Miami’s local politics recently made big waves after Police Chief Art Acevedo wrote an 8-page memo condemning the actions of some of the city’s commissioners, comparing them to Cuba’s Communist regime.
What followed was a bizarre but possibly right on cue for Miami, emergency commission meeting that amongst an airing of potential wrongdoings also included a crotch shot of Acevedo in tight white pants impersonating Elvis Presley.
Ultimately, Chief Acevedo’s unveiling of what he considered corruption within the city’s local politics led to him getting fired. Whether you agree with his removal or view it as more proof of the city’s wrongdoings, there is one fact that cannot be debated: Miami’s General Municipal Election is taking place on November 2nd, 2021.
Below is everything you need to know about the upcoming elections.
First thing’s first: Are you eligible to vote?
The deadline to register to vote was on October 4th, 2021. If you registered before then, you’re eligible to vote.
To vote for mayor, you must live within the city limits. The same goes for voting for City Commission for Districts 3 and 5: you must live within the district’s limits to vote for its commissioner.
If you aren’t sure which commission district you live in, you can search for your address here and follow these steps:
- Click on ‘Search’ on the top-right hand corner and type in your address (type slowly, as your address will auto-populate).
- Once you find your address, select the “i” button for more information.
- Click on the “Districts” tab, and you’ll be able to see which district you live in and who your current commissioner is.
Where and How to Vote
There are several ways to vote in this upcoming election. You can vote early, vote-by-mail, or vote on Election Day.
Early Voting
If you don’t want to wait until November 2nd to vote, vote early. The benefits are that there are usually no lines, and you can vote at any of the polling locations on the dates and times in which they are open.
Early voting is from Saturday, October 23rd – Sunday, October 31st, 2021, at any of the following locations:
| Location | Address |
| Allapattah Branch Library | 1799 Northwest 35th Street |
| Hispanic Branch Library | 1398 SW 1st Street |
| Lemon City Branch Library | 430 Northeast 61st Street |
| Miami City Hall Library | 3500 Pan American Drive |
| Shenandoah Branch Library | 2111 Southwest 19th Street |
| Stephen P. Clark Center | 111 Northwest 1st Street |
| West Flagler Branch Library | 5050 West Flagler Street |
Voting locations are open from 7:00 A.M.– 4:00 P.M. on weekdays and from 8:00 A.M. – 4:00 P.M. on weekends.
Please remember that you must bring a current and valid identification that contains your name, photograph, and signature. It is not a requirement to bring your voter information card, but it will expedite the check-in process.
Vote-by-Mail Ballot
Any eligible voter that wishes to have a mail ballot sent to their home must submit their request by 5:00 P.M. on Saturday, October 23rd, 2021.
If you are registered to vote, you can request a vote-by-mail ballot here. You can also request a ballot by email, fax, phone, or mail.
If you would like your vote-by-mail ballot sent to another address other than the one on file in the Florida Voter Registration, you must send a signed written request with the following information:
- Full name of voter.
- Date of birth.
- Florida driver’s license number, Florida identification number, or last four digits of your social security number.
- Residence address.
- Mailing address (if applicable)
- Voter registration number (optional)
- Date of election for which a vote-by-mail ballot is needed.
- Signature of voter (written requests only).
You can find the Vote-by-Mail Ballot Request here and track the status of your ballot here.
How to return your Vote-by-Mail Ballot
You can return your ballot:
- By mail – A Vote-by-Mail Ballot may be returned via the United States Postal Service and must be received by 7 P.M. on Election Day.
- Dropped off at any Early Voting location during the hours of operation via secure dropbox.
- In-person during business hours (Monday – Friday, 8:00 A.M. – 5:00 P.M.) at the Miami-Dade Elections Department located at 2700 NW 8th Avenue, Miami, FL 33172.
- By Voter’s Designee.
Remember, you cannot drop off your ballot at your designated precinct on Election Day. You can either opt to vote in person at your precinct or drop off your ballot at the Elections Department.
Vote on Election Day
Election Day is on November 2nd, 2021. If you decide to wait until then, you must vote at your assigned precinct. Click here to see all your voter information and where you must go to vote. Polls will be opened from 7:00 A.M. – 7:00 P.M.
Remember to bring a current and valid identification that contains your name, photograph, and signature.
Candidates
The most crucial step of voting is research. Voters must take their time to read up on candidates and choose the one which most aligns with their values and vision for this city.
Here are the Mayor, Miami Commissioner District 3, and Miami Commissioner District 5 candidates.
Miami Mayor:
- Anthony Melvin Dutrow
- Marie Frantz Exantus
- Mayra Joli
- Max Martinez Francisco
- “Frank” Pichel
- Francis X. Suarez (current Mayor)
Miami Commissioner, District 3
- Joe Carollo (Current Commissioner, District 3)
- Andriana Oliva
- Rodney Quinn Smith
- Miguel Soliman
Miami Commissioner, District 5
- Francois Alexandre
- Zico Fremont
- Michael A. Hepburn
- Christine King
- Revran Shoshana Lincoln
- Stephanie S. Thomas
- Jeffrey Watson (Current, Commissioner, District 5)
Voters to Rule on the Future of Virginia Key
Voters can also expect to vote on whether or not to amend Miami’s charter to authorize the city to waive competitive bidding on Virginia Key’s 27-acres of city-owned property. In simpler terms, voters will decide whether or not to extend Marine Partners LLC’s current lease. If they vote yes, City Manager Art Noriega will be authorized to negotiate and execute a ground lease and development agreement for a mixed-used waterfront facility. Learn more here.
The Importance of Voting
Miami is on an upward trajectory in terms of growth. Our local leaders must have the best interest of the city and the people who live here. And the only way we can be sure to have these types of leaders is if we go out and vote. So, do you research Brickellites, make a plan, and get out there and vote!
