Bob Graham Center for Public Service

Are you currently living in the Gainesville city limits ? Do you care about topics like the hours and routes that RTS takes, rental policies, how long bars stay open and the conservation of public spaces?

If you answered yes to any of these questions, then you should vote in the election for Gainesville City Commission. City Commissioners have a direct role on many of the issues that affect your daily life in the campus community.

Election Day is March 16.  To locate the voting precinct associated with a valid residential address within the City of Gainesville, visit this link.

Here are some Frequently Asked Questions about the City Commission Election

Am I eligible to vote?

Registered voters who reside within Gainesville’s city limits are able to vote in this election.  If you are a UF student and voted in the 2020 presidential election, you may be eligible.

If you live within the city limits, you will be voting on the at-large race. If you also live in District 1,  you will be voting for the at-large race and the District 1 race.

How do I know what district I am living in? 

If you live on the east side of campus or east of 13th street you are a District 1 resident (see area shaded pink below).  Sorority Row and Innovation District are all part of District 1.

Here is a map to help you locate your district in Gainesville. The shaded areas lie within Gainesville city limits.

Can I update my registration prior to Election Day?

Yes!  During the early voting period,  you can update your registration at any of the early voting locations listed below,

• Reitz Union
  •   655 Reitz Union Drive, Ground Floor of Career Connections Center
• Alachua County Supervisors of Elections Office
  • 515 N. Main St., Suite 300, Gainesville
• Millhopper Branch Library
  •  3145 NW 43rd St, Gainesville
• Martin Luther King Multi Purpose Center
  •  1028 Northeast 14th Street, Gainesville

Please note that you cannot update your voter registration on Election Day. You must vote within your assigned precinct.

Can I vote at the Reitz Union on Election Day? 

If you live on campus in the dorm areas, you can vote at the Reitz. If you live off campus, you must vote at your assigned precinct on Election Day.

Visit this link to find your assigned precinct.

How can I update my voter registration?

You can update your registration at an early voting location,  through UF TurboVote at this link, or through the Alachua County Supervisor of Elections at this link.

Who are the candidates?

The candidates for the at-large election are,

• Gabriel Hillel 
• Gail Johnson

The candidates for the District 1 election are,

• Desmon Duncan-Walker 
• Gigi Simmons 

If you are interested in learning more about the candidates, the MyVote Project is hosting a candidate forum on Monday, March 15th at 7PM.

You can register for the event here.

What do I need to bring to the polls?

You will need a government issued ID with your picture and signature. You can use your Gator 1 ID card, or a driver’s license.

Can I vote by mail? 

The deadline to obtain a vote-by-mail ballot has passed. If you have already obtained an absentee ballot, it must be returned and received by the Alachua County  Supervisor of Elections no later than 7 p.m. on March 16. You can track your mail-in ballot at this link.

If I have any more questions, who can I contact? 

You can contact the Alachua County Supervisor of Elections here!