CITY OF BELLEVIEW ELECTION ELECTION INFORMATION

ELECTION INFORMATION
CITY OF BELLEVIEW
ELECTION
NOVEMBER 4, 2014
WWW.BELLEVIEWFL.ORG
CITY OF BELLEVIEW
ELECTION 2014 INFORMATION
ELECTION DATE:
NOVEMBER 4, 2014
SEATS OPEN:
MAYOR: FOR A TWO YEAR TERM
MAYOR CHRISTINE DOBKOWSKI
COMMISSIONERS: FOR A FOUR-YEAR TERM
Seat 1: COMMISSIONER MICHAEL GOLDMAN
Seat 3: COMMISSIONER RONALD LIVSEY
CANDIDATE QUALIFICATIONS:
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RESIDENT OF AND HAVE LIVED IN THE
CITY OF BELLEVIEW FOR TWO (2) YEARS
IMMEDIATELY PRECEDING DATE OF
ELECTION
RESIDENT OF THE STATE OF FLORIDA AND
A CITIZEN OF THE UNITED STATES
QUALIFIED TO VOTE IN CITY, COUNTY,
AND NATIONAL ELECTIONS
18 YEARS OF AGE OR OLDER
PAID $108.00 CITY QUALIFYING FEE
PAID $36.00 STATE ELECTION ASSESSMENT
FEE WHICH IS 1% OF THE ELECTED
OFFICIALS ANNUAL SALARY
VOTER REGISTRATION FORMS ARE AVAILABLE AT BELLEVIEW CITY HALL
VOTER REGISTRATION BOOKS WILL CLOSE FOR THIS ELECTION ON
MONDAY, OCTOBER 6, 2014 AT 5:00 PM.
QUALIFICATION:
Opens at 8:00 AM on August 18, 2014
Closes at 4:00 PM on August 21, 2014
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City of Belleview
ELECTION 2014 INFORMATION
A. APPOINTING A CAMPAIGN TREASURER AND NAMING A DEPOSITOR
Submit this form to the City Clerk’s office BEFORE opening your bank account (a copy of the
executed form will be given to you to take to the bank /depository).
1. F.S. 106.021 requires you to file your Appointment of Campaign Treasurer and Designation
of Campaign Depository (Form DS-DE9) with the Belleview City Clerk’s Office BEFORE
any contributions are accepted or any expenditures are made.
a. Your campaign treasurer must be a registered voter in the State of Florida and must accept
the position in writing by signing the appointment form. Your campaign treasurer may serve
as treasurer for more than one candidate. You may serve as your own campaign treasurer.
b. Your campaign depository may be any bank, savings and loan association, or credit union
authorized to transact business in the state of Florida.
B. QUALIFYING FOR CITY OF BELLEVIEW ELECTION
A person is not a CANDIDATE until they are qualified by the City of Belleview Clerk’s
Office.
1. After you have opened your bank account come to City Hall to qualify for the elections.
The following information will need to be filed with the Clerk’s Office in order to qualify to
run for a City of Belleview Commission Seat:
*Notice of Candidacy
*Loyalty Oath
*Form 1 Financial disclosure
*Public Test of Vote Tabulating Equipment
*Statement of Candidate
(within 10 days of appointment of campaign treasurer)
*Campaign Check: (One check for TOTAL amount can be submitted)
$108.00 City of Belleview Filing Fee
$ 36.00 State Election Assessment
TOTAL = $144.00
(or Affidavit of Undue Burden for State Assessment only)
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City of Belleview
ELECTION 2014 INFORMATION
C. CAMPAIGN TREASURER DUTIES & CAMPAIGN TREASURER’S REPORTS:
1. Duties of a Campaign Treasurer (F.S. 106.05, 106.06, 106.07)
a) Deposit all contributions into the campaign account by the end of the 5th business day
after receipt (excludes Saturdays, Sundays and legal holidays.)
b) Pay all expenditures by check, drawn on the campaign account.
c) Keep detailed accounts, records, bills and receipts of all transactions; retain the
records for the term of office of position sought.
d) Prepare campaign reports that include signatures of candidate and treasurer.
e) File reports with the City of Belleview Clerk’s Office on or before the due date to
avoid a fine for late filing.
