Commission votes to place at‑large voting referendum on November ballot after public comments

The Alachua County Board of County Commissioners voted to place a charter amendment referendum on the November 2024 ballot asking whether to return to at‑large voting for all county commission seats.

A commissioner moved "to adopt adoption of the ordinance placing a referendum question on the November 2024 ballot, which would, if approved by a majority of the qualified electors of Alachua County voting in the referendum, amend the charter to return to at large voting for all County Commission members," and the motion was seconded. The commission then took public comment from several residents and community members who urged the board to send the question to voters.

Local physician Shana Rich, who said she previously had urged placing the question on the ballot, told commissioners she had seen meetings where attendees reached unanimity in favor of at‑large voting after hearing facts and data. Robert Hutchinson said district voting does not align with the county’s largely countywide services and urged a return to at‑large elections so candidates must run countywide. Other speakers, including Bobby Marmer of the Alachua County Labor Coalition and Tyler Forrest, asked the commission to give voters the opportunity for debate and choice.

After the public comment period the Chair called for a voice vote. Commissioners signified their approval by saying "aye" and the Chair declared the motion passed. The minutes reflect a voice vote; no roll call tally was read into the record.

What this does: if the ordinance is placed on the ballot by the commission and a majority of voters approve the measure in November, the county charter would be amended to return to at‑large voting for commission seats. The commission did not make changes to the charter itself today; it only approved placing the referendum question on the ballot.