Belleair, Florida, Vote Requirements to Abolish Municipal and Police Departments Amendment (March 2022)
| Belleair Charter Amendment | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Election date March 15, 2022 | |
| Topic Local law enforcement | |
Status Approved | |
| Type Referral | Origin Lawmakers |
The Belleair, Florida, Vote Requirements to Abolish Municipal and Police Departments Amendment was on the ballot as a referral in Belleair on March 15, 2022. It was approved.
A “yes” vote supported this charter amendment to require an unanimous vote of the town commission to abolish a municipal department, along with an unanimous vote, which must be done by ordinance, to abolish the police department. |
A “no” vote opposed this charter amendment, thus continuing to require the affirmative vote of four (of five) commissioners to abolish a municipal department, including the police department, in the city's charter. |
The ballot measure required that actions to abolish the police department be passed by ordinance so that residents could have the option to file a veto referendum.[1][2]
A simple majority vote was required to approve the charter amendment.
Election results
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Belleair, Florida, Vote Requirements to Abolish Municipal and Police Departments Amendment (March 2022) |
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|---|---|---|---|---|
| Result | Votes | Percentage | ||
|
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1,257 | 80.47% | ||
| No | 305 | 19.53% | ||
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- Results are officially certified.
- Source
Text of measure
Ballot title
The ballot title for this measure was as follows:
| “ | Amending Requirements to Abolish Municipal Departments and Specifying Process to Abolish Police Department | ” |
Ballot summary
The ballot summary for this measure was:
| “ | Shall the Town amend Section 2.07 (f) of the Charter to require a unanimous vote to abolish a municipal department provided for in the charter, as otherwise required by statute, and require abolition of the police department only by the unanimous adoption of an ordinance, the passage of which would be subject to referendum per Section 8.01(b) of the Town’s Charter? | ” |
Background
In 2022, Ballotpedia covered notable local police-related ballot measures. You can view the list of local ballot measures here.
Path to the ballot
On December 7, 2021, the Belleair Town Commission voted 5-0 to refer the charter amendment to the ballot for March 15, 2022.[1]
Town Manager J.P. Murphy stated, "A few years ago, when the town was going through its strategic planning process, putting some additional protections in for the police department in terms of having the voters being able to opine on the matter should we decide to get rid of the police department was an item identified by the commission."[2]
How to cast a vote
- See also: Voting in Florida
Click "Show" to learn more about voter registration, identification requirements, and poll times in Florida.
| How to cast a vote in Florida | ||||||
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Poll timesIn Florida, all polls are open from 7:00 a.m. to 7:00 p.m. local time. Florida is divided between the Eastern and Central time zones. Anyone in line when the polls close must be allowed to vote.[3] Registration
To vote in Florida, one must be at least 18 years of age, a citizen of the United States, and a legal resident of Florida and the county in which he or she intends to vote. A person must also not be deemed mentally incapacitated with respect to voting, nor have been convicted of a felony without having their voting rights restored. Pre-registration is available beginning at 16 years of age.[4][5] Voters may retrieve registration applications at the following locations:[4][5]
A registration form is also available online. The form can be printed and submitted via mail.[5] Click here to find your county Supervisor of Elections. Automatic registration
Florida does not practice automatic voter registration.[6] Online registration
Florida has implemented an online voter registration system. Residents can register to vote by visiting this website. Voters may also apply for or modify their voter registration status while renewing their driver's license through the Florida Department of Highway Safety and Motor Vehicles’ online renewal system here. Same-day registration
Florida does not allow same-day voter registration. Residency requirementsTo register to vote in Florida, you must be a resident of the state.[5] State law does not specify a length of time for which you must have been a resident to be eligible. Verification of citizenshipStarting January 1, 2027, Florida requires officials to verify whether a prospective voter provided proof of citizenship when applying for a driver’s license or state ID card. If not, the person must provide proof of citizenship to be registered to vote. This also applies to individuals who are updating their registration with a change of name, address, or party affiliation.[7] Documents acceptable as proof of citizenship include:[7]
