City Elections

City elections are held on even numbered years. City Council members are the elected officials in the City of Umatilla. The City Clerk acts as the qualifying officer for municipal elections.

City of Umatilla 2026 Municipal Election Candidate Information 

There are two seats up for election in 2026

Seat four

Seat five

Qualifying period begins at noon on June 8, 2026 and ends at noon on June 12, 2026.

Election Date: November 3, 2026.

2026 Candidate Information Packets

The City of Umatilla 2026 Election Candidate Packet is available here

The following documents are included in the packet and may be filed immediately:

1. DS-DE 9 Appointment of Campaign Treasurer and Designation of Campaign Depository

Form DS-DE 9, Appointment of Campaign Treasurer and Designation of Campaign Depository (the bank will need this document to open a Campaign Account – it must be stamped/dated after acceptance by the City Clerk)

     2. DS-DE 84 Statement of Candidate

This form must be filed within 10 days of appointing a Campaign Treasurer

     3. Periodic Campaign Finance Reports (linked below) must be filed according to the Calendar of Reporting Dates (linked below) once the above two forms are filed with the Qualifying Officer (City Clerk).
Calendar of Reporting Dates
DS-DE 12 Campaign Treasurer's Report Summary
DS-DE 13 Campaign Treasurer's Report Itemized Contributions
DS-DE 14 Campaign Treasurer's Report Itemized Expenditures
DS-DE 87 Waiver of Report

During the Qualifying Period (12:00 p.m. on June 8, 2026 until 12:00 p.m. on June 12, 2026),  in addition to the documents mentioned above, the candidate must file:

1. DS-DE 302 Oath of Candidate, Non Partisan
2. Affidavit of Candidacy and Residency
3. Form 1 Statement of Financial Interests for the previous year (filed online at https://disclosure.floridaethics.gov)

• Visit the following link to login or create your account: https://disclosure.floridaethics.gov/Account/Login

• A tutorial for candidates is available at the following link: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EBw-PgnISfc

     4. The Election Assessment Fee which equals 1% of the annual salary of the position for which you are seeking candidacy, is due with a check properly completed and written from the Campaign Account. 

If a person seeking to qualify for election is unable to pay the election assessment without imposing an undue burden on his personal resources or on resources otherwise available to him shall, upon written certification of such inability given under oath to the qualifying officer, be exempt from paying the election assessment. F.S. 99.093(2). The candidate must submit an Affidavit of Undue Burden.

Important Dates

• May 2026 – Candidate Qualifying Packet Available
• Official Candidate Qualifying Period for 2026:  12:00 p.m. on June 8, 2026 through 12:00 p.m. on June 12, 2026
• Public Logic and Accuracy Test:  October 14th, 2026
• Polls Open:  November 3rd, 2026, 7am

Responsibilities of Candidates Filing Early

• File a Campaign Treasurer Appointment (DS-DE 9) before accepting contributions or making expenditures.
• Open a campaign bank account if raising or spending campaign funds.
• Submit campaign finance reports according to the reporting schedule.
• Maintain accurate financial records for all contributions and expenditures.
• Comply with political advertising disclaimer requirements.
• Complete the official qualifying process during the qualifying week (if not done so already)

Important Notice

This information is provided as a courtesy. Candidates are responsible for complying with Florida Statutes, the City Charter, and all applicable election laws.

Please note that, in the event of any conflict between the City Charter and the Code of Ordinances, the provisions of the City Charter shall control. The Charter serves as the City’s governing document and supersedes inconsistent provisions of the Code.

In order to qualify to run for elected municipal office, a prospective candidate must:

1. Be at least eighteen (18) years of age.
2. Be a resident of the City of Umatilla for at least one (1) continuous year prior to the election date.
3. Be a registered voter in the City of Umatilla.
4. Not have been convicted of a crime involving moral turpitude.

The Umatilla City Council is comprised of five city residents elected at large during municipal elections held on even numbered years. The Lake County Supervisor of Elections Office runs the city election in tandem with County, State, and Federal elections. The term of office is four (4) years.

In November 2012, the city voters approved a referendum question (Resolution 2012-15) placing term limits of twelve (12) consecutive years or three (3) terms upon the elected office of Council member.

Terms for City Council Seats are staggered.

Council Seats 1, 2, and 3 are up for election in one cycle and Council Seats 4 and 5 are up for election in the subsequent cycle.