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ELECTIONS

Tampa Related Laws art. VIII
in effect

Tampa Related Laws, art. VIII, § 8.01 [County supervisor of elections as city elections officer.]

Sec. 8.01. - [County supervisor of elections as city elections officer.] The supervisor of elections of Hillsborough County shall be elections officer of the City of Tampa and shall conduct, hold, and regulate all municipal elections of every kind, nature, or character whatsoever held in the city, including regular, general, special, bond, referendum, recall, charter and all other municipal elections. The elections officer shall not be required to be a resident or elector of the city. (Laws of Fla., Ch. 79-573, § 1)

Tampa Related Laws, art. VIII, § 8.02 [Election dates; determination of winners; taking office.]

Sec. 8.02. - [Election dates; determination of winners; taking office.] A first election hereunder shall be held on the first Tuesday in September 1979 for the election of all candidates for all elective offices in the city. If a candidate for an office receives a majority of the votes cast for all candidates for the office or if the candidate had no opposition at said first election, the candidate shall be declared elected for such office and shall receive a certificate of election to the respective office as hereinafter provided. If no candidate receives a majority of the votes cast, a second election shall be held on the fourth Tuesday in September 1979 for the purpose of electing an officer to each elective office to be filled; provided that there shall be printed upon the ballot only the names of those candidates who received the greatest and the next greatest or equal number of votes in the first election. The names of all such candidates shall be printed upon the ballots for the second election and no other names shall be placed on the ballot. The candidates who received the greatest number of votes cast for each office shall be declared elected and shall receive a certificate of election from the elections officer. In the case of two candidates receiving an equal number of votes for the same office the elections officer shall call and hold a special election within thirty (30) days for the purpose of determining the winner between any two (2) such candidates. The mayor and city council members elected at said elections held hereunder in September 1979, shall hold office for a term of three and one-half years and until their successors have been duly elected and qualified. All elected and qualified candidates elected at the municipal elections held in September 1979 shall take office on October 1, 1979. Thereafter, elections shall be held in the manner hereinabove described on the first Tuesday in March, and when appropriate a runoff election on the 4th Tuesday in April of every year in which municipal elections are to be held for the election of all candidates for all elective offices in the city. All elected and qualified candidates elected at said March elections shall take office on May 1 of the year in which they are elected. (Laws of Fla., Ch. 79-573, § 2; Ord. No. 2018-75, § 1, 5-17-2018)

Tampa Related Laws, art. VIII, § 8.03 [Redivision of election districts.]

Sec. 8.03. - [Redivision of election districts.] In the year immediately preceding the year in which regular elections shall be held for electing the various officers to serve as city officials, but no later than April 1 of that preceding year, all of the territory then included within the corporate limits of said city shall be redivided by the elections officer, upon the recommendation and with the approval of the Hillsborough County City-County Planning Commission, into seven council districts, three of those districts being identical with the territorial boundaries of the city, and four districts being divisions of the entire city, each containing as nearly as possible equal population, while maintaining the integrity of precinct boundaries. Said districts and their boundaries shall not be numbered and proclaimed by said officer until the Hillsborough County City-County Planning Commission has held at least one public hearing to discuss the said boundaries and to solicit comments by the public. The public hearing shall be noticed in a newspaper of general circulation in the city, once a week for 2 consecutive weeks, and shall be placed in an area of the newspaper other than the classified section. Such notice shall be no smaller than 4 inches by 6 inches and shall contain the time and location of such public hearing and the purpose thereof. The public hearing(s) shall be held after 7:30 p.m. Any time after the public hearing(s) the districts and their boundaries shall thereupon be numbered and proclaimed by the elections officer and notices of the same shall be published once a week for 2 consecutive weeks in a daily newspaper of general circulation in the city and shall be placed in an area of the newspaper other than the classified section. In determining the population in the council districts and the precincts, the elections officer shall base the determination according to the latest published official census figures, federal or state, or the "Population and Housing Estimates" as promulgated yearly by the Hillsborough County City-County Planning Commission, whichever shall be the most current. (Laws of Fla., Ch. 79-573, § 3; Ord. No. 8148-A, § 7, 1-6-83; Laws of Fla., Ch. 84-535, § 1; Laws of Fla., Ch. 86-404, § 1; Ord. No. 2000-212, § 1, 8-17-00)

Tampa Related Laws, art. VIII, § 8.04 [Use of county registration records.]

Sec. 8.04. - [Use of county registration records.] The elections officer shall use the registration records of Hillsborough County for all city elections and any person who is a qualified elector on the county rolls and resides within and is registered as residing within the corporate limits of the city is qualified to vote in any city election. (Laws of Fla., Ch. 79-573, § 4)

Tampa Related Laws, art. VIII, § 8.05 [Qualification for candidacy.]

Sec. 8.05. - [Qualification for candidacy.] Any person possessing the prerequisite qualifications may upon compliance with all applicable provisions of law and ordinance qualify as a candidate and have said person's name placed upon the ballot for the office sought by not earlier than noon of the 50th day and not later than noon of the 46th day from and before the date of the first election: (1) Paying a qualifying fee in a sum equal to 5 percent of the annual salary of the office sought, or (2) Filing a qualifying petition in the form, content, and manner hereinafter provided bearing the genuine signatures of that number of electors in the City of Tampa as shall equal .25 percent of the population of the City of Tampa for any City Council districts, or one (1) percent of the population of the City of Tampa for Mayor, according to the latest published official state or federal census or the "Population and Housing Estimates" as promulgated yearly by the Hillsborough County City-County Planning Commission, whichever shall be the most current. (3) Executing a loyalty oath and a candidate oath pursuant to Section 7 [8.07] hereof, the forms of which shall be as follows: LOYALTY OATH STATE OF FLORIDA COUNTY OF ___________ I, ___________, a citizen of the State of Florida and of the United States of America, and a candidate of public office, do hereby solemnly swear or affirm that I will support the Constitution of the United States and of the State of Florida. _____ Signature of Candidate OATH OF CANDIDATE I, ___________, reside at ___________ in the City of Tampa, County of Hillsborough and State of Florida; I am a resident and elector of the City of Tampa. I wish to be a candidate in the regular/special City of Tampa election to be held on ________ for the office of ___________; I am qualified under the constitution and laws of the State of Florida and ordinances of the City of Tampa to hold the office of ___________; I will have been a resident of the City of Tampa for 1 year immediately preceding the commencement of the term of office; and, if a candidate for the Tampa City Council, a resident of the Tampa City Council District ___________ for at least 6 months immediately preceding the commencement of the term of office; I have taken the oath required by ss. 876.05—876.10, Florida Statutes; I have qualified for no other public office in the state the term of which office, or any part thereof, runs concurrent to the office I seek; I have resigned from any office from which I am required to resign pursuant to s. 99.012, Florida Statutes. _____ Signature of Candidate Address: _____ _____ The above Loyalty Oath and the above Oath of Candidate are sworn to and subscribed before me this _____ day of _______, 19___, at ___________, ___________ County, Florida. _____ Notary (Seal) (4) The terms residence and resident as used in this act [article] shall be the legal domicile of an individual. Residence, as a required qualification under the terms of this act [article], means living in a factual place of abode with the intent to make it a fixed and permanent home. (Laws of Fla., Ch. 79-573, § 5; Laws of Fla., Ch. 86-404, § 2; Laws of Fla., Ch. 88-497, § 1(5(3)); Ord. No. 98-233, § 1, 10-22-98)

Tampa Related Laws, art. VIII, § 8.06 [Applications to petition for candidacy.]

