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Lakeland voters will choose a new mayor and two city commissioners in six weeks, but history suggests only about 15% of registered voters will show up at the polls.
Local activists say that’s abysmally low — and they fear it underscores widespread disengagement.
“Many people do not realize how much impact local elections have on many aspects of their daily lives,” League of Women Voters member Sue Schultz said at a recent City Commission meeting.
Goal: a 2% increase
Several nonpartisan groups have set a goal to raise the voter participation rate by 2% this year, “which is not very much,” Schultz said.
Partners in the effort include the League of Women Voters of Polk County, the NAACP Lakeland Branch, the Polk County Supervisor of Elections Office and the Polk County Voters League.
Candidate forum tomorrow
The groups are hosting a forum for voters to get to know Lakeland candidates tomorrow at the Coleman-Bush Building, 1104 Martin Luther King Jr. Ave.
The four mayoral candidates will take the stage first at 6 p.m. — Kay Klymko, Kaitlin Gracie Kramer, Sara Roberts McCarley and Cedric Valrie. They will have one minute to introduce themselves, then they will field questions about:
- Affordable housing and growth management
- Infrastructure and utilities
- Economic development and downtown revitalization
- Citizen services and quality of life
At 7 p.m., voters will hear from the two contenders for the City Commission’s District C-Southwest seat — Dennis Odisho and Ashley Troutman — and the two vying for the District D-Southeast seat — incumbent Mike Musick and challenger Kim-Marie Noble.
Candidates have not been given questions in advance. Audience members will have a chance to submit questions on index cards.
“We look to candidates to help us understand their policy positions, problem-solving skills and values so that we can make better choices as informed voters,” LWV President Jo Shim said.
Get-out-the-vote efforts
For the past few months, the all-volunteer organizations have held voter registration drives, spoken at public meetings, and distributed postcards and stickers at cultural festivals and farmers’ markets, urging people to vote on Nov. 4.
“If everybody can remind one person to make sure they’re registered to vote in the local election, that would do a lot,” Shim said.
“I think grandparents have a role, to encourage their grandchildren who are old enough to get out there and vote, try to follow the candidates and find out a little bit more about what’s going on locally.”
Election details
- Register: The last day to register to vote is Oct. 6. (Not sure if you’re already registered? You can check here.)
- Vote by mail: The deadline to request a vote-by-mail ballot is Oct. 23. (Tip: You have to make a new request after every general election, so don’t assume it will come automatically.) Click here or call (863) 534-5888 and press 1.
- Early in-person voting will be available from 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. on Oct. 27 to 31 at the Polk County Government Center, 930 E. Parker St.
- Election Day is Tuesday, Nov. 4. The polls will be open from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. To find your precinct, click here.
Other upcoming forums
Political Latin Hob Nob by the Puerto Rican/Hispanic Chamber of Commerce
- When: Tuesday, September 30, 2025
- Time: 6:30 p.m. to 8:30 p.m.
- Where: Union Hall, 1023 S. Florida Ave.
Politics in the Park sponsored by Orlando Health and the Lakeland Chamber of Commerce
- When: Tuesday, Oct. 21
- Time: 5:30 p.m.
- Where: Lake Mirror Auditorium, 121 S. Lake Ave.
Kiwanis Club Commissioner Candidate Forum
- When: Friday, Oct. 31
- Time: 12:00 p.m.
- Where: First United Methodist Church of Lakeland, 729 E. Walnut St.
Get involved
- Would you like to be a poll worker? Click here for more information. (Tip: Election workers are paid for training plus a flat rate for Election Day. Total pay ranges from $175-$300.)
- Interested in joining the League of Women Voters? There will be a new member orientation on Sunday, Sept. 28, from 2 p.m. to 4 p.m. at Beacon Hill Fellowship, 220 W. Beacon Road. (Tip: Men are welcome, too.)
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