Registered voters in Miami-Dade have until Thursday, October 22, 2026, at 5:00 p.m. (Miami time), to request a mail-in ballot for the general elections on November 3 in the United States.
The deadline was confirmed by the County Supervisor of Elections Office, which advises voters not to wait until the last minute to complete the process and return their ballots.
For the large Cuban-American community in South Florida, the procedure allows participation in elections that will decide important federal and state positions without the need to physically visit a polling place.
However, requesting the ballot on time does not guarantee that the vote will be counted. It is also necessary to return it within the established timeframe, correctly sign the envelope, and verify that the election office has received it.
How to request a mail-in ballot in Miami-Dade
U.S. citizens registered as voters in Miami-Dade can request their ballot online, by phone, email, fax, postal mail, or in person.
The easiest way is to visit the official Miami-Dade vote-by-mail page and select the option to request a ballot (Request a Vote-by-Mail Ballot).
They can also carry out the procedure using the following official channels:
Phone: 305-499-8444.
Email: votebymail@votemiamidade.gov.
Fax: 305-499-8401.
In person: at the Office of the Elections Supervisor, located at 2700 NW 87th Avenue, Miami, FL 33172.
Requests must be received by the election office before 5:00 p.m. on October 22. In the case of requests sent by postal mail, it is not sufficient for them to have a postmark dated that day.
The office also warns that mail-in ballot requests do not remain active indefinitely. Those who have used this system in previous elections should verify that they have a valid request for November 2026.
If the voter wishes to receive the ballot at a different address than the one listed in their registration, they must submit a written and signed request using the official form, unless exceptions apply for certain categories of voters.
The United States Postal Service (USPS) does not automatically forward ballots to a new address.
How to know if your ballot has been sent, received, and counted
Miami-Dade has a free tool that allows you to check the status of your application and track the progress of your ballot.
To use it, the voter must enter the voter information portal and access the option to check their electoral information.
The system allows for verification:
If there is a registered mail-in voting request.
The date on which the electoral office sent the ballot.
The date it was received after its return.
If the ballot has been counted or there is a problem with the signature.
This verification is especially important for those who send their vote by postal mail, as it allows for the detection of potential issues before the deadline for resolving them.
Until when can you return the ballot?
The deadline to return the mail-in ballot is Tuesday, November 3, 2026, at 7:00 p.m., coinciding with the closing of the polls.
The Elections Office explains in its official statement in Spanish that the ballot must have arrived at their facilities before that time. It is not enough to drop it in a USPS mailbox on the day of the elections.
Voters have three main options to return it:
By postal mail: sending it with enough advance notice to ensure its receipt before the deadline. The return envelope for these general elections includes prepaid postage, so no additional stamp is required.
At an early voting center: between October 19 and November 1, using the secure ballot drop-off stations available during operating hours.
At the election offices: through in-person delivery at the authorized county facilities.
The two offices designated to receive ballots on election day are:
Main Elections Office: 2700 NW 87th Avenue, Miami, FL 33172, in Doral.
Stephen P. Clark Center: 111 NW 1st Street, Miami, FL 33128.
Important: Florida does not allow you to submit a mail-in ballot at any polling place on Election Day itself. Those who choose to return it on November 3 must do so at one of the authorized offices before 7:00 p.m.
An error with the signature can result in your vote not being counted
One of the problems that voters must avoid is forgetting to sign the return envelope or using a signature that does not match the one registered at the election office.
Miami-Dade reminds voters that they must sign the certificate located on the outside of the envelope, in the space designated for that purpose.
If the signature is missing or there are discrepancies, there is a procedure to correct the issue through a sworn statement known as Signature Cure Affidavit.
For this election, the deadline to submit that declaration and a copy of the required identification is Thursday, November 5th at 5:00 p.m., two days after the voting.
The official county site provides the necessary form and instructions for making the correction.
Authorities recommend returning ballots in advance to allow ample time in case any issues are detected.
Early voting: 28 centers open from October 19
Voters who prefer to vote in person before November 3 will also have that option.
Miami-Dade will enable 28 early voting centers from Monday, October 19, to Sunday, November 1.
All will operate daily from 7:00 a.m. to 7:00 p.m., according to the schedule published by the Office of Elections.
In this mode, registered voters can go to any of the designated early voting centers in the county.
On the other hand, those who wait until Tuesday, November 3, will need to vote at the polling place assigned to their residence, which they can confirm in advance on the official website.
Decisive elections for Florida and the Cuban-American community
The voting on November 3 includes important political contests, among them the governorship of Florida, legislative positions, and proposals for constitutional reforms that will directly affect the state's residents.
One of the most closely watched contests is between Republican Byron Donalds and Democrat David Jolly for the governorship, a race in which a recent poll released by CiberCuba placed Donalds seven points ahead.
Voters will also need to weigh in on Amendment 3, which proposes to expand property tax exemptions for primary residences. According to a survey published by CiberCuba, the measure has 55% support, but it requires at least 60% of the votes to be incorporated into the state constitution.
To participate in these elections, it is necessary to be a U.S. citizen and to be properly registered as a voter. The regular registration period in Miami-Dade ended on Monday, October 5, but already registered voters can still request a mail-in ballot until the 22nd.
The main recommendation from the authorities is simple: check that the application is active, return the ticket as soon as possible, and verify in the official system that it has been received correctly.
Residents who need additional assistance can call 305-499-8444 or visit the portal VoteMiamiDade.gov.
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