Sec. 8.06. - [Applications to petition for candidacy.] A candidate seeking to have the candidate's name placed on the ballot for the first municipal election by means of the petitioning process as herein described shall file with the elections officer upon forms prescribed and provided by the elections officer, an application stating the candidate's full name, place of residence, the election in which to be a candidate, and the title of the office sought, showing such information as shall be necessary to establish that the applicant possesses the prerequisite qualifications, and signifying that the applicant wishes to have the applicant's name placed upon the ballot by filing a petition. Said application shall be filed at any time after the 140th day preceding the first day of qualifying, but prior to the 10th day preceding the first day of qualifying. Said application shall be signed by the candidate and verified by affidavit of the candidate before an officer authorized to administer oaths. No signatures shall be obtained by a candidate on any petition until the application has been filed as herein prescribed and until such application shall have been approved by the elections officer for issuance of petition forms. Any person who seeks to qualify for election by means of the petitioning process shall appoint a treasurer and designate a primary depository on or before the date the petitions are obtained. (Laws of Fla., Ch. 79-573, § 6; Ord. No. 2002-206, § 1, 9-12-02)

Tampa Related Laws, art. VIII, § 8.07 [Filing fee or certification of petition.]

Sec. 8.07. - [Filing fee or certification of petition.] The elections officer at the time of filing and prior to the acceptance of those qualification papers described in subsection (3) of Section 5 [8.05] shall collect from the candidate either a sum of money equal to five (5) percent of the annual salary of the office sought or a letter from the elections officer certifying that the signatures prescribed in Section 5(2) [8.05(2)] have been obtained. (Laws of Fla., Ch. 79-573, § 7)

Tampa Related Laws, art. VIII, § 8.08 [Petition forms.]

Sec. 8.08. - [Petition forms.] The petition shall be upon forms prescribed and provided by the elections officer which forms shall be made available to the applicant possessing the prerequisite qualifications within 72 hours after the filing and acceptance of the candidate's application and which forms shall comply with the following: (1) Upon each card there shall be printed at the top thereof the statement "I, the undersigned, am an elector in the City of Tampa and I reside in the district of the candidate referred to below, and by subscribing my name hereto I petition to have the name of (candidate's full name), (candidate's place of residence), Tampa, Florida, placed on the City of Tampa Election Ballot as a candidate for the office of (designate office and district, if applicable) in the election to be held (date of first election)"; (2) Each card shall provide for one (1) signature, with appropriate lines, spaces, or places for the elector's signature and for the elector to print the elector's full name, the elector's residence address, the date the elector signed; and (3) Each candidate shall be issued petition forms in sufficient numbers to facilitate the gathering of the requisite number of signatures and if for any reason the candidate desires an additional number they shall be furnished by the elections officer to the candidate at actual cost. (Laws of Fla., Ch. 79-573, § 8; Laws of Fla., Ch. 86-404, § 3)

Tampa Related Laws, art. VIII, § 8.09 [Proper signatures on petitions.]

Sec. 8.09. - [Proper signatures on petitions.] No petition shall bear the name of or be for the qualification of more than one (1) candidate. No person shall place the name of another or a fictitious name upon a petition. No person other than the elector placing a signature upon a petition shall print or place the elector's name, residence, or the date of signature upon a petition. No signature shall be obtained except upon and after authenticated petition forms are furnished by the elections officer to the candidate and no signature shall be obtained thereto later than noon of the 54th day from and before the date of the first election. (Laws of Fla., Ch. 79-573, § 9)

Tampa Related Laws, art. VIII, § 8.10 [Soliciting of signatures by elections officer or in elections office prohibited.]

Sec. 8.10. - [Soliciting of signatures by elections officer or in elections office prohibited.] No signatures to a petition shall be obtained by the elections officer or any deputies or employees of the elections officer. No signatures shall be solicited in the office of the elections officer or any place where registration of electors is being conducted. (Laws of Fla., Ch. 79-573, § 10)

Tampa Related Laws, art. VIII, § 8.11 [Filing and examination of petitions.]

