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Although it is not a presidential or midterm election, several counties and cities in Florida will hold local elections this Tuesday, November 4, to choose mayors, council members, and other municipal representatives.
According to reports from and WESH, polling places in Florida will be open from 7:00 a.m. to 7:00 p.m. All voters who are in line at closing time will be able to exercise their right to vote.
Cities and counties with elections
Among the places where elections will be held are:
- Miami-Dade County: representatives will be elected for the Miami Commission Board (districts 3 and 5), as well as the mayor of Miami and members of the Homestead Council (positions 1 and 5).
- Orange County: voting for the Orlando City Council, in districts 1, 3, and 5.
- Polk County: elections in Auburndale, Fort Meade, Lakeland (where a mayor is also elected) and Winter Haven, with several council seats up for grabs.
- Brevard County: positions on the Indialantic Council and the Melbourne Beach Commission, in addition to a referendum on the construction of new pickleball courts.
- Lake County: elections in Clermont, Groveland, Mascotte, Montverde, and Tavares.
- Volusia County: the mayor of Lake Helen and a commissioner for district 3 will be elected.
- Elections will also be held in Manatee, Martin, Lee, Charlotte, Madison, Monroe, and St. Lucie, among others.
The first phase of local elections in South Florida has concluded
According to data cited by Telemundo 51, around 40,000 people cast their votes early in Miami, Miami Beach, Hialeah, and Homestead, in Miami-Dade County, which accounts for just 11.8% of the total 337,000 registered voters.
- Miami: Out of 174,462 voters, 20,132 votes were counted, of which 12,005 were by mail and 8,127 in person.
- Hialeah: out of 90,167 registered voters, 9,044 participated, with 5,082 voting by mail and 3,962 in person.
- Miami Beach: recorded 9,302 votes out of a total of 42,114 eligible voters (4,383 by mail and 4,929 early).
- Homestead: showed the lowest participation, with 1,407 votes cast out of 30,254 possible (1,018 by mail and 389 early).
Local authorities are hopeful that voter turnout will increase on election day. The elections this Tuesday will be crucial in determining the mayors and councilors who will shape local policies on issues such as housing, security, transportation, and public services.
What voters should bring
Authorities reminded that to vote, it is necessary to present a photo ID with a signature. Acceptable forms of identification include driver's licenses, U.S. passports, student IDs, veteran IDs, or government employee IDs, among others.
It is not mandatory to carry the voter registration card if the voter is registered and can show valid identification.
Those who cannot present identification may cast a provisional ballot, which will be counted if the signature matches the one officially on record.
Although national attention typically focuses on presidential elections, these local elections will determine leaders who directly impact daily life, ranging from the management of municipal budgets to issues such as security, transportation, and public spaces.
The elections on November 4th are, therefore, an opportunity for residents, including thousands of naturalized or resident Cubans in Florida, to actively participate in the direction of their communities.
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