In November 1999, the voters of Pinellas County adopted an amendment to the county charter that increases the number of County Commissioners and changes the way in which they are elected. The change was implemented with the November 2000 elections.

The new system requires that there will be seven Commissioners. Three live in specific residential districts but are elected countywide by all of the voters countywide. Four are elected from single-member districts with only the voters within each specific district electing the Commissioner from that district. Each voter votes for a Commissioner from their single-member district and the at-large Commissioners who are on the ballot.

Boundary lines have been drawn to establish three at-large districts and four single-member districts. Florida law requires that the Board of County Commissioners establish the new district boundaries. The districts are required to be compact and as nearly equal in population as possible. The Board has taken into consideration physical, natural, jurisdictional and voting precinct boundaries.

The Board of County Commissioners sought the assistance of the public in establishing the new district boundaries. All residents were encouraged to attend a series of public meetings and share opinions concerning the new commission district boundaries.

These districts were approved at the Board of County Commissioners meeting February 15, 2000. For more information, please call the Department of Communications at 464-4600