Sec. 8.11. - [Filing and examination of petitions.] The qualifying petition shall be filed by the candidate with the elections officer not later than noon of the 10th day preceding the first day of the qualifying period. The elections officer shall prior to the first day of qualifying determine whether the required number of signatures has been obtained for the name of the candidate to be placed on the ballot and issue a certificate stating that the elections officer has examined the petition and stating whether the required number of qualified signatures has been obtained. A name on a petition which is not in the exact form as a name on the voter registration books shall be counted as a valid signature for purposes of this section if, after comparing the signature on the petition with the signature of the alleged signer as shown on the registration certificate, the supervisor of elections determines that the person signing the petition and the person registered to vote are one and the same. If the number of such names is equal to or greater than the number of electors' signatures required to qualify the candidate, the elections officer shall certify the candidate as qualified. A candidate may file a supplemental nominating petition provided that the same is filed in the form, manner, and time prescribed for an original petition. No original qualifying petition shall be filed with or examined by the elections officer unless the petition purportedly bears the requisite number of signatures to qualify the candidate for the office sought. Petitions when filed with the elections officer shall be and constitute public records and shall be retained on file by the elections officer according to the schedule set by the Division of Archives of the Florida Department of State, and shall then be destroyed. (Laws of Fla., Ch. 79-573, § 11; Ord. No. 2002-206, § 1, 9-12-02)

Tampa Related Laws, art. VIII, § 8.12 [Prohibited conduct with respect to petitions.]

Sec. 8.12. - [Prohibited conduct with respect to petitions.] A person shall be guilty of a misdemeanor in the second degree punishable as provided by general law who: (1) Induces an elector to sign a petition, by corruptly offering or knowingly permitting another for the elector's benefit to offer, a bribe; (2) Either before or after signing a petition, as consideration therefor, accepts any bribe or any corrupt promise of gain; (3) Shall file a petition knowing that it or any part of it has been falsely made; (4) Shall knowingly cause, induce, or permit any person who is not an elector in the City of Tampa to sign a petition; (5) Shall represent to a signatory to a qualifying petition as being for the qualification of any other candidate or any other office than the candidate or office for whom or which the form of petition was issued; or (6) Shall knowingly violate any of the provisions of this Act [article]. (Laws of Fla., Ch. 79-573, § 12; Laws of Fla., Ch. 86-404, § 4)

Tampa Related Laws, art. VIII, § 8.13 [Publication of sample ballot and list of polling places.]

Sec. 8.13. - [Publication of sample ballot and list of polling places.] The elections officer shall within seven (7) days prior to any municipal election cause to be published one time in a newspaper of general circulation in the city a sample ballot and a list designating the polling places in the city. (Laws of Fla., Ch. 79-573, § 13)

Tampa Related Laws, art. VIII, § 8.14 [Printing of ballots.]

Sec. 8.14. - [Printing of ballots.] The elections officer shall cause to be printed on the ballot to be used in the first election the names of all candidates for elective offices which have been qualified by the elections officer, except that the elections officer shall not be required to place upon such ballot the name of any candidate who has no opposition in the first election. (Laws of Fla., Ch. 79-573, § 14)

Tampa Related Laws, art. VIII, § 8.15 [Questions and propositions to be submitted at first election.]

Sec. 8.15. - [Questions and propositions to be submitted at first election.] All questions and propositions shall be submitted to the voters at the first election. (Laws of Fla., Ch. 79-573, § 15)

Tampa Related Laws, art. VIII, § 8.16 [Inspectors of elections.]

