Special Elections Could Be Held For Florida Congressional Districts

Florida’s August primary and November general elections could be postponed for parts of central and northern Florida and held as special elections, according to a published report.

State legislators return to Tallahassee on Thursday for a special session to redraw congressional districts that were previously ruled unconstitutional. As this happens, elections supervisors in the counties affected by July’s gerrymandering ruling say special elections may be necessary for the statewide primary and general elections.

A judgment by Tallahassee Circuit Court Judge Terry Lewis invalidated Florida’s 2012 congressional map, ruling that the drawing of the districts served by longtime Jacksonville congresswoman Rep. Corrine Brown (D-5) and Greater Orlando’s Rep. Daniel Webster (D-10) amounted to violations of Florida’s Fair Districts Amendment.

Redrawing the districts of Brown and Webster will alter the current congressional boundaries of the eight adjoining districts, including that of ranking House committee chair John Mica (R-7) of Winter Park.

State officials say special elections in the 10 districts spanning from Orlando to Jacksonville could be inevitable.

“We decided we can do a special primary — there is a window of opportunity — but we need to decide what are those dates,” Jacksonville elections supervisor Jerry Holland said to The Tampa Bay Times.

The Times reports elections for the remainder of the state will likely continue as scheduled.

The statewide primary is scheduled for Aug. 26 and general election Nov. 4.

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