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VOTE411 Voter Guide

2025 GRU Referendum

What’s on the Ballot?Once again, Gainesville voters may choose to have GRU controlled by state appointees or by local elected officials.Here’s the Ballot Text:SHALL THE CITY OF GAINESVILLE CHARTER BE AMENDED TO DELETE ARTICLE VII, ELIMINATING THE GOVERNOR APPOINTED GAINESVILLE REGIONAL UTILITIES AUTHORITY AND ITS AUTHORITY-APPOINTED CHIEF EXECUTIVE OFFICER/GENERAL MANAGER THAT MANAGE, OPERATE, AND CONTROL THE CITY OF GAINESVILLE’S LOCAL PUBLIC UTILITIES, SO THAT THE ELECTED CITY COMMISSION AND ITS CITY COMMISSION APPOINTED CHARTER OFFICER HAVE THAT RESPONSIBILITY; AND ELIMINATING LIMITATIONS ON THE GOVERNMENT SERVICES CONTRIBUTION AND UTILITY DIRECTIVES, AS PROPOSED BY ORDINANCE NO. 2025-416Who Can Vote?This is a Gainesville city election. Therefore, only voters with legal residence addresses that are within the City of Gainesville city limits can vote in this election. If a voter pays for GRU but lives outside of the city limits, they are not eligible to vote in this election.How Do I Vote?Voter Registration Deadline for the GRU Election: Monday, October 6.Voters can register to vote up to the Monday, October 6 deadline.Voters can also update their voter registration to an eligible City of Gainesville residence address all the way until Election Day (if already registered to vote in the State of Florida).Important dates:Election Day: Tuesday, November 4. Polls are open 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. If a voter is in line by 7 p.m., they will get to vote.All voters whose polling place has changed will receive a new voter information card in the mail with their Election Day polling place prior to Election Day.Vote By Mail Deadline: Thursday, October 23, 5 p.m. Requests must be made through the Supervisor of Elections Office, not at Gainesville City Hall.Early Voting: Early Voting is on Friday, October 31, Saturday, November 1, and Sunday, November 2 from 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. each day at the Supervisor of Elections Office and at the Millhopper Branch Library.There will be a Secure Ballot Intake Station (SBIS) available at each location during those hours.In addition, the SBIS will also be available on Monday, November 3, from 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. and on Tuesday, November 4, Election Day, from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. at the Supervisor of Elections Office only.The League of Women Voters of Alachua County supports a YES vote.Click the View Answers boxes below to read what yes and no votes mean.

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    Yes - For the Measure
    (NP)

  • Candidate picture

    No - Against the Measure
    (NP)

A Yes Vote Would... *A YES vote returns our local utility, GRU, to local control by eliminating the Governor appointed Gainesville Regional Utilities Authority board. *A YES vote returns the power of selecting a GRU executive officer/general manager to the City Commission to replace the present Authority appointed executive officer/general manager. *A YES vote is a vote for home rule. *A YES vote reaffirms Gainesville voters’ values by allowing the City Commission to reverse actions by the Authority which included: the Authority’s cancellation of the Origis contract for 75mw of solar energy, the Authority’s cancellation of net metering for residential solar, their dismissal of a plan to transition to sustainable energy. *A YES vote confirms Gainesville’s citizens commitment to Democratic processes, because voters have twice before voted in favor of local control of their utility only to have their will ignored by the Florida Legislature or challenged by the Governor-appointed Authority.
A No Vote Would... * A NO vote retains the GRU Authority, appointed by the governor, in control of Gainesville Regional Utility. * A NO vote keeps the responsibility of selecting a GRU executive/general manager with the GRU Authority. * A NO vote is a vote for the local utility to be controlled by a governor appointed Board. * A NO vote confirms support of the GRU Authority’s actions and priorities. * A NO vote supports the idea that all GRU customers are better served by a state appointed Board rather than they are by the elected City Commission.
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