2. Campaign Reports-Filing Deadline {F.S. 106.07(2)(a)(1)}
a) Reports are to be filed NO LATER THAN 5:00 p.m. of the day designated and can be
hand delivered to the City of Belleview Clerk’s Office.
b) Reports that are mailed must be postmarked by the U.S. Postal Service no later than
midnight of the day designated to be deemed to have been filed in a timely manner. You
may not use a date from a postage meter as proof, but a receipt from a courier service is
acceptable.
c) A Certificate of Mailing dated by the U.S. Postal Service at the time of mailing, which
bears a date on or before the date on which the report is due, shall be proof of mailing in
a timely manner.
d) All reports must be the original copy and have original signatures, and should be
typed, or printed in dark ink. (Computer printout is allowed but must be same format
as forms.)
e) Any candidate who does not file a report on the designated due date shall be subject to
a fine of $50.00 per day for the first 3 days late and, thereafter $500.00 per day; not to
exceed 25% of the total receipts or expenditures, whichever is greater, for the period
covered by the late report. HOWEVER, for the reports immediately preceding each
general election, the fine shall be $500.00 per day for each late day, not to exceed
25% of the total receipts or expenditures, whichever is greater, for the period covered
by the late report. (The fine MUST be paid from the candidate’s PERSONAL
FUNDS -NOT campaign funds.) F.S. 106.07(8)(a) and (b).
f) If a report is incomplete or incorrect, the treasurer will be notified and will be given
three days to file an addendum to complete the report. Failure to file the required
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City of Belleview
ELECTION 2014 INFORMATION
information after such notice shall constitute a violation of Chapter 106 and a complaint
will be filed with the Florida Elections Commission.
Please pay special attention to the election calendar and the due dates for the campaign
treasurer’s reports. The responsibility for submitting these mandated reports rests solely
on the candidate and his or her campaign treasurer.
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City of Belleview
ELECTION 2014 INFORMATION
D. CONTRIBUTIONS:
1. A contribution is a gift, subscription, conveyance, deposit, loan, payment, or distribution of
money or anything of value, including contributions in-kind having an attributable monetary
value in any form, made for the purpose of influencing the results of an election. {F.S.
106.011(5)}
2. The payment, by any person other than a candidate, of compensation for the personal
services of another person which are rendered to a candidate or political committee without
charge.
3. Not a Contribution: Services provided without compensation by individuals volunteering
time on behalf of a candidate and editorial endorsements.
4. F.S. 106.05 requires that all contributions be deposited into the campaign account by the
treasurer prior to the end of the 5th business day following receipt; the time frame excludes
Saturdays, Sundays, and legal holidays.
5. F.S. 106.08(1)(a) states that each contributor may give your campaign no more than
$1,000.00 for each election in which you are opposed. This includes in-kind contributions and
the purchase of tickets to fundraisers. NOTE: No unemancipated child under the age of 18
may make a contribution in excess of $100.00 to any candidate.
6. F.S. 106.055 defines an in-kind contribution as something which a person has and wants to
give or lend a candidate for a campaign. The same limits as money contributions apply, and if
someone gives you money and in-kind contributions, the combined total cannot exceed the
limit. The fair market value of each in-kind contribution must be reported on the campaign
treasurer’s report. All in-kind contributions must be approved by the candidate and so stated.
7. There is no limit to the amount a candidate may contribute to their own campaign. Any
money contributed by the candidate is reported as a contribution.
8. F.S. 106.07(4)(a)(1) requires that you show the source of each contribution. In an opinion
(DE 89-02), the Division of elections recommends that the anonymous contribution be reported
on your treasurer’s report as an anonymous contribution, and that you attach a letter explaining
that the contribution is anonymous and impossible to return. A copy of this letter will be sent to
the Division of Elections for the Florida Elections Commission file. The Division of Elections
further recommends that candidates not spend the contribution, and at the end of the
campaign donate the amount to an appropriate entity under F.S. 106.141.
9. F.S. 106.09 allows cash contributions and contributions made by cash or by cashier’s check,
provided each contribution does not exceed $50.00. (Candidates follow this same rule for
making CASH contributions to themselves.)
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City of Belleview
ELECTION 2014 INFORMATION
10. F.S. 106.08(3)(a) and a recent DOE opinion establishes that midnight of the Wednesday
preceding each election as the deadline for receiving contributions. It is important that you
have a sufficient amount of funds deposited by deadlines as it is illegal to add any money
after a deadline. Any contribution received after that date and time may not be deposited and
must be returned to the donor by your campaign treasurer. These contributions are reported on
Form DS-DE 2. Any contributions received after you are elected, defeated, become unopposed,
or withdraw your candidacy may not be deposited and must be returned. These contributions
may be reported on Form DS-DE2.
