Early voting for municipal elections in Fort Walton Beach, Niceville, and Laurel Hill begins today, giving residents the chance to cast their ballots ahead of the March 11 Election Day.
Voters can participate in early voting from March 3-7, with polls open from 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. each day, according to the Okaloosa County Supervisor of Elections Office.
Two locations are available for early voting:
- Shalimar Office: 1250 Eglin Pkwy, Suite 103, Shalimar
- Crestview Office: 302 N Wilson St, Suite 102, Crestview
Voters can preview their sample ballots on the Supervisor of Elections website before heading to the polls.
Fort Walton Beach
The municipal election will determine three seats on the Fort Walton Beach City Council. Seven candidates are competing for these positions:
- Brandon Bishop
- Logan Browning
- Jason Harwell
- Benjamin Merrell
- Debi “Debra” Riley
- Travis Smith (incumbent)
- Sonya Faison-Vazquez
Laurel Hill
Voters in Laurel Hill will decide between three candidates:
- Mike Blizzard
- Shawn D. Cogan
- Amanda Rosen
Niceville
Niceville voters will consider two charter referenda:
- A proposal to eliminate the city residency requirement for the City Clerk. Currently, Section 6.11 of the Niceville City Charter requires the City Clerk to reside within city limits. The amendment would remove this requirement, which is described as “financially burdensome and unnecessary for the proper function of this office.”
- A proposal to grant the Mayor authority to vote to break tie votes regarding City Council vacancies. The amendment to Section 3.07(c) would establish a process to resolve potential tie votes when filling council vacancies.
For voters unable to participate in early voting, Election Day is Tuesday, March 11, 2025.
