Make Your Vote Count for November 3 Election

Miami-Dade voters will be indispensable players for the presidential election on November 3, which will not seem to be an ordinary day. On this day, Americans will choose their president for the next four years. Historically, presidents don’t win without the “Sunshine State,” and for both candidates, Trump and Biden, the state is up for grabs and essential to winning.

Florida has become the most important state in presidential elections. It has the most electoral votes of any battleground state and the third most among all states. Florida, however, looks to take on added importance this year.

Due to the pandemic, a record number of voters are expected to vote by mail. Christina White, Miami-Dade Supervisor of Elections, expects a record-high turnout of 80 percent. She says they are prepared to handle the volume of registered voters, including increasing by-mail voting. White has encouraged voters to consider mailing in their ballots and do so as soon as possible.

Miami-Dade voters can submit their ballots at early voting locations, at drop-off boxes and by mail. If you’re registered to vote in Miami-Dade County and want to vote by mail, you can request a ballot online or by calling the county elections department at (305) 499-8444. The deadline to request a vote-by-mail ballot is 5 p.m. on Saturday, October 24, and all completed ballots must be received by 7 p.m. on election day.

More than 2.5 million Floridians have already voted by mail, and early voting started on Monday, October 19, setting a daily record for in-person early voting with at least 350,000 people casting ballots. This two-week early-voting period ends Sunday, November 1.

But this isn’t about just the presidential elections. Miami-Dade voters will have a say in who will lead the nation and who will lead a series of federal, state, county and local positions. It is the case, for instance, of current county commissioners Daniella Levine Cava and Steve Bovo (District 8 and 13, respectively).

Levine Cava and Bovo are in the race for Miami-Dade’s mayoral candidacy. The incumbent mayor, Carlos Gimenez, runs as Republican to represent Florida’s 26th congressional district, against Democrat Debbie Mucarsel-Powell. Miami-Dade voters can also choose other candidates as representatives in congress for Districts 23, 24, and 27.

Federal races are also in play, including state senators and state representatives, as well as proposed constitutional amendments for all Florida voters:
Amendment 1: Citizenship Requirement to Vote in Florida Elections.
Amendment 2: Raising Florida’s Minimum Wage.
Amendment 3: All Voters Vote in Primary Elections for State Legislature, Governor, and Cabinet.
Amendment 4: Voter Approval of Constitutional Amendments.
Amendment 5: Limitation on Homestead Assessments.
Amendment 6: Ad Valorem Tax Discount for Spouses of Certain Deceased Veterans Who Had Permanent, Combat-Related Disabilities.
At countywide and municipal level, it is vital to elect candidates that consider the values of Hispanic working families, making sure these reflect their purposes and contribute to the community’s wellbeing.

Therefore, it is essential to ponder when choosing the candidate that benefits the Latino community in seats such as the school board members and the district commissioners. In the case of District 9, Luisa Santos and Dennis Moss are running for the School Board, and Kionne McGhee and Elvis Maldonado for county commissioner.

The Latino vote is becoming increasingly important, especially in South Florida. According to the Pew Research Center, 2.5 million Latinos, 17% of the state’s total population, are registered to vote in Florida for the 2020 presidential election. So make sure you cast your vote on November 3.

Haz clic para leer en Español: Su voto será crucial en las elecciones generales del 3 de noviembre