West Palm Beach, Florida Public Records

Florida residents register to vote online through the Florida Division of Elections at https://registertovoteflorida.gov. Applications must arrive at least 29 days before an election. To register, applicants need U.S. Citizenship, Florida residency, age 18 or older (though 16- and 17-year-olds may pre-register), plus a Florida driver license number, Florida ID card number, or the last four digits of their Social Security number. The online system verifies identity through the state driver license database. Paper forms remain available at libraries, tax collector offices, and Supervisor of Elections locations. Municipal elections in the city cover the mayor and five city commissioners representing geographic districts. Operating under a commission-manager form of government, the mayor and commissioners serve staggered four-year terms. These elections typically occur in March of odd-numbered years, separate from federal and state contests. Candidate listings, local ballot measures, and election information are available through the City Clerk's office at 401 Clematis Street (phone: 561-822-1420) and at https://www.wpb.org. Qualifying periods for candidates typically run in December before the March election. Residents find their assigned polling place at https://www.pbcelections.org/Voters/Precinct-Finder by entering their address. The precinct finder displays the Election Day location, sample ballot, elected representatives, and district maps. The county offers extensive early voting at numerous sites, typically starting 10 days before Election Day through the Sunday prior, with extended hours including evenings and weekends. Early voting locations for city residents have included the Supervisor of Elections main office, the West Palm Beach Branch Library at 415 Clematis Street, and other sites announced before each election. Florida's public records law makes extensive election data available. The Supervisor of Elections provides online access to the voter registration database (with certain personal data protected under Florida Statutes 97.0585), precinct-level results dating back many years, campaign finance reports for local candidates, and candidate filing information. Statewide election data and financial disclosures are searchable through the Florida Division of Elections at https://dos.myflorida.com/elections. Voter registration lists - excluding protected information like Social Security numbers and signatures - can be purchased for political and legitimate research purposes under Florida Statute 97.0585. The county had roughly 990,000 registered voters in 2024, with the city representing a significant Democratic-leaning portion of the electorate. Florida's ballot will include Governor (Ron DeSantis term-limited, creating an open race), Florida Cabinet positions (Attorney General, Chief Financial Officer, Commissioner of Agriculture), all Florida House seats, half of the Florida Senate, and one U.S.Current federal, state, and local election schedules, ballot contests, candidate filings, and certified results for West voters are published by the Florida Division of Elections (https://dos.fl.gov/elections/). County voters will decide constitutional offices including Sheriff, Property Appraiser, Tax Collector, Supervisor of Elections, Clerk & Comptroller, and County Commission seats. State legislative races will include Florida House District 89 and District 85 covering the city, and State Senate District 29 or 30 depending on redistricting. Judicial retention elections for Circuit Court and appellate judges may also appear. Municipal races are not scheduled for 2026 but may feature special elections if vacancies occur. Florida voters request vote-by-mail ballots through the Supervisor of Elections website at https://www.pbcelections.org/Vote-By-Mail, by phone at 561-656-6200, by mail, or in person at any elections office. Requests remain valid through the end of the calendar year of the second subsequent regularly scheduled general election (approximately two cycles). Ballots mail beginning 40 days before Election Day and must return by 7:00 PM on Election Day either by mail (postmark doesn't count; must be received by deadline), at secure drop boxes located at early voting sites and the elections office, or at any polling place on Election Day. State law requires signature matching for all mail ballots, and voters track ballot status online through the Supervisor of Elections website.