ORANGE COUNTY, Fla. – If you are voting in Orange County, now is the time to get to know your candidates and amendments before the Nov. 5 election. Here is everything you need to know to vote in Orange County.
[RESULTS 2024: Complete Coverage | How to vote in the Nov. 5 presidential election]
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When, where and how to vote
Early voting: Monday, Oct. 21 through Sunday, Nov. 3. from 8 a.m. to 8 p.m. Find your early voting place HERE.
Voting by mail: Vote-by-mail ballots must be requested by 5 p.m. 12 days before the Nov. 5 election. Ballots can be dropped off at early voting sites before Nov. 5 or at the county elections office if you do not want to mail it in. Ballots must be received by the Orange County Supervisor of Elections office by 7 p.m. on Nov. 5. Request a vote-by-mail ballot HERE. Track your mail-in ballot HERE.
On Election Day: Polling will be open from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. on Nov. 5. You must vote at your assigned precinct on election day. Find your election day polling place HERE.
What’s on the ballot
Here are the races and amendments you will see on the ballot if you are voting in Orange County. Request a sample ballot HERE.
NOTE: Everything listed here will be on ballots in Orange County, but U.S. House, Florida House and Senate and local races may be different depending on where you live.
U.S. President
- Donald J. Trump (REP): Website
- Kamala D. Harris (DEM): Website
- Chase Oliver (LPF): Website
- Claudia De la Cruz (PSL): Website
- Randall Terry (CPF): Website
- Peter Sonski (ASP): Website
- Jill Stein (GRE): Website
- Shiva Ayyadurai (Write-in): Website
- Cherunda Fox (Write-in): Website
U.S. Senate
- Rick Scott (incumbent) (REP): Website
- Debbie Mucarsel-Powell (DEM): Website
- Feena Bonoan (LPF): Website
- Ben Everidge (NPA): Website
- Tuan TQ Nguyen (NPA): Website
- NEWS 6 COVERAGE:
U.S. House
CONGRESS DISTRICT 8
CONGRESS DISTRICT 9
- Thomas Chalifoux (REP): Website
- Darren Soto (DEM): Website
- Marcus Carter (NPA): Website
- NEWS 6 COVERAGE:
CONGRESS DISTRICT 10
CONGRESS DISTRICT 11
Florida Senate
District 13
- Keith Truenow (REP): Website
- Stephanie L. Dukes (DEM): Facebook page
District 25
Florida House
DISTRICT 35
DISTRICT 37
- Susan Plasencia (REP) (incumbent): Website
- Nate Douglas (DEM): Website
- NEWS 6 COVERAGE: Meet the candidates for Florida House District 37
DISTRICT 39
DISTRICT 40
DISTRICT 42
DISTRICT 43
DISTRICT 45
DISTRICT 47
Judge Retention Y/N?
SUPREME COURT
SIXTH DISTRICT COURT OF APPEAL
- Paetra Brownlee: Court website
- Roger Gannam: Court website
- Joshua Mize: Court website
- Jared Smith: Court website
- Keith White: Court website
State Attorney
NINTH JUDICIAL CIRCUIT
Circuit Judge
NINTH JUDICIAL CIRCUIT GROUP 15
- Jeffrey Ashton (incumbent): Court website
- Alicia L. Peyton: Website
Florida Constitutional Amendments
Vote yes for approval. Vote no for rejection.
- AMENDMENT 1: Partisan Election of Members of District School Boards (Article IX, Section 4 and Article XII)
- Proposing amendments to the State Constitution to require members of a district school board to be elected in a partisan election rather than a nonpartisan election and to specify that the amendment only applies to elections held on or after the November 2026 general election. However, partisan primary elections may occur before the 2026 general election for purposes of nominating political party candidates to that office for placement on the 2026 general election ballot.
- AMENDMENT 2: Right to Fish and Hunt (Article I, Section 28)
- Proposing an amendment to the State Constitution to preserve forever fishing and hunting, including by the use of traditional methods, as a public right and preferred means of responsibly managing and controlling fish and wildlife. Specifies that the amendment does not limit the authority granted to the Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission under Section 9 of Article IV of the State Constitution.
- NEWS 6 COVERAGE: Everything to know about Florida Amendment 2 on fishing and hunting
- AMENDMENT 3: Adult Personal Use of Marijuana (Article X, Section 29)
- Allows adults 21 years or older to possess, purchase, or use marijuana products and marijuana accessories for non-medical personal consumption by smoking, ingestion, or otherwise; allows Medical Marijuana Treatment Centers, and other state licensed entities, to acquire, cultivate, process, manufacture, sell, and distribute such products and accessories. Applies to Florida law; does not change, or immunize violations of, federal law. Establishes possession limits for personal use. Allows consistent legislation. Defines terms. Provides effective date.
