---
title: "Tallahassee Voters Decide Charter Changes and School Taxes Today"
url: https://www.heretallahassee.com/2026/11/03/leon-county-ballot-charter-amendments-school-taxes/
date: 2026-11-03T07:26:04-05:00
modified: 2026-11-03T07:26:04-05:00
author: "Clinton Shelton"
categories: ["Politics"]
site: "HERE Tallahassee"
attribution: "HERE Tallahassee"
---

# Tallahassee Voters Decide Charter Changes and School Taxes Today

> TALLAHASSEE, Fla. — Voters in Tallahassee and the rest of Leon County head to the polls Tuesday with a long local ballot that includes county commission races, five proposed changes to the county charter and two tax questions for public schools. Turnout is already strong. Early voting drew 51,958 ballots, a total that Supervisor of

*Source: [HERE Tallahassee](https://www.heretallahassee.com/2026/11/03/leon-county-ballot-charter-amendments-school-taxes/) — November 3, 2026 by Clinton Shelton*

TALLAHASSEE, Fla. — Voters in Tallahassee and the rest of Leon County head to the polls Tuesday with a long local ballot that includes county commission races, five proposed changes to the county charter and two tax questions for public schools.

Turnout is already strong. Early voting drew 51,958 ballots, a total that Supervisor of Elections Mark Earley said beats the 2022 midterms and nearly matches the record set in 2018. Mail ballots must reach the Supervisor of Elections Office by 7 p.m., and in-person voters need to go to their assigned precinct.

On the county commission, Nick Maddox is seeking another term in an at-large seat. In District 3, Commissioner Rick Minor is challenged by business owner C.B. Lorch, and in District 5, Commissioner David O’Keefe faces longtime state worker David Hawkins.

The charter questions cover a wide range. Amendment One lets county rules prevail when they clash with city rules. Amendment Two hands the county authority over naming every street, a step meant to help dispatchers and first responders. Amendment Three adds language about the dignity of all residents to the charter preamble. Under Amendment Four, the review window for any proposed charter change would grow by 60 days ahead of a vote. Amendment Five, known as the Historic Harms Amendment, would have the county track and publish reports on economic conditions in historically underserved neighborhoods, including whether past county policies played a role.

For schools, voters will decide whether to renew the half-cent sales tax that pays for buildings and whether to add a new 1-mill property tax for teacher pay, security and arts and athletics.

Inside the city, two nonpartisan Tallahassee City Commission races are on the ballot. PJ Perez and Tom Derzypolski are running for Seat 3, while Dianne Williams-Cox and Dot Inman-Johnson meet for Seat 5. Loranne Ausley and Jeremy Matlow are also on the nonpartisan ballot in a race drawing wide attention.