MARION COUNTY, Fla. – As Florida gears up for the upcoming Nov. 5 election, get to know the candidates and amendments in your area. Here is a guide of everything you need to know to vote in Marion 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 Saturday, Nov. 2. from 8 a.m. to 6 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. Ballots must be mailed in and received by the Marion County Supervisor of Elections office by 7 p.m. on Nov. 5. Request a vote-by-mail 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 Marion County. View a list of Marion County candidates HERE.
NOTE: Everything listed here will be on ballots in Marion 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 3
CONGRESS DISTRICT 6
- Michael Waltz (incumbent) (REP): Website
- James David Stockton III (DEM): Website
- Richard Paul Dembinsky (WRI): No website found
Florida Senate
DISTRICT 9
Florida House
DISTRICT 20
DISTRICT 23
DISTRICT 24
DISTRICT 27
Judge Retention Y/N?
SUPREME COURT
FIFTH DISTRICT COURT OF APPEAL
- Joe Boatwright: Website
- Eric Eisnaugle: Website
- Harvey Jay: Website
- Paige Kilbane: Website
- John MacIver: Website
- Jordan Pratt: Website
- Adrian G. Soud: 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
BOARD OF COUNTY COMMISSIONERS SEAT 3
- Matt McClain (incumbent) (REP): Website
- Rich Brown (WRI): No website found
COUNTY REFERENDUM
- Extension of existing sales surtax for public safety and transportation infrastructure: In order to fund improving roads, reducing traffic congestion, building new fire stations, reducing 911 response times, improving animal control, law enforcement, and other public safety and transportation infrastructure in Marion County and its municipalities as allowed by law, shall Marion County extend the existing one percent sales surtax for a period of twenty years?
- For the extension of the one percent sales surtax
- Against the extension of the one percent sales surtax
- NEWS 6 COVERAGE (From 2020): Marion County extends penny sales tax to pay for public safety, infrastructure
SCHOOL BOARD REFERENDUM
- School Capital Outlay Sales Surtax to Improve Safety and the Learning Environment: To retain high-quality teachers, reduce classroom overcrowding, and improve safety and security by expanding, constructing, and improving school facilities, with collected revenues shared according to Florida law with eligible public charter schools based on their proportion of total school district enrollment, with oversight by an independent volunteer committee, shall the school district of Marion County levy a one-half cent sales surtax for ten years to fund such activities for Marion County schools?
- For the half-cent tax
- Against the half-cent tax
- NEWS 6 COVERAGE:
Dunnellon
PURCHASE REQUIREMENTS FOR GOODS
- Shall the Charter of the City of Dunnellon be amended to require that purchases of major items (goods) in an amount over $5,000.00 but less than $35,000.00 shall not be awarded without first obtaining a minimum of two written bids or proposals, and that purchases of major items (goods) in an amount of $35,000.00 or greater shall not be awarded until after the City advertises to receive sealed bids proposals?
- Yes, for approval
- No, for rejection
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