- The amendment’s financial impact primarily comes from expected sales tax collections. If legal today, sales of nonmedical marijuana would be subject to sales tax and would remain so if voters approve this amendment. Based on other states’ experiences, expected retail sales of non-medical marijuana would generate at least $195.6 million annually in state and local sales tax revenues once the retail market is fully operational, although the timing of this occurring is unclear. Under current law, the existing statutory framework for medical marijuana is repealed six months after the effective date of this amendment which affects how this amendment will be implemented. A new regulatory structure for both medical and nonmedical use of marijuana will be needed. Its design cannot be fully known until the legislature acts; however, regulatory costs will probably be offset by regulatory fees. Other potential costs and savings cannot be predicted.
- AMENDMENT 4: Amendment to Limit Government Interference with Abortion (Article 1, New Section)
- No law shall prohibit, penalize, delay, or restrict abortion before viability or when necessary to protect the patient’s health, as determined by the patient’s healthcare provider. This amendment does not change the Legislature’s constitutional authority to require notification to a parent or guardian before a minor has an abortion.
- The proposed amendment would result in significantly more abortions and fewer live births per year in Florida. The increase in abortions could be even greater if the amendment invalidates laws requiring parental consent before minors undergo abortions and those ensuring only licensed physicians perform abortions. There is also uncertainty about whether the amendment will require the state to subsidize abortions with public funds. Litigation to resolve those and other uncertainties will result in additional costs to the state government and state courts that will negatively impact the state budget. An increase in abortions may negatively affect the growth of state and local revenues over time. Because the fiscal impact of increased abortions on state and local revenues and costs cannot be estimated with precision, the total impact of the proposed amendment is indeterminate.
- NEWS 6 IN-DEPTH COVERAGE: What you need to know about Florida Amendment 4 on abortion on the November ballot
- AMENDMENT 5: Annual Adjustments to the Value of Certain Homestead Exemptions (Article VII, Section 6 and Article XII)
- Proposing an amendment to the State Constitution to require an annual adjustment for inflation to the value of current or future homestead exemptions that apply solely to levies other than school district levies and for which every person who has legal or equitable title to real estate and maintains thereon the permanent residence of the owner, or another person legally or naturally dependent upon the owner is eligible. This amendment takes effect January 1, 2025.
- NEWS 6 IN-DEPTH COVERAGE: Here is what Florida Amendment 5, annual adjustments to homestead exemptions, means for voters
- AMENDMENT 6: Repeal of Public Campaign Financing Requirement (Article VI, Section 7)
- Proposing the repeal of the provision in the State Constitution which requires public financing for campaigns of candidates for elective statewide office who agree to campaign spending limits.
- NEWS 6 IN-DEPTH COVERAGE: Florida Amendment 6 on campaign money explained
County Races
SUPERVISOR OF ELECTIONS
- Karen Castor Dentel (DEM): Website
- Sunshine Linda-Marie Grund (DEM): Website
- Dan Helm (DEM): Website
- Wes Hodge (DEM): Website
- NEWS 6 COVERAGE:
COUNTY COMMISSIONER DISTRICT 1
COUNTY COMMISSIONER DISTRICT 3
COUNTY COMMISSIONER DISTRICT 5
SCHOOL BOARD MEMBER DISTRICT 4
SOIL AND WATER CONSERVATION DISTRICT SUPERVISOR SEAT 2
- Jimm Middleton: No website found
- Jim Moyer: No website found
- Vicki Vargo: No website found
SOIL AND WATER CONSERVATION DISTRICT SUPERVISOR SEAT 4
- Karolyn C. Campbell: Facebook page
- Dena Krueger: Website
COUNTY CHARTER AMENDMENTS
- NEWS 6 COVERAGE: Orange County charter amendments: Here’s what you need to know
Vote yes for approval. Vote no for rejection.
- Amendment Revising Orange County Charter Initiative Petition Process: Revising the charter initiative petition process by lowering petition requirements for charter amendments from 10 percent of registered voters in each commission district to 5 percent in each commission district, and for ordinances from 7 percent in each district to 3 percent in each district; removing signature withdrawal procedures; and revising financial impact statement, public hearing, legal review, and petition affidavit requirements. Estimated financial impact: $7,000 savings per proposed ballot question.