11. FUNDRAISERS: F.S. 106.011(1) defines a fundraiser as any affair held to raise funds for
the furtherance of a campaign for public office. This includes any gathering if the purpose is to
collect campaign funds for the candidate. Please see F.S. 106.025 for fundraiser information.
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City of Belleview
ELECTION 2014 INFORMATION
E. EXPENDITURES:
1. A Candidate MUST PAY ALL CAMPAIGN EXPENDITURES BY A CHECK DRAWN
ON THEIR CAMPAIGN ACCOUNT.
2. F.S. 106.011(10)(a) defines an expenditure as a purchase, payment, distribution, loan,
advance, transfer of funds between campaign depositories or certificates of deposit, or a gift of
money or anything of value made for the purpose of influencing the results of an election.
3. As soon as the Appointment of Campaign Treasurer and Designation of Campaign
Depository is filed with the City of Belleview Clerk’s Office, a candidate may make
expenditures.
4. The only limit on the total amount a candidate may spend on their campaign is the amount of
funds received.
5. F.S. 106.12 provides for petty cash. A record of expenditures is kept, and although a
candidate is not required to report each individual petty cash expenditure, complete petty cash
expenditures must be kept. The petty cash fund so provided shall be spent only for office
supplies, transportation expenses, and other necessities. F.S. 106.012(3) states that Petty Cash
shall not be used for the purchase of time, space, or services from communications media as
defined in s. 106.011. Please read all sections of the Florida Statutes regarding PETTY CASH
to insure that you are spending petty cash correctly.
6. A Candidate may not make unlimited personal expenditures and report them as
reimbursements. Likewise, a candidate may not make unlimited personal expenditures, donate
purchased items to their campaign and then report them as in-kind contributions. To do so,
frustrates the purpose of the campaign finance law, which is the full disclosure of campaign
expenditures.
7. F.S. 106.071 states expenditure made to support or defeat a candidate’s election is an
independent expenditure only if the candidate does not control, coordinate or consult with the
person or organization making the expenditure. If the aggregate amount of the independent
expenditure is $5,000.00 or more, the person or group making the expenditure shall file reports
with the same officer as a political committee supporting or opposing such candidate.
8. Political advertisements must prominently state, who is paying them. Please review the
Candidate Handbook on Campaign Financing for the correct disclaimers on Political
Advertisement.
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City of Belleview
ELECTION 2014 INFORMATION
F. LEFT OVER CAMPAIGN FUNDS:
1. A Candidate has 90 days to dispose of the funds in his/her campaign account and file a final
report showing what was done with the remaining funds. During this time, no contributions
may be accepted.
2. If a Candidate filed an oath stating he/she was unable to pay the qualification and/or election
assessment fees, he/she was required to reimburse those fees to the City of Belleview Clerk’s
office, who will forward the Election Assessment Fees to the Department of State.
3. A Candidate may be reimbursed by his/her campaign account, in full or in part, during this
90 day period for any contributions he/she made to the campaign.
4. F.S. 106.11(5) allows a Candidate, after elected, defeated, withdrawn, or becoming
unopposed to:
a) Purchase “thank you” advertising in the communications media for up to 75 days.
b) Pay for items which were obligated, to including loans.
c) Pay for expenditures necessary to close his/her campaign office and prepare final
campaign reports.
5. F.S. 106.141(4)(a) states that any funds not spent or obligated may be:
a) Returned pro rata to each contributor.
b) Donated to a charity organization meeting the qualifications of Section 501(c)(3) of
the Internal Revenue Code.
c) Given to a political party any amount under $10,000.
d) Given to the General Revenue Fund of the county.
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City of Belleview
ELECTION 2014 INFORMATION
G. ABSENTEE BALLOTS:
A mail ballot may be requested online, in person, by telephone, by facsimile and by email.
Requests are restricted to the Voter, his/her Immediate Family or Legal Guardian.
