FORM OF GOVERNMENT: The City of Delray Beach shall operate under the City Commission-City Manager form of government. All legislative powers of the City shall be vested in the City Commission.

The City Commission is composed of five (5) Commissioners, one of whom shall be duly elected Mayor. All of them shall be elected at large for a term of three (3) years.

The Seats up for election are Commission Member Seat #1, Commission Member Seat #3 and Mayor/Seat #5.

 CURRENT COMMISSION:

Pursuant to Section 34.16(A)(1)(a) of the Code of Ordinances for the City of Delray Beach, FL, any person seeking to qualify as a candidate for the office of Mayor or for the office of any City Commission seat must have been a resident of the City of Delray Beach, Florida, who had become an elector of the City for one year prior to the commencement of the qualification period for which the candidate is qualifying. For purposes of the March 9, 2027 election, November 2, 2026 is the deadline. 

Pursuant to Section 5.04 of the City Charter, in a nonpartisan election, a candidate for each of the seats on the ballot for the offices of Commissioners or for the office of Mayor who receives the highest number of votes, even if it is not a majority of the votes cast by all electors casting ballots for that office shall be declared to be elected; provided, however, notwithstanding the foregoing provision, should two (2) or more candidates tie for the highest number of votes from all electors casting ballots for that seat for Commissioner or for the office of Mayor, then the candidates receiving the highest number of votes shall be declared candidates for the second nonpartisan election.

WHAT IS A CANDIDATE? 

Florida defines a candidate as any person to whom any one or more of the following applies:

• Any person who seeks to qualify for nomination or election by means of the petition process.
• Any person who seeks to qualify for election as a write-in candidate.
• Any person who receives contributions or makes expenditures, or consents for any other person to receive contributions or make expenditures, with a view to bring about his or her nomination or election to, or retention in, public office.
• Any person who appoints a treasurer and designates a primary depository.
• Any person who files qualification papers and subscribes to a candidate's oath as required by law. 

WHEN MAY I ANNOUNCE MY CANDIDACY? 

You may “announce” your candidacy at any time, HOWEVER: 

Section 106.021(1), F.S. provides that BEFORE you accept contributions or make any expenditures, you must file your APPOINTMENT OF CAMPAIGN TREASURER AND DESIGNATION OF CAMPAIGN DEPOSITORY (Form DS-DE 9) with your qualifying officer (City Clerk). Each candidate must designate the office for which he or she is a candidate. This form is available from the City Clerk’s office and/or the Division of Elections’ Website: election.dos.state.fl.us 

STATEMENT OF CANDIDATE (Section 106.023, F.S.)

Each candidate must file a statement with the qualifying officer (City Clerk) within 10 days of filing Appointment of Campaign Treasurer and Designation of Campaign Depository form, stating that the candidate has received, read and understands the requirements of Chapter 106, Florida Statutes. 

LIMITATIONS ON CONTRIBUTIONS (Section 106.08(1)(a), F.S.)

No person or political committee shall make contributions to any candidate in excess of $1,000.00. (Section 106.09 F.S.)  A candidate may not accept contributions in cash or by means of a cashier’s check in excess of $50.00. 

LATE FILING OF CAMPAIGN TREASURER’S REPORTS (Section 106.07(2) & (8), F.S.)

Failure to file a report by the designated due date will result in fines. The fine shall be $50 per day for the first 3 days late and, thereafter, $500.00 per day for each late day, not to exceed 25% percent of the total receipts or expenditures whichever is greater, for the period covered by the late report. All fines must be paid from the candidate’s personal funds - not campaign funds. 

NOMINATING PETITIONS:

Pursuant to Section 34.16 of the City’s Code of Ordinances, petitions will not be distributed by the City Clerk until 8:00 a.m. on the first business day in the month of October preceding the month of qualification. One hundred copies of nominating petitions can be picked up from the Office of the City Clerk on Thursday, October 1, 2026.  

QUALIFYING PERIOD OPENS AT 12:00 NOON Monday, November 2, 2026 to 12:00 NOON Friday, November, 20, 2026.  (First 14 business days of November 2026 to include 1 extra day since City Hall will be closed on 11/11/26 for Veteran’s Day). 

QUALIFYING PAPERS TO CONSIST OF: 

1. Nominating petitions containing the signatures of 250 registered voters of the City or 100 registered voter signatures in addition to $1,000 filing fee as determined on January 1^st of the year immediately prior to the election (Section 34.16(A)(2) City Code).  Therefore, the absolute minimum number of valid signatures needed to qualify is 250 without stipulation or 100 with stipulation of $1000 filing fee. It is recommended that you obtain at least 100 additional signatures regardless of the qualifying category you choose. here
   
   

2. Statement of Financial Interests (Form 1) - Please print and provide a copy.

   This form is filed electronically through the Florida Commission on Ethics. The website is: https://disclosure.floridaethics.gov/Account/Login.  here?
   
