Ready to decide, Florida? What to know about mail-in ballots, early voting, Election Day
Early voting starts Monday, and voters have choices — on candidates and how to cast a ballot.
Should incumbent Gov. Ron DeSantis get four more years or should Democratic candidate and former governor Charlie Crist take the reins? Who should represent you in Congress and in the Florida Legislature?
Voters in the 2022 general election will have to decide on other races too, including attorney general, agriculture commissioner and whether to retain five of seven state Supreme Court justices. Amendments and referendums are also on the ballot this year. And some cities have municipal elections.
There are three ways to vote: at an early voting site, by mail, or at your precinct on Election Day, Nov. 8.
Here’s your 2022 general elections guide to help make casting your ballot easy:
When does early voting start and end?
▪ Miami-Dade early voting: Oct. 24 - Nov. 6.
Hours of operation: Sites are open from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m.
▪ Broward early voting: Oct. 24 - Nov. 6.
Hours of operation: Sites are open from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m.
▪ Monroe early voting: Oct. 24 - Nov. 5.
Hours of operation: Sites are open from 8:30 a.m. to 5 p.m.
You can find a list of early voting sites at the Miami-Dade, Broward and Monroe counties elections website.
READ NEXT: Planning to vote in Miami-Dade, Broward and the Keys? How to cast your ballot early
Vote-by-mail deadlines
To get a vote-by-mail ballot before Election Day, the request must be made before 5 p.m. Oct. 29.
There are several ways to return your ballot, including by mail or dropping it off at an early voting site or at your county’s election office. If you wait until Election Day to return the ballot, you must submit it at your county’s election office.
When does your local elections office need your vote-by mail ballot? By 7 p.m. on Election Day, Nov. 8.
What municipal elections are there in South Florida?
Depending on where you live in South Florida, you might have municipal elections on your ballot
▪ In Miami-Dade County has 17 municipal elections: Aventura, Bal Harbour Village, Biscayne Park, Cutler Bay, Doral, Hialeah, Key Biscayne, Medley, Miami, Miami Beach, Miami Lakes, North Bay Village, North Miami Beach, Opa-locka, Palmetto Bay, South Miami, Sunny Isles Beach.
▪ Broward County has more than a dozen municipal elections including in Cooper City, Fort Lauderdale, Hollywood, Plantation, Pompano Beach, Weston and Wilton Manors.
▪ Monroe County has five municipal elections: Islamorada, Marathon, Key Colony Beach, Key West and the Key Largo Wastewater Treatment District.
READ MORE: List of candidates and races for the Nov. 8 general election in Florida
How to check your sample ballot
It’s a good idea to review your ballot before heading to the polls. That way you’ll know who’s on the ballot and get some time to do research on the candidates.
You can find your customized sample ballot through the Miami-Dade, Broward and Monroe election websites.
TIP: Voters can bring a sample ballot or a list with them to the polls to help remember how they planned to vote. The list can be printed or on a phone.
How to track your ballot
People who voted by mail might be wondering if their ballot arrived to the elections office in one piece. But don’t worry — there’s a way to track your ballot online and see if it was counted.
There’s an online tracker you can use on the Miami-Dade, Broward and Monroe election websites.
What do I need to vote in the elections?
Unlike in the primaries, registered voters can vote for anyone they want in the general election, regardless of party affiliation. When you go to vote, whether at an early voting site or on Election Day, you must have a current and valid photo ID with signature.
These include your Florida driver’s license, a Florida ID card issued by the Department of Highway Safety and Motor Vehicles, a U.S. passport and a government-issued employee ID.
While not required, officials recommend bringing your voter information card with you to speed up the process.
To see a full list of IDs accepted in Miami-Dade, visit miamidade.gov/elections and click on Voter Toolkit. For Broward, visit browardvotes.gov and click “Voter ID Requirements” under the Voter Information tab (this is under the menu tab). For Monroe, visit keys-elections.org/ and click Voter’s Guide under the Voter Information tab.
READ MORE: Miami-Dade school district asking people to pay more for teacher pay — or ‘bleak’ future
What you can, can’t do at the polls
Whether it’s your first time voting or its been a while since you’ve entered a polling place, there are things you can and can’t do while casting your ballot in South Florida.
You can wear a T-shirt repping your candidate, for example, but you can’t walk in to a precinct with a poster or sign. That’s considered voter solicitation. You can take a picture of your ballot, but you can’t post it online. And while you can bring your own pen, pink and green ink is a no. Ballots must be marked with blue or black ink (depending on the county).
And in case you were wondering, yes, you can wear a Halloween costume to the polls.
Who knows, maybe you’ll see Uncle Sam there.
Editor’s Note: This article was updated to reflect the correct operating hours of early voting sites in Monroe County.
This story was originally published October 24, 2022 at 4:48 AM.
