Deadline for Coral Gables mail-only election is almost here. Here’s how to vote

The deadline to vote in Coral Gables’ election is almost here — and it works differently than any election you may have voted in before. In this mail-only election, there are no polling places, no early voting sites and only one physical drop-off location.

Voters are weighing in on eight referendums this election, and the only way to vote is by mail. So far, 7,028 residents — or 23% of the city’s 30,342 eligible voters — have cast their ballots, according to Wednesday’s data from the Miami-Dade County Supervisor of Elections.

Here is everything you need to know to make sure your vote counts:

When is the deadline to vote in the Coral Gables election?

April 21 at 7 p.m., Election Day. Your ballot must be received — not postmarked — by this time.

Postmarks do not count. If your ballot arrives after 7 p.m. on Tuesday, April 21, it will not be counted, even if you mailed it days earlier.

How to fill out and return your ballot

The easiest way to submit your ballot is by mail. No postage is required.

Before mailing or dropping off your ballot, make sure to sign the voter certificate envelope and include your residential address on the envelope.

If you prefer to drop off your ballot in person, the only location is the Miami-Dade County Supervisor of Elections Office, 2700 NW 87th Ave. in Doral, and it must arrive before 7 p.m. on Election Day, April 21.

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What if you lose your ballot or make a mistake?

You can go to the Elections Office in Doral to ask, in writing, for a replacement ballot anytime before 7 p.m. on Election Day, April 21, according to the department.

Do not wait. If your ballot hasn’t arrived, or you’ve made an error filling it out, act quickly.

Future elections

All registered Gables voters are voting by mail this election. But it doesn’t mean you’re registered to vote by mail in future elections. Those who want to register to vote by mail in other elections can do so through the county’s Supervisor of Elections website.

What’s on the ballot?

This special election asks for your input on a series of mostly contested topics that have divided commissioners. Voters will weigh in on eight referendums, including:

• Should future city elections move? The ballot asks whether elections should be moved from April in odd-numbered years to November of even-numbered years to coincide with state and national elections.
• Should commissioner pay raises require voter approval? This referendum would require commissioners to get approval from voters before raising their own pay.
• Should the city contract out inspector general services? Voters will decide if the city should contract with Miami-Dade County or another entity for inspector general services to conduct investigations.
• Should runoff elections be eliminated?

Why is this election all mail?

Miami-Dade’s Supervisor of Elections Office told the Herald that mail ballot elections are usually less expensive to hold compared to traditional elections and are available only when there are no candidates on the ballot. Because this election involves only referendums — no candidates — the vote-by-mail format applies.

Need more help?

If you have questions about your ballot or the election, call the Elections Department hotline at 305-722-VOTE (8683).

This report was produced with the assistance of a proprietary tool powered by artificial intelligence and using our own originally reported, written and published content. It was reviewed and edited by our journalists.