Buckle up, folks: It's almost Election Day.
On Tuesday, November 5, Miamians will head to the polls to elect America's next president, as well as federal and state lawmakers, local school board members, county commissioners, and even Miami-Dade County's first sheriff in nearly 60 years. Notably, state constitutional amendments enshrining abortion access and recreational marijuana will also be on the ballot this year in Florida.
Monday, October 7, is the deadline to register to vote in Florida for the 2024 general election. If you aren't registered by then, you won't be able to vote on Election Day.
Here's a handy guide on what to know before casting your vote:
When Do I Need to Register to Vote?
To vote in this upcoming election, eligible Florida voters must register to vote with their county’s supervisor of elections by Monday, October 7.What's the Deadline to Request a Mail-In Ballot?
The deadline to request a mail-in ballot is Thursday, October 24.- To request a vote-by-mail ballot in Miami-Dade, visit the Miami-Dade County Supervisor of Elections vote-by-mail page online.
- To request a vote-by-mail ballot in Broward, visit the Broward County Supervisor of Elections vote-by-mail page online.
When Is Early Voting?
Early voting for the election will be held from October 21 through November 3. Polls will be open from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m.- Early voting information for Miami-Dade County residents
- Early voting information for Broward County residents
What Do I Need to Bring to the Polls?
If you're heading to the polls, make sure you're going to the correct voting precinct. You can find this information on Miami-Dade County's webpage dedicated to voting precincts. The only item you'll need to bring is a valid ID. Acceptable forms include a driver's license, United States passport, debit or credit card, military identification, student identification, neighborhood association identification, public assistance ID, or a gun license, among others.
What's on the Ballot on November 5, 2024?
- Miami-Dade County general election sample ballot
- Miami-Dade County municipal sample ballots
- Broward County general election and municipal sample ballots
Amendment 3: Recreational Marijuana
- Amendment 3 is a proposed constitutional amendment to legalize marijuana usage and possession for adults 21 years or older.
- A "Yes" vote is a vote to legalize recreational marijuana in the state. Florida law requires a 60 percent majority for passage.
- Amendment 4 would enshrine abortion access in Florida's state constitution. The referendum itself is short and to the point: "No law shall prohibit, penalize, delay, or restrict abortion before viability or when necessary to protect the patient’s health, as determined by the patient’s healthcare provider." Fetal viability is estimated to be around 24 weeks of pregnancy — the same standard once allowed under Roe v. Wade).
- A "Yes" vote is a vote to guarantee the right to abortion in Florida. As with the weed amendment, the 60 percent threshold applies.
- For the first time since the 1960s, Miami-Dade voters will choose a sheriff to oversee the Miami-Dade Police Department.
- Democrat James Reyes, Miami-Dade's current chief of public safety, is running against Republican Rosanna "Rosie" Cordero-Stutz, the county police department's assistant director of investigative services.
- Former congresswoman Debbie Mucarsel-Powell is running to unseat incumbent U.S. Sen. Rick Scott in November. If Mucarsel-Powell wins, the Ecuadorian born Democrat would become the first Latina from Florida to serve in the U.S. Senate.
- Maureen Saunders Scott, the estranged aunt of Florida House candidate Joe Saunders, is running against her nephew Joe and incumbent Republican state Rep. Fabián Basabe in a bizarre race that initially triggered concerns of another local "ghost candidate" scheme.
- Former school board member Martin Karp is headed to a November runoff against Joe Geller, a former state representative and mayor of North Bay Village, to replace progressive board member Luisa Baez-Geller.
- After DeSantis appointee Mary Blanco failed to secure more than 50 percent of votes to retain her District 7 seat in the August primary, she will also head to a runoff race against tech entrepreneur and teacher Max Tuchman.
- Former commissioner Michael Joseph is running against current mayor Evan S. Piper to lead the embattled city of North Miami Beach, whose former leader was removed from office in 2023 after being arrested on three felony charges for using the wrong address to vote in 2022 elections.
Important Dates
- Deadline to register to vote: Monday, October 7
- Deadline to request mail-in ballot: Thursday, October 24
- Early voting period: October 21–November 3
- Election Day: Tuesday, November 5
