver your completed voter registration application to your county Supervisor of Elections’ office. 

Here’s what’s on the General Election Ballot:

Mayor

Robert G. Blackmon
Ken Welch

Council Member District 1

Copley Gerdes
Bobbie Shay Lee

Council Member District 2

Brandi Gabbard
Kyle Hall*

*Candidate withdrew from this contest but will still appear on the ballot. A vote cast for this candidate will not be counted.

Council Member District 4

Lisset Hanewicz
Tom Mullins

Council Member District 6

Gina Driscoll
Mhariel A. Summers

Council Member District 8

Jeff Danner
Richie Floyd

Additionally, there are 8 General Election Ballot questions:

Providing City Council with the Authority to Grant Economic Development Ad Valorem Tax Exemptions

Shall the City Council of St. Petersburg be authorized to grant, pursuant to s. 3, Art. VII of the State Constitution, property tax exemptions to new businesses and expansions of existing businesses that are expected to create new, full-time jobs in the City of St. Petersburg?

Yes
No

Limiting City Council Elections to Voters in the Applicable Council District and Making Related Changes 

Currently, City Council Members are elected through primary elections limited to voters in the Council district and general elections open to all City voters. Shall the Charter be amended to (i) limit primary and general elections for Council Members to voters in the Council district, thereby eliminating City-wide voting for Council Members; (ii) allow a candidate receiving more than 50% of votes in the primary to be elected; and (iii) make other clarifying changes?

Yes 
No 

Establishing New Process for Drawing District Boundaries for Election of City Council Members 

Shall the City create a new process for establishing City Council district boundaries that (i) uses comprehensive standards for drawing equitable district boundaries; (ii) has requirements and restrictions for appointment, service, communication, and accepting public comment; and (iii) requires City Council to be bound by commission recommendations unless inconsistent with applicable law? The new process would occur every ten years and maintain the existing nine-member citizens commission appointed by the Mayor and Council Members.

Yes
No

Establishing an Equity Framework and Chief Equity Officer for City Government 

Analysis of demographic and economic data for Pinellas County indicates that the region’s economy would benefit from eliminating equity gaps based on race, ethnicity, or other immutable characteristics. Shall the City Charter be amended to establish an equity framework intended to address those equity gaps? That framework must include an equity action plan implemented at City-wide and departmental levels, regular assessment and reporting, and the creation of a Chief Equity Officer for the City.

Yes
No

Establishing a Requirement for Charter-Protected Equity Funding 

Analysis of demographic and economic data for Pinellas County indicates that the region’s economy would benefit from eliminating equity gaps based on race, ethnicity, or other immutable characteristics. Shall the City Charter be amended to require that the City designate “Charter-protected equity funding” to address those equity gaps and prevent that funding from being used for other purposes? This amendment would not prohibit the City from funding equity-related initiatives with other, unrestricted funding.

Yes
No

Establishing New Requirements Related to City Administrator, City Clerk, and City Council Administrative Officer 

The Charter provides requirements and duties for certain City officials appointed by the Mayor with consent of City Council. Shall the Charter be amended to (i) add a residency requirement for the City Administrator; (ii) clarify that the City Clerk serves both Mayor and Council and may be removed only with consent of both; (iii) provide the City Council Administrative Officer with duties and protections similar to the City Clerk; and (iv) make related changes?

Yes
No

No. 6 Charter Amendment 

Every ten years, the City conducts a Charter-review process to consider the operation of City government and propose amendments to the Charter. Issues occur when the Charter-review process changes the process for redrawing City Council districts because the two processes are scheduled to occur almost simultaneously. Shall the Charter be amended to resolve that scheduling conflict and to make other changes to improve the administration and integrity of the City’s Charter-review process?

Yes
No

Adding a Preamble to Describe the Spirit of the Charter and the City’s Governing Philosophy 

Shall the Charter be amended to add a preamble containing a concise statement to describe the spirit of the Charter and the City’s governing philosophy? That aspirational statement will describe the City’s vision, goals, values, and priorities while acknowledging past shortcomings and promising a renewed and continuing commitment to improving the quality of life for all citizens.

Yes
No

You can learn more by visiting VotePinellas.com

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