Sec. 8.16. - [Inspectors of elections.] For the purpose of carrying on and conducting all municipal elections it shall be the duty of the elections officer at least 20 days prior to the holding of the election to appoint the necessary inspectors of election and one clerk of election for each election precinct of the city, who shall be qualified electors of Hillsborough County. The elections officer shall conduct training classes for inspectors, clerks and deputies prior to any first regular or first special municipal election for the purpose of instructing them in their duties and responsibilities as election officials. If any vacancies occur in such appointments, the elections officer shall immediately make new appointments filling the vacancies and no vacancy shall be filled in any other manner. The inspectors and clerks of election shall each take and subscribe to an oath or affirmation which shall be printed or written to the effect that they will perform the duties of inspector or clerk of election according to law and will endeavor to prevent all fraud, deceit and abuse in conducting the election. Such oath shall be returned with the returns of election to the elections officer. (Laws of Fla., Ch. 79-573, § 16; Laws of Fla., Ch. 86-404, § 5; Ord. No. 200-212, § 3, 8-17-00)

Tampa Related Laws, art. VIII, § 8.17 [Counting, tabulation and canvassing of vote.]

Sec. 8.17. - [Counting, tabulation and canvassing of vote.] The vote shall be counted, tabulated, and canvassed by the elections officer as provided by law. (Laws of Fla., Ch. 79-573, § 17)

Tampa Related Laws, art. VIII, § 8.18 [Certification of results.]

Sec. 8.18. - [Certification of results.] Upon the completion of the official canvass of any election, the elections officer shall immediately certify the results and issue to those candidates receiving a majority of votes cast certificates of election. The results of any questions submitted to the voters shall be filed with the city clerk, upon completion of the official canvas. (Laws of Fla., Ch. 79-573, § 18)

Tampa Related Laws, art. VIII, § 8.19 [Nonpartisan elections.]

Sec. 8.19. - [Nonpartisan elections.] City of Tampa municipal elections shall be called, held, conducted, and regulated without regard to political parties. A candidate for municipal office shall not: (1) Campaign as a member of any political party; (2) Publicly represent or advertise as a member of any political party; (3) Solicit or accept political party funds or endorsements. (Laws of Fla., Ch. 79-573, § 19)

Tampa Related Laws, art. VIII, § 8.20 [Copies of election returns and records.]

Sec. 8.20. - [Copies of election returns and records.] The elections officer shall give any person desiring a copy of election returns or any other records in the custody of said officer a certified copy thereof or such part thereof as may be desired, upon payment of the customary fee for copying and certifying papers in the office of the clerk of the circuit court, which said fees shall be paid into the general fund of the city treasury. (Laws of Fla., Ch. 79-573, § 20)

Tampa Related Laws, art. VIII, § 8.21 [Filling of vacancies.]

Sec. 8.21. - [Filling of vacancies.] If a vacancy should occur in any elective city office, the effect of which leaves more than fifteen (15) months of the term remaining, the elections officer shall issue a call for a special election to fill such vacancy within ten (10) days from the date of an actual vacancy or the acceptance of a resignation. Candidates shall have a period of at least five (5) business days in which to qualify for said special election, beginning at 9:00 A.M. on the first day and ending at 5:00 P.M. on the fifth day, but there shall be a period of at least thirty (30) days in which to allow candidates to circulate qualifying petitions. The special election shall be held on the fourth Tuesday following the date of the deadline for qualifying; however, if a regularly scheduled election is within twenty-eight (28) to ninety (90) days of the deadline for qualifying as a ballot candidate for such vacancy, the special election may be held at the same time. Should no candidate receive a majority of the votes cast, a second election shall be held on or between the 28th day and 36th day after the first election as determined by the elections officer. The ballot for the second election shall have the name of the candidate receiving the greatest number of votes cast and the candidate receiving the second greatest number of votes cast in the first election. The successful candidate shall take office immediately upon certification. All resignations of elected city officials must be made in writing to the city clerk who will forward the resignation to the elections officer. For the purpose of this section, the city clerk must accept all resignations within five (5) days of receipt thereof, and any resignation accepted by the city clerk cannot be withdrawn. All vacancies in city council that shall exist with fifteen (15) months or less of the term remaining shall be filled by majority vote of the remaining city council. Should a vacancy occur in the office of mayor, within fifteen (15) months or less of the term remaining, the chairperson of the city council shall be the mayor until the expiration of such mayor's term. The chairperson of the city council's office as a member of the city council shall be vacant upon assuming the position as mayor and shall be filled by majority vote of the remaining city council. The chairperson shall become acting mayor to fill a vacancy which occurs with longer than fifteen (15) months to run and shall serve as acting mayor until a mayor is elected at a special election. During the time the chairperson is acting mayor, the chairperson's position on the city council shall remain unoccupied, but the chairperson shall return thereto as soon as a new mayor takes office. The successful candidate of an election held to fill a vacancy shall take office when qualified, upon receiving a certificate of election and as soon as the office is vacant as determined by the elections officer. Vacancies filled by appointment must be made within thirty (30) days from the time the vacancy exists. (Laws of Fla., Ch. 79-573, § 21; Laws of Fla., Ch. 88-497, § 2)