1. Absentee Ballot requests can be made to the Supervisor of Elections Office with the
following information (form in packet):
a) Name of voter for whom the ballot is requested
b) Voter’s address
c) Voter’s date of birth
d) Requester’s name, if not voter
e) Requester’s address, if not voter
f) Requester’s driver’s license number (if available)
g) Requester’s relationship to voter
h) Requester’s signature (written requests only)
2. CONVENIENCE VOTING
PICK UP:
For Yourself:
a) FL driver’s license or other Photo I.D.
b) Voter’s date of birth
c) Voter’s address
For Other Than Self:
a) Voter’s name & address
b) Voter’s date of birth
c) Written/signed authorization from voter specifying person picking up ballot
d) Plus YOUR name, address, relationship to voter, and complete an in-office
affidavit
e) Photo I.D.
For the five (5) day period prior to Election Day, a designee may only pick up two (2)
ballots per election other than his/her own or for members of their immediate family.
Requests must be received no later than 5:00 pm on the 6th day before the election.
A voted absentee ballot will not be accepted at a polling location.
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City of Belleview
ELECTION 2014 INFORMATION
3. Absentee Ballot voting by mail must be in the certificate envelope completed with the
following:
a) Voter Signature
b) Witness Signature
c) Witness Full Address (House & Street)
d) City and State
e) Overseas voter must include date signed
4. Absentee Ballots voted in-person must have the following:
a) FL driver’s license or other Photo I.D.
5. Absentee Ballots must be returned no later than 6:00 P.M.
a) By US Mail or courier service
b) In person (Photo I.D. required)
c) Returned by someone other than voter (Photo I.D. and Written/signed authorization
from voter specifying person returning ballot required)
d) Absentee Ballots cannot be counted if not completed and properly witnessed.
e) POWER OF ATTORNEY CANNOT SIGN FOR VOTER
6. The law now requires the elector to personally vote the ballot, exclusive of electors who
require assistance due to blindness, disability, or inability to read or write.
7. A ballot must be witnessed by anyone 18 years of age or older. Witness must provide
signature and full address.
8. A ballot can be returned either in person or by mail. Or, a voter can designate someone in
writing to return the ballot. No one can return more than two (2) ballots, other than for
themselves or immediate family members. Any person who returns more than two (2)
absentee ballots is guilty of a misdemeanor of the first degree.
9. If returning a ballot by mail be sure to put a first class postage stamp on your return.
10. Absentee Ballot request forms are available from the City of Belleview Clerk’s Office.
IMMEDIATE FAMILY INCLUDES: SPOUSE, PARENT, CHILD, GRANDPARENT,
SIBLING OF THE VOTER OR OF THE VOTER’S SPOUSE
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City of Belleview
ELECTION 2014 INFORMATION
H. SIGNS:
1. Political Election Signs. Signs posted to promote a candidate for election during a time
period beginning the opening of the election qualifying period and continuing until ten days
after the election (COB Ordinance 99-05).
2. Political Election Signs posted from the opening of election qualifying period and until ten
days after the election shall be exempt from the permit, area, and location requirements of the
Code, but shall not be placed upon City property, including, but not limited to, City rights-ofway for streets, roads, thoroughfares and easements. Further, such signs shall not be placed on
any utility pole or tree. Any sign placed in such prohibited areas shall be immediately
removed, without notice, by the City and will be held until after the election is complete.
(COB Ordinance 99-05).
3. Pursuant to F.S. 102.031(4)(a), “… Solicitation of voters is prohibited inside the polling
place or within 100 feet of the entrance of the polling place and Early voting sites. There are
NO EXEMPTIONS to this. Only voters, those assisting voters, the election board,
emergency and law enforcement personnel and those certified by the Supervisor of
Elections are allowed in the polling place. NO PHOTOGRAPHY is allowed in the polling
place.”
Review FL Statute 106.143 for Political Advertisements: Requirements
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City of Belleview
ELECTION 2014 INFORMATION
I. ELECTION DAY:
1. The Secretary of State governs all elections in the State of Florida. The Marion County
Supervisor of Elections is Wesley Wilcox. Belleview City Clerk/Administrator Sandi
McKamey oversees the City of Belleview elections. Deputy City Clerk Peggy DeGennaro
coordinates the City of Belleview elections.
2. The City of Belleview has one precinct and that is at THE AMERICAN LEGION-POST
284; 5515 SE 109th Street, Belleview, FL 34420. On Election Day - polls open at 7:00 AM and
close at 7:00 PM.
