Elections

Municipal Election Information

The Village is divided into three Residential Areas. One councilmember must reside in the Northern Area (Seat 1), one in the Central Area (Seat 2) and one in the Southern Area (Seat 3). An additional councilmember (Seat 4) and the mayor shall be elected without regard to residence in any particular Residential Area. Candidates running for a particular Residential Area (Seats 1, 2 and 3) must be a resident of the Residential Area they propose to represent on the Village Council at the time of qualifying, at the time of their election and must continue to reside in such Residential Area during the term of office. For more information, view the Council Seat map(PDF, 58KB) .

A General Election is held in each even-numbered year on the day of the U.S. Congressional elections (the first Tuesday of November). Any candidate receiving a number of votes greater than fifty percent (50%) of the total of ballots cast shall be duly elected at such election. A Runoff Election, if necessary, shall be held on the third Tuesday of November. The ballot for the runoff election shall contain the names of the two candidates for each Council seat who received the most votes in the general election. The candidates receiving the most votes in the Runoff Election shall be duly elected.

The duly elected councilmembers shall serve a four year term that will commence at 12:00 noon on the 7th day following the certification of the election. Members of the Village Council do not receive any compensation pursuant to Section 2.6 of the Village Charter.

2024 Municipal Election

Candidates shall qualify for the 2024 municipal election in the Office of the Village Clerk, Village of Pinecrest, 12645 Pinecrest Parkway, Pinecrest, Florida.

Candidates may qualify for Seat 1, Seat 2, and Seat 3.

The qualifying period shall commence on Monday, June 10, 2024, at 12:00 noon and end on Friday, June 14, 2024, at 12:00 noon (pursuant to Section 2-231 of the Code of Ordinances). All candidates must file their qualifying papers with the Village Clerk during the qualifying period. Kindly make an appointment by calling 305.234.2121 or via e-mail.

The 2024 Candidate's Handbook is available at the Office of the Village Clerk.

The General Election will be held on Tuesday, November 5, 2024. Any candidate receiving a number of votes greater than fifty percent (50%) of the total of ballots cast shall be duly elected at such election. A Runoff Election, if necessary, will be held on Tuesday, November 19, 2024. The ballot for the runoff election shall contain the names of the two candidates for each Council seat who received the most votes in the general election.

 

Qualifying Information

The following will be necessary for the filing of candidacy:

Step 1.Form 1 - Statement of Financial Interests 

If you are a Candidate who does not currently hold an office or other position requiring disclosure, you will complete your disclosure in EFDMS via the "I am a candidate Link" and print it for filing with your Qualifying Officer. If you have an annual filing requirement and are running for office, you will complete your disclosure in EFDMS and submit your verification/receipt of e-filing your form or print a copy of your disclosure to file with your Qualifying Officer. Click here for instructions for completing and filing this form

On Monday, June 10, 2024, a Federal Court granted a preliminary injunction that changes the form filing requirement from a 2023 Form 6 back to a 2023 Form 1 for Mayors and City/Village/Town Governing Board Members. Click here for more information.

Step 2.Form DS-DE9 - Appointment of Campaign Treasurer

Step 3.Form DS-DE84 - Statement of Candidate

Step 4.Qualifying Fee

Pursuant to Section 2.4 of the Village Charter, a fee in the amount of $100.00, payable to the Village of Pinecrest from a campaign account, must be provided to the Village Clerk at the time of qualifying.

Step 5.Form DS-DE 302NP - Candidate Oath

Including  Statement of Outstanding Fines Fees, or Penalties (Effective 10/23)

Step 6.Voter Information Card

Submit a copy of the voter registration card.

Step 7.One Year Residency Affidavit

Section 2.4 of the Village Charter requires candidates to be electors of the Village of Pinecrest and to have resided in the Village (and in the respective Residential Area from which the candidate may seek to qualify for election) for at least one year preceding the date of filing. The form is provided by the Village Clerk at the time of qualifying.

Step 8.Voluntary Statement of Fair Campaign Practices

For candidates who agree to comply with the Voluntary Statement of Fair Campaign Practices.

Special Election Information

On November 5, 2024, during the General Election, there will be a Special Election for Pinecrest residents. Every six (6) years, the Charter Revision Commission - consisting of Pinecrest residents appointed by the Village Council - reviews the Charter and makes suggestions as to where the charter is dated, what items can be clarified, or add language that enhances the Charter. The 2024 Charter Revision Commission delivered five (5) recommendations for amendments that will be presented on the ballots for voting by the electors. Below are the proposed charter amendments in Spanish and English. Each one has a neutral, attorney-approved description beneath it that surpasses the 75-word ballot maximum. We hope that each referendum is easy to understand. If it is not, please submit any questions to communications@pinecrest-fl.gov

Special Election Ballot - English

Pinecrest Referendum 1
Separate Consecutive Term Limits for Mayor and Councilmember
The Village Charter provides that no person may serve as Mayor or Councilmember for more than two consecutive terms or as a combination for more than eight consecutive years. It is proposed that the Village Charter be amended to separate the term limits to allow a person to serve as Mayor or Councilmember for two consecutive terms each, for a combination of four consecutive terms. Shall the above-described amendment be adopted?

