Residents of an area in east Gainesville have been living outside the city limits for years. That may change, however, depending on how citizens vote on an annexation referendum.
Ballots for the referendum must be turned in at the Alachua County Supervisor of Elections by 7 tonight.
The referendum proposes annexing about 1,200 acres of unincorporated Alachua County into the city of Gainesville. It would also add about 3,000 additional residents to the city.
Ballots were mailed out on Oct. 21 to the residents of the proposed annexation area, which lies just to the east of Southeast 27th Street and south of East University Avenue, except a small section that extends into northeast Gainesville.
The residents of the unincorporated area currently receive some city services like Regional Transit System buses but do not have a voice in city elections, said Gainesville spokesman Bob Woods.
"Right now, those decisions are being made without the input of citizens of that area because they simply do not have legal standing to vote for city elected officials," Woods said.
If the annexation passes, City Commissioner Scherwin Henry of 1st District would represent the area, Woods said.
As of Monday night, 663 ballots have been received of the 2,069 mailed out, said Pam Carpenter, supervisor of elections for Alachua County.
Although it was estimated to cost roughly the same price as a traditional one-day election, the Supervisor of Elections decided to have residents vote via mail-in ballots.
"Historically when we've run mail ballot elections in the past, we've seen an increase in voter turnout compared to the turnouts we see when we open a polling place," Carpenter said. "When you send the ballot directly to their home, it's right there in front of them and gives them the opportunity to think about it and more of an opportunity to vote."
Carpenter said that the results of the election will be announced by about 7:30 or 8 tonight.