3. F.S. 102.031(4)(a) insures that voters are not prohibited from voting. Solicitation is
prohibited within 100 feet of the polling place/room entrance. While solicitation will not be
restricted, the voter must clearly be able to voluntary participate and solicitation must not
be disruptive to those entering the polling place. (Solicitation shall include, but not be
limited to, seeking or attempting to seek any vote, fact, opinion, or contribution; distributing or
attempting to distribute any political or campaign material, leaflet, or handout.) Any person(s)
disrupting the voting process will be removed from the American Legion grounds.
4. Photo and Signature I.D.’s are now required at the polls on Election Day. (Photo I.D; Florida
Drivers License; Passports; Florida I.D. Card, Employee Badges; Military I.D.)
5. The Election Board consists of the Election Clerk who is in charge of the precinct. Also
serving on the Election Board are three additional clerks and a deputy. The Election Board
executes the election, counts the ballots, and prepares and seals the ballots for transportation to
the County Supervisor of Elections.
6. The Election Board counts the ballots in their automated ballot counter and verifies the
election results. Those election results are then announced after the COB Regular Commission
meeting.
7. The official Swearing in Ceremony and open house will be held before the second meeting
in November.
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City of Belleview
ELECTION 2014 INFORMATION
ABOUT THIS HANDBOOK
In order to aid the Candidate, the City of Belleview Clerk’s Office has provided the information
in this handbook as a synopsis of Election Laws and Mandates. The information often refers to
the Florida State Statute where more detailed information can be obtained. The Candidate is
provided access to Chapter 106 of the Florida Statutes.
**A FILING OFFICER PERFORMS MERELY A MINISTERIAL FUNCTION AND IT IS THE
CANDIDATE’S RESPONSIBILITY TO KNOW AND ADHERE TO ALL THE ELECTION LAWS!
All requirements prescribed by statute and included in this material are subject to change by the
Florida Legislature. If changes do occur, the Candidate will be notified.
Any claims of election violations would be filed with the Florida Elections Commission. This
form can be obtained from the City of Belleview Clerk’s Office.
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City of Belleview
ELECTION 2014 INFORMATION
2014 ELECTION CALENDAR
AUGUST:
05
18
19
21
COMMISSION MEETING: 6:00 PM
*ELECTION PROCLAMATION
FIRST DAY TO QUALIFY AT 8:00 AM
*CAMPAIGN SIGNS CAN BE ERECTED AFTER QUALIFICATION
COMMISSION MEETING: 6:00 PM
LAST DAY TO QUALIFY AT 4:00 PM
UNOPPOSED CANDIDATES:
*LAST DAY TO RECEIVE CAMPAIGN CONTRIBUTIONS (4:00 PM)
SEPTEMBER:
02
COMMISSION MEETING 6:00 PM
16
COMMISSION MEETING 6:00 PM
OCTOBER:
06
ELECTION BOOKS CLOSE AT 5:00 PM
07
COMMISSION MEETING 6:00 PM
16
PUBLIC TEST OF VOTING EQUIPMENT: WESLEY WILCOX’S OFFICE
3:00 PM
16
OPPOSED CANDIDATES: CAMPAIGN TREASURER’S REPORT DUE
NOTICE OF ELECTION POSTED: BELLEVIEW CITY HALL
21
COMMISSION MEETING 6:00 PM
23
EARLY VOTING STARTS AT 9:00 AM
29
OPPOSED CANDIDTES:
*LAST DAY TO RECEIVE CAMPAIGN CONTRIBUTIONS (MIDNIGHT)
30
PROCLAMATION/BALLOT IN VOICE OF SOUTH MARION
OPPOSED CANDIDATES: CAMPAIGN TREASURER’S REPORT DUE
NOVEMBER:
01
EARLY VOTING ENDS AT 7 PM
04
ELECTION DAY COMMISSION MEETING 6:00 PM
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OPPOSED CANDIDATES:
*LAST DAY TO REMOVE CAMPAIGN SIGNS
18
OATH OF OFFICE ADMINISTERED TO ELECTED OFFICIALS
BEFORE THE COMMISSION MEETING 6:00 PM
19
UNOPPOSED CANDIDATES:
*DISPOSITION OF CAMPAIGN FUNDS/FINAL CAMPAIGN
TREASURER’S REPORT DUE OR WHEN UNOPPOSED
FEBRUARY:
2
OPPOSED CANDIDATES:
*DISPOSITION OF CAMPAIGN FUNDS/ FINAL CAMPAIGN
TREASURER’S REPORT DUE
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