Neutral Explanation 
The proposed amendment to the Village Charter would change the current term limits for the Mayor and Councilmembers. Currently, a person cannot serve as Mayor or Councilmember for more than two consecutive terms or a combination of more than eight consecutive years. The amendment proposes to allow a person to serve two consecutive terms as Mayor and two consecutive terms as Councilmember, for a total of four consecutive terms.

Pinecrest Referendum 2
Partial Terms of Office of Less Than Two Years
The Village Charter does not specify whether service of a partial term of office as Mayor or Councilmember counts towards consecutive term limits. It is proposed that the Village Charter be amended to provide that service of a partial term of less than two years shall not be counted as a term. Shall the above-described amendment be adopted?

Neutral Explanation 
The proposed amendment to the Village Charter would clarify how partial terms of office are counted toward consecutive term limits for the positions of Mayor or Councilmember. If passed, an individual could serve a partial term of office for less than two years without the partial term counting as serving a full term. For example, an individual temporarily appointed to fill a vacancy in office would no longer be deemed to have served a full, four-year term unless they serve at least two years on the Village Council.

Pinecrest Referendum 3
Calculating Consecutive Term Limits When There is a Gap in Service
The Village Charter does not specify what constitutes a break in service for the purpose of calculating consecutive term limits. It is proposed that the Charter be amended to provide that a term shall not count towards consecutive term limits if there is a gap in service of at least six months (180 days). Shall the above-described amendment be adopted?

Neutral Explanation 
The current Village Charter does not define what counts as a break in service for purposes of determining the number of term limits served. The proposed amendment clarifies that a break in service is at least six months (180 days) without serving as an elected official.

Pinecrest Referendum 4
Method of Filling Vacancies in Office
The Village Charter provides for filling of Mayoral vacancies at a special election within ninety days and, if the entire Council becomes vacant, at a special election that would not preserve term staggering. The proposed Charter Amendment provides for filling of Mayoral vacancies at the next available election and, if the entire Council becomes vacant, at a special election for each Council position's remaining term. Shall the above-described amendment be adopted?

Neutral Explanation 
The Village Charter requires a special election within 90 days to fill a mayoral vacancy and does not maintain staggered terms if the entire council is vacant. The proposed amendment allows mayoral vacancies to be filled at the next available election and ensures a special election for each Village Council position to maintain staggered terms if the entire Village Council becomes vacant.

Pinecrest Referendum 5
Non-Substantive Technical Updates to Charter Relating to Elections Timelines
The Charter currently contains various provisions relating to election timelines that have become obsolete or superseded by changes in Florida Law. The proposed charter amendment would incorporate non-substantive technical updates that clarify that election timelines must be in compliance with Florida Law and the ability of the Supervisor of Elections to accommodate such election timelines. Shall the above-described amendment be adopted?

Neutral Explanation 
The Village Charter currently includes election provisions that have been superseded by changes in Florida law. This proposed amendment updates the Charter to reflect that election timelines must comply with Florida Law and allows the Supervisor of Elections to manage these timelines effectively.

 

 

Informational Video

There are five Charter amendments to vote on at the end of each resident’s ballot. Every six years, the Charter Revision Commission – made up of residents – along with the presence of the Village Attorney and Village Clerk, look over the Pinecrest charter and make suggestions as to where the Charter is dated, what items can be clarified, or add language that enhances the Charter.

The Charter Revision Commission made five suggestions that will be at the bottom of all Pinecrest resident ballots.

This is an educational video that explains each amendment in neutral simplified language.

The goal of the education campaign is for voters to understand the questions and to have high voter turnout which aligns with the Village’s Organizational Excellence Strategic Priority. The Village maintains a neutral stance on each amendment. For questions or comments email communications@pinecrest-fl.gov.

 

 

Special Election Ballot - Spanish

Referendo 1 de Pinecrest
Separación de los límites de mandatos consecutivos de Alcalde y Concejal
La Carta Constitucional del Municipio establece que ninguna persona puede ocupar el cargo de Alcalde o Concejal durante más de dos mandatos consecutivos, o en combinación, durante más de ocho años consecutivos. Se propone enmendar la Carta Constitucional del Municipio para separar los límites de los mandatos con el fin de permitir que una persona ocupe el cargo de Alcalde o Concejal durante dos mandatos consecutivos en cada cargo respectivo, hasta una combinación de cuatro mandatos consecutivos. ¿Deberá aprobarse la enmienda antes descrita?

