A special election is scheduled to find a successor for Tampa's City Council member Gwendolyn Henderson, who represented District 5.
Henderson died last week at age 60. She became part of the Tampa City Council in 2023, and the West Tampa native was known for her advocacy of education, equity and economic opportunity.
The election to fill her seat will be on Sept. 9 from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m.
ALSO READ: Tampa teacher, council member and bookstore owner Gwen Henderson dies at age 60
A candidate must receive more than 50% of the vote to win the election. If a candidate does not pass that threshold, a Special Municipal Runoff Election will be held on Oct. 28, according to a release.
District 5 includes McKay Bay and Palmetto Beach, Downtown Tampa, Ybor City and Channel District. It currently holds about 44,000 registered voters who can participate in the upcoming special election.
The voter registration deadline for this election is Aug. 11. Only registered District 5 voters can participate in the election.
Residents can vote early, in person on Election Day or by mail. However, all vote-by-mail requests have expired after the November 2024 election, so new requests must be placed by the deadline.
Early voters can visit the West Tampa Branch Library, C Blythe Andrews Library, County Center or the Elections Service Center to cast a ballot.
Election Day voters must visit the polling place assigned to their precinct.
Residents who wish to run in the election must live in the City of Tampa for at least one year and District 5 for six months before the start of the council member’s term. All candidates are required to complete and file paperwork with the elections office before campaigning.
Candidates will have more requirements during qualifying, which runs from Aug. 11-15.
Here is a summary for important dates to know for the special election:
Candidate qualifying: Aug. 11-15
Deadline to register to vote: Aug. 11
Deadline to request a mail-in ballot: Aug. 28
Ballots sent to military and overseas voters (by request): Aug. 16
Ballots sent to domestic voters (by request): Aug. 18
Early voting: Sept. 4-7, 10 a.m. to 6 p.m.
Election day: Sept. 9, 7 a.m. to 7 p.m.
Special Municipal Runoff Election (if needed): Oct. 28
For more information click here.
