Tuesday is Election Day across the country and specifically in Miami-Dade County, Miami, Miami Beach, Hialeah, Homestead and Surfside voters will be making it to the polls. There’s important races up and down the ballot so it’s important to look into what they could be and how to make sure you have a say in who will be making decisions that could directly affect you.
Here’s what you need to know to perform your civic duty:
Am I eligible to vote?
To vote in the general election, you must:
- Be a U.S. citizen
- Be a Florida resident
- Be at least 18 years old (pre-registration can happen at 16 or 17, but you must be 18 to vote)
The deadline to register to vote in the election has passed. If you want to be sure you’re eligible to vote in the next election, however, you can register now by clicking here.
When can I vote?
Polling stations will be open from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. on Election Day, Nov. 7. Voters waiting in line at 7 p.m. will be allowed to cast a ballot, but if you arrive at your precinct later than 7, you will not be able to vote.
Vote-by-mail ballots must also be received by the Elections Department by 7 p.m. on Election Day.
Where do I vote?
You can find your local precinct on your voter information card or by clicking here.
What should I bring to the polling place?
A current and valid photo ID with signature, like your Florida driver’s license, a Florida ID card issued by the Department of Highway Safety and Motor Vehicles, a U.S. passport and a government-issued employee ID.
So, what’s on the ballot?
Here are the offices you will find on the ballot:
- Miami Beach Mayor
- Miami Beach Commission
- City of Miami Commission (Districts 1, 2, 4)
- City Council (Homestead, Hialeah)
In Surfside, voters will be asked several questions on their ballot, such as whether to extend term lengths for commissioners and the mayor, and that the winner of the mayor’s race receive a 50% plus 1 majority vote.
You can find a sample ballot on the Miami-Dade County Elections website here.
Now that you have a pretty good idea on what to expect, head out to the polls and make your voice heard!