Explicación Neutral
La enmienda propuesta a la Carta Constitutiva de Pinecrest cambiaría los límites actuales de los mandatos del alcalde y los concejales. Actualmente, una persona no puede servir como alcalde o concejal por más de dos períodos consecutivos o una combinación de más de ocho años consecutivos. La enmienda propone permitir que una persona sirva dos mandatos consecutivos como alcalde y dos mandatos consecutivos como concejal, para un total de cuatro mandatos consecutivos.

Referendo 2 de Pinecrest
Mandatos parciales de menos de dos años en el cargo
La Carta Constitucional del Municipio no especifica si el cumplimiento de un mandato parcial como Alcalde o Concejal cuenta para los límites de mandatos consecutivos. Se propone enmendar la Carta Constitucional del Municipio para establecer que el cumplimiento de un mandato parcial de menos de dos años no se contará como un mandato. ¿Deberá aprobarse la enmienda antes descrita?

Explicación Neutral
La enmienda propuesta a la Carta Constitutiva de Pinecrest aclararía cómo se cuentan los mandatos parciales para los límites de mandatos consecutivos para los cargos de alcalde o concejal. Si se aprueba, una persona podría cumplir un mandato parcial por menos de dos años sin que el mandato parcial cuente como un mandato completo. Por ejemplo, ya no se consideraría que una persona nombrada temporalmente para llenar una vacante en el cargo ha cumplido un mandato completo de cuatro años, a menos que sirva al menos dos años en el concejal de Pinecrest.

Referendo 3 de Pinecrest
Cálculo de los límites de mandatos consecutivos cuando se interrumpa el servicio 
La Carta Constitucional del Municipio no especifica qué constituye una interrupción en el servicio a los efectos de calcular los límites de mandatos consecutivos. Se propone enmendar la Carta Constitucional del Municipio para establecer que un mandato no se contará para determinar los límites de mandatos consecutivos si se produce una interrupción en el servicio de al menos seis meses (180 días). ¿Deberá aprobarse la enmienda antes descrita?

Explicación Neutral
La Carta Constitutiva de Pinecrest actual no define lo que cuenta como una interrupción en el servicio a los efectos de determinar el número de límites de mandato cumplidos. La enmienda propuesta aclara que una interrupción en el servicio es de al menos seis meses (180 días) sin servir como funcionario electo.

Referendo 4 de Pinecrest
Método para cubrir vacantes en los cargos
La Carta Constitucional del Municipio establece que las vacantes del cargo de Alcalde se deben cubrir mediante elecciones especiales en un plazo de noventa días y, si todos los cargos de Concejal quedan vacantes, mediante elecciones especiales que no preservarían el escalonamiento de mandatos. La enmienda propuesta a la Carta Constitucional prevé que las vacantes del cargo de Alcalde se cubran en las elecciones siguientes y, si todos los cargos de Concejal quedan vacantes, mediante elecciones especiales para el mandato restante en cada cargo de Concejal. ¿Deberá aprobarse la enmienda antes descrita?

Explicación Neutral
La Carta Constitutiva de Pinecrest requiere una elección especial dentro de los 90 días para llenar una vacante en la alcaldía y no mantiene términos escalonados si todo el consejo está vacante. La enmienda propuesta permite que las vacantes de alcalde se llenen en la próxima elección disponible y garantiza una elección especial para cada puesto en el consejo de Pinecrest para mantener períodos escalonados si todo el concejal de Pinecrest queda vacante.

Referendo 5 de Pinecrest
 
Actualizaciones técnicas no sustanciales a la Carta Constitucional relativas a los cronogramas de elecciones
Actualmente, la Carta Constitucional contiene varias disposiciones relativas a los cronogramas de elecciones que han quedado obsoletas o han sido reemplazadas por cambios en las leyes de la Florida. La enmienda propuesta a la Carta Constitucional incorporaría actualizaciones técnicas no sustanciales que esclarecen que los cronogramas de elecciones tienen que ajustarse a las leyes de la Florida y a la capacidad del Supervisor de Elecciones de asumir dichos cronogramas. ¿Deberá aprobarse la enmienda antes descrita?

Explicación Neutral
La Carta Constitutiva de Pinecrest actualmente incluye disposiciones electorales que han sido reemplazadas por cambios en la ley de Florida. Esta enmienda propuesta actualiza la Carta Constitutiva de Pinecrest para reflejar que los plazos electorales deben cumplir con la Ley de Florida y permite que el supervisor de Elecciones maneje estos plazos de forma eficaz.

 

Video Informacional

 

Durante las elecciones generales del 5 de noviembre habrá una elección especial para los residentes de Pinecrest. Se votarán cinco enmiendas a la Carta Constitutiva. Las enmiendas fueron recomendadas por la Comisión de Revisión de la Carta Constitutiva, que está compuesta por residentes designados por el consejo de Pinecrest. La comisión se reúne una vez cada seis años para revisar la carta.

Debido a que cada referéndum está limitado a secentaycinco palabras, explicamos cada uno con fines educativos. Queremos educar a los residentes de Pinecrest para que estén bien informados cuando cuando voten. Pinecrest mantiene una postura neutral.