Those who are not yet registered on the Miami-Dade electoral roll have until Monday, October 6 to do so: that day is the deadline for registration to participate in the General Elections on Tuesday, November 3, according to the official statement from the County's Supervisor of Elections Office.
After that date, those not listed in the registry will be unable to cast their vote in elections that hold special significance for the Cuban-American community in Florida.
“Every election is an opportunity for your voice to be heard, and we want to ensure that every voter in Miami-Dade has the necessary information to participate,” stated Alina Garcia, Supervisor of Elections for Miami-Dade. “Whether you vote during Early Voting, by mail, or on Election Day, we encourage you to make your plan now and make your voice count.”
For those who prefer not to wait until Election Day, the county will open 28 early voting centers from October 19 to November 1, with hours from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. every day.
There is also the option for voting by mail, although the application must be submitted before Thursday, October 22 at 5 p.m. Ballots can be returned at the main Elections office in Doral, at the Miami center office, or at any early voting center during that period, always before 7 p.m. on November 3.
The county has 767 precincts distributed across 516 voting locations, and the ballots are available in Spanish. All information can be found at votemiamidade.gov.
These elections feature several high-stakes contests of great interest to Cuban Americans. On the ballot is the race for the governorship of Florida, where the Republican Byron Donalds —with Cuban American Bryan Ávila as the candidate for lieutenant governor— is facing off against the Democrat David Jolly.
Ávila, the son of exiled Cubans born in Hialeah, was introduced as Donalds' running mate at the Freedom Tower in Miami, a gesture filled with symbolism for the community.
Additionally, three Cuban-American congresspersons are seeking re-election: María Elvira Salazar in District 27, Carlos Giménez in District 28, and Mario Díaz-Balart in District 26.
For newly naturalized Cubans, these elections represent more than just a civic duty: it is the first time they can vote in a real democracy, in stark contrast to the absence of free elections under the Communist Party's dictatorship in Cuba.
According to data from the U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS), around 274,240 Cubans are eligible to naturalize just in Miami-Dade.
Those who became naturalized before Monday and have not yet updated their registration must do so before the deadline closes. The complete electoral calendar of Florida and details about each voting option are available on the official county website.
Related videos:
Filed under: