Plant City voters are staring down a packed local ballot on Tuesday, April 7, 2026, as a municipal election decides two contested City Commission seats. With early voting squeezed into a short, two-day weekend window and all Election Day precincts consolidated at City Hall, a relatively small group of voters could end up picking who runs the city.
Key dates and where to vote
According to the Hillsborough County Supervisor of Elections, the registration deadline for the Plant City election is March 9, 2026. Voters who want a vote-by-mail ballot must get their request in by 5 p.m. on March 26.
Domestic vote-by-mail ballots are scheduled to begin going out on March 5, and completed ballots must arrive at the elections office by 7 p.m. on April 7 in order to count. Early voting will run from April 3 through April 4 at Plant City City Hall, 302 W. Reynolds Street, and all local precincts will be consolidated at City Hall on Election Day, per the county’s calendar.
Who’s on the ballot
Voters will see two competitive City Commission contests. Group 3 features four candidates: Gregory Boyle, Karen Kerr, Tony Smith and Alicia Kirk Toler. Group 4 lists John Haney, Camryn Henry, Randy Toler and Maurice D. Wilson Sr., as reported by the Tampa Free Press.
Vote-by-mail and drop-off rules
For those opting to vote by mail, the ground rules are strict on timing. Requests have to be made by the March 26 deadline, and completed ballots must be received, not just postmarked, by 7 p.m. on April 7. Ballots can be returned by mail, dropped off in person at any Supervisor of Elections office, or placed in secure drop boxes at designated early voting sites during their posted hours. The county’s elections calendar lays out the schedule and return options for this contest, according to the Hillsborough County Supervisor of Elections.
What to bring and eligibility
Only registered voters who live inside Plant City’s municipal boundaries can take part in these commission races, and you must be on the rolls by March 9 to cast a ballot. If you received a vote-by-mail ballot but decide to vote in person instead, you will be required to surrender that mail ballot at the polling place before you can vote in person. Local reporting with details on eligibility, deadlines and in-person procedures is available via the Tampa Free Press.
Why turnout matters
Recent history suggests that a relatively small slice of the electorate will decide who ends up on the commission. Official returns show the 2023 Plant City municipal election drew just 7.98% turnout, with 1,777 ballots cast out of 22,261 registered voters. That math means a few hundred people can swing these local races, which is why early voting and mail-ballot returns often end up determining the outcome, according to Election Night Reporting.
For more information, call the Hillsborough County Supervisor of Elections at 813-744-5900 or review the county’s election pages. Confirm your registration and plan how you’ll vote well ahead of the March 9 registration and March 26 vote-by-mail request deadlines.