Tampa Related Laws, art. VIII, § 8.22 [Fees and costs.]

Sec. 8.22. - [Fees and costs.] All fees hereinabove provided for shall be paid into and deposited to the credit of the general fund of the city and the necessary and proper costs of calling, holding, conducting, and regulating of such municipal elections, including the compensation of inspectors, clerks, and other employees required therefor which shall be fixed by the elections officer with the approval of the city council, shall be paid by the city out of the general fund upon vouchers therefor approved by the city comptroller. (Laws of Fla., Ch. 79-573, § 22)

Tampa Related Laws, art. VIII, § 8.23 [Application of state election code.]

Sec. 8.23. - [Application of state election code.] Absentee voting, campaign contributions and expenses, preparation, inspection, certifying, transportation, and protection of voting equipment, the integrity of the equipment and returns, protests and contests of the counting, tabulation, and canvassing of the returns and the election, and all matters relating to the calling, holding, conduct and regulation of elections not provided for in this Act [article] or by ordinance of the city council enacted hereunder shall be governed by the state election code. (Laws of Fla., Ch. 79-573, § 23)

Tampa Related Laws, art. VIII, § 8.24 [Additional rules and regulations by city council.]

Sec. 8.24. - [Additional rules and regulations by city council.] The city council shall have power and authority by ordinance to make any additional rules and regulations concerning electors and elections in the city as may be necessary for the full and complete exercise of the powers and authority herein vested in the elections officer and to impose upon and to vest in the elections officer such additional powers and duties as are necessary for the proper and orderly calling, holding, conduct, and regulation of elections in the city, which additional rules and regulations and additional powers and duties shall be as valid as if specifically provided by this Act [article], provided that such ordinances or the provisions thereof do not conflict with the provisions of law. (Laws of Fla., Ch. 79-573, § 24)

Tampa Related Laws, art. VIII, § 8.25 [Severability.]

Sec. 8.25. - [Severability.] If any section, subsection, paragraph or other provision of this Act [article], or its application to any person or circumstance shall be held invalid or unconstitutional, such holding shall not affect the validity of any other section, subsection, paragraph, or other provision, or its application to other persons or circumstances. The legislature hereby expresses the intent that it would have enacted the other provisions of this Act [article] as if the invalid or unconstitutional provision was not contained within the Act [article]. (Laws of Fla., Ch. 79-573, § 25)

Tampa Related Laws, art. VIII, § 8.26 [Repeal of former laws.]

Sec. 8.26. - [Repeal of former laws.] The former City of Tampa Election Laws as set out in Chapter 73-643, Laws of Florida, and amended by Chapter 75-511 and Chapter 77-656, Laws of Florida, are hereby repealed. (Laws of Fla., Ch. 79-573, § 26)
Source: City of Tampa, Code of Ordinances and Charter and Related Laws (Municode Library, library.municode.com)URL: https://library.municode.com/fl/tampa/codes/code_of_ordinances?nodeId=CHRELA_PTBRELA_ARTVIIIELFetched: 10/28/2026

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