Three Towns Set 2026 Elections, Lack Voter Outreach Plans | The Locally Times
Public records for 2026 elections in Longwood, Lady Lake, and Oakland show no budgeted funds, staff assignments, or public education materials for voter engagement.
Official announcements from the City of Longwood, the Town of Lady Lake, and the Town of Oakland confirm that each municipality will hold an election in 2026 to fill local offices and decide on charter amendments. A review of these public records, however, shows that while the dates and purposes of the elections are set, information regarding voter education, outreach initiatives, or specific engagement strategies is absent. The election will fill City Commission seats in Districts 3 and 5. The public notice does not provide further details on candidate qualifying periods, voter registration deadlines, or polling locations. In the Town of Lady Lake, a Special Election is scheduled for March 24, 2026. A notice on the town’s website states the election is to fill the unexpired term for the Town Commission, Ward 2, a seat held by the late John Gourlie. The current announcement does not specify any public information campaigns associated with the special election. Similarly, the Town of Oakland has scheduled a General Municipal Election for March 10, 2026. ## Oakland Charter Questions Published Without Context A notice posted on the Town of Oakland’s website on November 6, 2025, states the Town Commission approved placing specific charter questions on the March 10, 2026, General Election Ballot. The announcement includes a link to a document containing the language of the proposed charter amendments. While the text of the ballot questions is available, a review of the town’s public records reveals no accompanying educational materials, official summaries, or fiscal impact statements. The records do not show any scheduled town halls, public forums, or other initiatives designed to explain the purpose or potential consequences of the charter changes to residents. The public records provide the legal text of the amendments but do not include official context to help residents inform their decisions. ## Records Search Reveals No Voter Engagement Plans Across all three municipalities, a search of public documents and official websites shows that while the logistics of setting an election date are complete, a public communication strategy is not defined in the records. The records for Longwood, Lady Lake, and Oakland contain no posted plans for voter outreach, no budget allocations for public awareness campaigns, and no staff assignments related to increasing voter turnout. Fundamental information, such as how residents can verify their registration status, request a mail-in ballot, or learn about the candidates, is not included in the primary election announcements. Publicly available documents do not detail proactive efforts by the local governments to ensure broad and informed participation.