Election 2023: Everything you need to know to vote in Jacksonville's May general election
With the wide field for mayor narrowed to two people, Jacksonville voters have just a few weeks left to decide who will represent them for the next four years.
The primary election in March had a low turnout for both sides of the political aisle with only 25% of registered voters submitting a ballot. Still, Republicans turned out in higher numbers with over a 8,000 vote advantage.
The primary election decided a majority of City Council seats, but some pivotal positions are still left if Democrats are going to hold close to their current representation. The general election is also the first chance for a Democrat to hold the mayor’s seat in eight years.
Before heading to the polls, here’s everything you need to know about what’s on your ballot:
Ways to vote in the May 16 general election
Vote by mail: The deadline to request your vote by mail ballot is May 6. Requests can be made in person, by mail, fax, phone call to 904-255-8683 or through electronic ballot request on the elections office website.
Early voting: May 1 to May 14 from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. at any polling place. Find a list of early voting sites on the elections office website.
Vote on election day: Polls are open 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. May 16 at your specific designated polling place which you can find through the Duval County Precinct Finder tool.
Mayoral election
The wide field of seven candidates narrowed to two for the runoff election.
Current mayor Lenny Curry is ineligible to run again because of term limits. Voters will instead choose between Democrat Donna Deegan, former television news anchor, and Republican Daniel Davis, CEO of the Jax Chamber, for mayor.
Davis is the favorite of the current administration and endorsed by Curry, Sheriff T.K. Waters and Gov. Ron DeSantis.
Deegan, who would be the city's first female mayor if elected, has likewise been endorsed by a number of pastors and community leaders.
The two have had few instances to debate head-to-head, with only one scheduled televised debate ahead of the general election, but have disagreed on their approaches to crime, housing, development and social issues.
Updates on the mayor's race and where the candidates stand on voter issues:
Commentary: Nate Monroe: Daniel Davis is running to become Jacksonville's first fringe mayor
Candidates on stadium renovations: Jacksonville mayoral candidates commit to keeping Jaguars in town through stadium renovations
Dueling debates: Donna Deegan, Daniel Davis participate in separate mayoral forums ahead of general election
Commentary: Mark Woods: We don't want to compete with Nashville in this NFL game — stadium spending
Debate turned forum: JU, WJXT to host televised Jacksonville mayoral debate, only Deegan set to attend
Endorsement: Matt Carlucci endorses Donna Deegan in Jacksonville mayor's race
Commentary: Cleaning up Lenny Curry's pension mess a big lift for Jacksonville's next mayor | Nate Monroe
Candidates on Jax Journey and pensions: Three takeaways from the heated Donna Deegan-Daniel Davis Jacksonville mayoral forum
Commentary: Nate Monroe: The Jacksonville mayoral campaign is a rotten sequel
Recap of UNF debate: Davis, Deegan trade barbs over crime, JEA during televised debate | What you need to know
Housing crisis: How do Jacksonville mayoral candidates differ on addressing affordable housing crisis?
UNF poll: Deegan leads Davis by single point in Jacksonville mayor race, UNF poll finds
Candidate finances: Daniel Davis, Donna Deegan report seven-figure net worths. How'd they make their money?
City permits Donna Foundation race: Jacksonville permits Donna Foundation 5K run for Mother's Day weekend after uncertainty
City considers withholding permit: Donna Mother's Day 5K awaits permit as city administrator suggests move to after election
Endorsement: Florida Governor Ron DeSantis endorses Daniel Davis for Jacksonville mayor
Commentary: Mark Woods: Even after ugly campaign — maybe especially after it — still reason to vote
Looking toward May: Analysis: Where Donna Deegan and Daniel Davis captured votes, and what it means for runoff
How much candidates spent in primary: Bang for your buck: Jacksonville mayoral candidate campaign spent $291 for each vote she won
General election: Donna Deegan, Daniel Davis advance to Jacksonville mayoral runoff election
Confederate monuments: Mayoral candidates' views on Confederate monuments split on party lines
Business: Jacksonville mayoral candidates make pitch to business leaders. Here's what they said
Commentary on first debate: Nate Monroe: While frontrunner Daniel Davis sunk, GOP longshot Al Ferraro shined
Recap of the first televised debate: 5 takeaways from Jacksonville mayoral debate
Commentary: Nate Monroe: Next Jacksonville mayor could feel squeeze with Jags stadium, jail relocation
Growth and development: Jacksonville mayoral candidates differ on best path for city's growth and development
Davis sues local media: Mayoral ad wars head to court as Daniel Davis sues 3 TV stations over 'defamatory' attack
Endorsement: Daniel Davis pledges to expand police force as he accepts Jacksonville sheriff's endorsement
Diversity, equity and inclusion: What do Jacksonville mayoral candidates say about faith, diversity and public safety issues?
First town hall: Six takeaways from the first mayoral debate of Jacksonville 2023 election season
Commentary: Nate Monroe: In quest for mayor, challengers hope to derail coronation for establishment scion
Background: Mayor's race will have most diverse field of candidates in Jacksonville history
Constitutional Offices
Only one Constitutional Office is still in play with Democrat and current City Council member Joyce Morgan running against Republican Jason Fischer for property appraiser.
T.K. Waters won the special election for sheriff last November and retained the position by running unopposed at the time of qualifying for the 2023 race. Jim Overton also ran unopposed to become Duval County tax collector, and the current property appraiser, Jerry Holland, returned to the supervisor of elections position.
Race for Property Appraiser: Vets of Legislature, Jacksonville City Council vie to start new role as property appraiser
Jacksonville City Council
Three races were decided before voters even headed to the polls in March. District 4 council member Kevin Carrico and at-large members Nick Howland and Matt Carlucci all ran unopposed, securing their seats as incumbents in their individual races.
Voters then chose winners in nine primary races, with Republicans winning eight seats.
The remaining races for Districts 2, 7, 8, 9, 11, 14 and At-Large Group 5 are competitive races primarily between the parties.
District 2 pits two Republican candidates against each other, while District 7 pits two Democrats. The remaining races are Republican-Democrat match-ups. If each Democrat were to win, there would be seven Democrats on the 19 person council. If each Republican were to win, there would be two Democrats.
Some candidates were swapped from the races they originally ran for after a federal court changed the district map from a city-chosen option to one drawn by the civil rights groups who successfully sued the city for racially gerrymandering its March 2022 map.
Effects of redistricting: Two Jacksonville City Council races will measure Black voting power in court-ordered map
Analysis: Jacksonville City Council elections: Who won, what's undecided and what does it all mean?
District 2 candidates:
Lindsey Brock, Republican
Mike Gay, Republican
District 7 candidates:
Joseph Hogan, Republican
Jimmy Peluso, Democrat
District 8 candidates:
Reggie Gaffney, Jr., Democrat
Tameka Gaines Holly, Democrat
District 9 candidates:
Tyrona Clark-Murray, Democrat
Mike Muldoon, Republican
District 11 candidates:
Raul Arias, Republican
Ramon Day, Democrat
False endorsement: Challenging ad, Realtors say they endorse Day, not Arias, in Jacksonville City Council race
District 14 candidates:
John Draper, Republican
Rahman Johnson, Democrat
At-large Group 5 candidates:
Charles Garrison, Democrat
Chris Miller, Republican
This article originally appeared on Florida Times-Union: Jacksonville mayor election: Voter guide for May 2023 election
