Auburndale Canvassing Board certifies 2025 municipal election, confirms Sean Levy for Seat Three

The Auburndale Canvassing Board unanimously certified the results of the Nov. 4, 2025 municipal election during a Nov. 7 meeting at City Hall, confirming Sean Levy as the winner of Commission Seat Three, City officials said.

City Clerk Brandon Henry told the board that the City Charter (Section 10) and City Code of Ordinances (Chapter 9) designate the City Commission as the Canvassing Board and require the board to meet within three days after a municipal election to canvass returns. Henry reported the initial unofficial results from election night showed Levy with 776 votes and Maulissa Braverman with 591 votes, from a total turnout of 1,371 ballots (678 vote-by-mail, 693 in person), or 10.52% of registered city voters.

Before certification the board reviewed two provisional ballots and one vote-by-mail cure. Supervisor of Elections staff had recommended accepting the provisional ballots (each lacked valid photo identification but matched the voter signature on file) and accepting the vote-by-mail cure (the voter initially failed to sign the certificate but later provided required cure documents). With the board's permission, the seals on the challenged ballots were broken and the ballots were examined.

The board voted to accept provisional ballot Voter ID# 130194954 (motion by Commissioner Keith Cowie, seconded by Commissioner Jordan Helms), provisional ballot Voter ID# 126125123 (motion by Commissioner Helms, seconded by Vice Mayor Alex Cam), and vote-by-mail cure Voter ID# 127142751 (motion by Vice Mayor Cam, seconded by Commissioner Cowie). Each motion passed unanimously.

After the accepted ballots were opened and added to the totals, Henry reported revised totals of Maulissa Braverman 593 and Sean Levy 777. Commissioner Cowie moved and Commissioner Bill Sterling seconded a motion to approve and accept the results of the 2025 municipal election as presented; the motion carried with all ayes, formally certifying the canvass.

City Clerk Henry also said state administrative rules require designation of a precinct and race for a post-election manual audit. Because the city used a single precinct (the Auburndale Civic Center at 115 W. Park Street), staff recommended selecting Seat Three as the audited race. Vice Mayor Alex Cam moved and Commissioner Jordan Helms seconded a motion to approve Seat Three for the post-election voting system audit; the audit is scheduled for Nov. 12, 2025 at 10:00 a.m. at the Supervisor of Elections Office, 70 Florida Citrus Blvd., Winter Haven. The motion passed unanimously.

Canvassing Board Chair Mayor Dorothea Taylor Bogert closed the canvassing meeting and reconvened the City Commission meeting; the session was adjourned at 12:11 p.m.