If a person appears to vote who did not provide proof of citizenship, they would be issued a provisional ballot. The ballot would only be counted if they provided proof of citizenship before 5 p.m. on the second day following the election.[7] An individual must also attest that they are a U.S. citizen when registering to vote. According to the state's voter registration application, "it is a 3rd degree felony under state and federal laws to falsely swear or affirm or otherwise submit false information."[9] All 49 states with voter registration systems require applicants to declare that they are U.S. citizens in order to register to vote in state and federal elections, under penalty of perjury or other punishment.[10] Eight states — Alabama, Arizona, Kansas, Louisiana, New Hampshire, South Dakota, Utah, and Wyoming — have laws requiring individuals provide proof of citizenship at the time of voter registration, whether in effect or not. Three states, Florida, Georgia and Mississippi, require a person provide proof of citizenship if their citizenship status cannot be verified by other means.[11] One state, Ohio, requires proof of citizenship only when registering to vote at a Bureau of Motor Vehicles facility. In three states — California, Maryland, and Vermont — at least one local jurisdiction allows noncitizens to vote in some local elections. Noncitizens registering to vote in those elections must complete a voter registration application provided by the local jurisdiction and are not eligible to register as state or federal voters. Verifying your registrationThe page Voter Information Lookup, run by the Florida Department of State, allows residents to check their voter registration status online. Voter ID requirementsFlorida requires voters to present photo identification with a signature while voting.[12][13] The following list of accepted ID was current as of November 2025. Click here for the Florida Secretary of State's page on accepted ID to ensure you have the most current information.
Starting on January 1, 2027, passport cards and uniformed services or Merchant Marine identification cards will be accepted as valid photo IDs for voting purposes. Debit or credit cards, student ID cards, retirement center identification, neighborhood association identification, and public assistance identification would no longer be accepted.[14] A voter who presents an ID without a signature must show a second form of identification that includes the voter’s signature.[12] | ||||||
See also
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External links
Footnotes
- ↑ 1.0 1.1 Town of Belleair, "December 7, 2022, Town Commission Meeting," accessed February 26, 2022
- ↑ 2.0 2.1 Tampa Bay Newspapers, "Proposed charter amendment would allow Belleair voters to have say in fate of police department," November 24, 2021
- ↑ Florida Division of Elections, "FAQ - Voting," accessed November 26, 2025
- ↑ 4.0 4.1 Florida Division of Elections, "National Voter Registration Act (NVRA)," accessed November 26, 2025
- ↑ 5.0 5.1 5.2 5.3 Florida Division of Elections, "Register to Vote or Update your Information," accessed November 26, 2025
- ↑ National Conference of State Legislatures, "Automatic Voter Registration," accessed November 26, 2025
- ↑ 7.0 7.1 7.2 Florida House, "HB 0991," accessed April 1, 2026
- ↑ 8.0 8.1 Note: This text is quoted verbatim from the original source. Any inconsistencies are attributable to the original source.
- ↑ Florida Department of State, "Florida Voter Registration Application Instructions and Form," accessed November 26, 2025
- ↑ Under federal law, the national mail voter registration application (a version of which is in use in all states with voter registration systems) requires applicants to indicate that they are U.S. citizens in order to complete an application to vote in state or federal elections, but does not require voters to provide documentary proof of citizenship. According to the U.S. Department of Justice, the application "may require only the minimum amount of information necessary to prevent duplicate voter registrations and permit State officials both to determine the eligibility of the applicant to vote and to administer the voting process."
- ↑ Florida's law takes effect on January 1, 2027
- ↑ 12.0 12.1 Florida Division of Elections, "Election Day Voting," accessed November 26, 2025
- ↑ Florida Division of Elections, "Florida History: Voter ID at the Polls," accessed November 26, 2025
- ↑ Florida House, "HB 0991," accessed April 2, 2026
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