   
3. Additional Fees:
   (A). Petition processing fee. (The candidate covers the expenses to verify each signature on the petitions (at the time of submission) using a campaign check or the petty cash from the campaign.)
   
   (B). Pursuant to F.S. Section 99.093, each person seeking to qualify for nomination or election to a municipal office shall pay, at the time of qualifying for office, an Election Assessment Fee. The election assessment fee shall be an amount equal to one percent (1%) of the annual salary of the office sought.
   
   Candidates for the office of Mayor must pay an assessment fee of $300.00 (1% of $30,000.00 annual salary); candidates for the office of a City Commission seat must pay an assessment of $240.00 (1% of the $24,000.00 annual salary).

Checks will be required as follows:

1. Filing Fee, If applicable.
2. Election Assessment Fee.

(Made payable to the City of Delray Beach, and must be drawn on the campaign account of the candidate.)

4. You will also be required to execute the “Oath of Candidate for Office” and “Candidate's Oath - City of Delray Beach" at the time you file your qualifying papers. The Oaths will be notarized by the City Clerk. 

You can access forms, handbooks, and other important information by visiting the Florida Division of Elections at http://dos.myflorida.com/elections/or the Palm Beach County Supervisor of Elections Office at https://www.votepalmbeach.gov/.

Poll Watcher Deadline:

Pursuant to F.S. 101.131, each candidate may have one poll watcher in each polling room at any one time during the election. 

• Election Day Designations due - Noon, February 23, 2027 (No later than noon of 2^nd Tuesday preceding election)

THURSDAY, MARCH 4, 2027 by Midnight:

Deadline for receiving campaign contributions. Any contribution received on the day of the election or less than 5 days prior to the day of the election must be returned to the person or entity contributing it and it may not be used or expended by or on behalf of the candidate.

TUESDAY, MARCH 9, 2027: ELECTION DAY

Polls are open from 7:00 a.m. to 7:00 p.m.

TUESDAY, MARCH 23, 2027: RUNOFF ELECTION (If necessary)

Polls are open from 7:00 a.m. to 7:00 p.m.

THURSDAY, MARCH 25, 2027: ANNUAL ORGANIZATIONAL MEETING 5:00 P.M.

Pursuant to Article III, Section 3.04 of the City’s Charter.  Oath of Office administered.

TBD - The Logic and Accuracy (L&A) Test

Please note that if you are interested in opposing or supporting a candidate via independent expenditures or by forming a political action committee, you must meet with the City Clerk to obtain the proper forms before collecting or expending any monies.

***Please be advised that Calendar dates or other pertinent information may change subject to changes from Supervisor of Elections Office, State Division of Elections or City of Delray Beach.  Accordingly, updated calendars will be located on the City’s Municipal Webpage.

Please direct all questions or concerns regarding this Municipal Election process to Alexis Givings, City Clerk at 561-243-7050 or givingsa@mydelraybeach.com.

Alexis Givings, CMC, City Clerk,

Filing Officer for Municipal Elections - City of Delray Beach

Mayor - Seat 5 (3 Year Term)

 Thomas F. Carney, Jr.

• Statement of Candidate
• Appointment of Campaign Treasurer
• Campaign Treasurer Report - Wavier Report - 01.01.2026 - 03.31.2026 (2026 Q1)
• Campaign Treasurer's Report - 10.1.2025 - 12.31.2025 (2025Q4)
• Campaign Treasure Report - Waiver of Report - 07-01-2025 - 09-30-2025 (2025 Q3)
• Campaign Treasurer's Report - Waiver of Report - 04-01-2025 - 06-30-2025 (2025 Q2)
• Campaign Treasure Report - Waiver of Report - 01-01-2025 - 03-31-2025 (2025 Q1)
• Campaign Treasure Report - Waiver of Report - 04-01-2024 - 06-30-2024 (2024 Q2)
• Campaign Treasure Report - Waiver of Report - 07-01-2024 - 09-30-2024 (2024 Q3)
• Campaign Treasure Report - Waiver of Report - 10-01-2024 - 12-31-2024 (2024 Q4)

Register to Vote

You may register to vote online or by completing a registration form and mailing it in. Forms are available at the following locations:

• Post offices
• Public libraries
• Department of Motor Vehicle offices

For more information on elections, including where and how to vote, please visit the Palm Beach County Supervisor of Elections website.

Poll Workers

If you are interested in becoming a poll worker for the next election, please contact the office of the Supervisor of Elections at (561) 656-6200.