- Orange County Charter Amendment Requiring Continued Existence of Affordable Housing Trust Fund: Amending the County Charter to require the continued existence of an Affordable Housing Trust Fund used to create and preserve affordable housing, which may be funded by fees from new commercial and residential development and other sources, all as directed by the County Commission, and to provide for purposes, revenue sources, appropriation and expenditure of funds, annual audit, continuing nature, implementation by ordinance, administration, and oversight of the Trust Fund. No financial impact.
- Write-In Candidate Effect on Timing of Charter Officer Elections: Amending the Orange County Charter to provide that in elections for Charter offices (currently the County Mayor and County Commissioners), write-in candidates shall not count toward the number of qualified candidates (three or more) necessary to trigger an election at the August primary. No financial impact.
- Orange County Charter Amendment Requiring Adoption of a Fiscal Sustainability Analysis Tool: Amending the County Charter to require that no later than October 2025, the County shall adopt a fiscal sustainability analysis methodology and process to enable the County to evaluate the impacts of proposed Urban Service Area expansions and proposed development in Rural Settlements and Rural Service Area on the County’s capacity to efficiently provide and maintain infrastructure and services over the County Comprehensive Plan’s longest-range planning period. Comptroller estimated financial impact: Indeterminate financial impact.
- Orange County Charter Amendment Establishing Charter Office of County Attorney: Amending the Orange County Charter to establish an office of the County Attorney, who shall be the County’s chief legal counsel, appointed by the County Mayor and confirmed by a majority of the full County Commission, and removed by either the County Mayor or a majority of the full County Commission. No financial impact.
- Orange County Charter Amendment Increasing Number of County Commission Districts: Amending the Orange County Charter to increase the number of County Commission districts from six single-member districts to eight single-member districts, resulting in a nine-member County Commission (eight Commissioners plus County Mayor) effective for the 2026 General Election, while ensuring that term limits on sitting County Commissioners continue to apply upon the transition to eight districts. Estimated financial impact: One Time Costs - $2.6 million; Annual Recurring Costs - $1.3 million.
- Charter Amendment Creating Transportation Mobility Advisory Commission: Amending the Orange County Charter to create a Transportation Mobility Advisory Commission empowered to hold public hearings and make recommendations to the County Commission on: (1) proposed expenditures for transportation purposes prior to inclusion in the proposed County annual budget; (2) transportation and mobility innovation; and (3) review of past transportation expenditures; and to provide for County Commission appointment, funding of operating expenses, organization, and staff assistance. Comptroller estimated financial impact: $725,000 cost annually.
- Supermajority County Commission Vote to Dispose of or Change Use of “County Protected Lands:” Amending the Orange County Charter to define “County Protected Lands” as County owned (in whole or in part), operated, or maintained public parks and recreation areas, and environmentally sensitive lands acquired by the County for environmental, ecological, or recreational purposes; and requiring that any County Commission action authorizing the disposition of County Protected Lands or change to another use must be approved by a majority-plus-one County Commission vote. No financial impact.
- Orange County Charter Amendment Establishing Rural Boundary and Rural Area (“Area”): Establishing a Rural Area (unincorporated lands located outside the County’s Urban Service Area, municipal joint planning areas, Growth Centers, Innovation Way Overlay, Horizon West Villages, and Boggy Creek Expansion Area on the effective date) where County comprehensive plan amendments increasing density or intensity, and ordinances removing lands from the Rural Area, must be approved by a majority-plus-one vote of the entire membership of the County Commission.
- Charter Amendment Establishing a Process For Voluntary Municipal Annexations And Land Use in Rural Areas: Amend the County Charter to establish a process for voluntary municipal annexation and provide that the comprehensive plan and land development regulations of Orange County exclusively govern within rural areas when lands are subsequently annexed into a municipality with Orange County having the authority to approve or deny voluntary annexations by an affirmative vote of not less than a majority plus one vote of the entire county commission.
- NEWS 6 COVERAGE:
SCHOOL SALES SURTAX REFERENDUM
- One-Half Cent Sales Surtax for School Facilities Construction, Improvement, Land Acquisition, and Technology Implementation: Shall the School Board of Orange County, Florida continue the one-half cent sales surtax to fund the construction, reconstruction and improvement of school facilities, and land acquisition, land improvement and design and engineering costs, including any bond indebtedness, and the cost of retrofitting and providing technology implementation, beginning January 1, 2026 and ending December 31, 2035, shared proportionately with charter schools as legally required, with continued oversight by an independent citizens’ committee?
- For the one-half cent tax
- Against the one-half-cent tax
- NEWS 6 COVERAGE:
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