Early voting is over, and Tuesday’s turnout is looking abysmal. Don’t let that happen! | Editorial

As we enter the final stretch, Miami-Dade Elections Supervisor Christina White says this is what’s really gnawing at her about Tuesday’s election: It’s not disruption at the polls by bad actors, voting-machine glitches or cyber-attacks.

She is worried about the prospect of the county’s lowest voter turnout for midterm elections in eight years., a projection teetering at a low 40%.

“That is my biggest concern: a low turnout,” White told the Miami Herald Editorial Board. “We’re ready. Now, we need voters to come out.”

Unfortunately, that’s not a given.

The turnout for Tuesday could be the most anemic since 2014’s midterms, White said. The lowest was in 2006 with 38%. And the highest was the 2018 midterms, when the turnout was a hefty 57%.

The predicted 40% turnout for such a crucial midterm election, where the balance of power in Congress is on the line, is disheartening.

Let’s not let it happen.

On Monday, the election department website indicated turnout was at 31%, and that Republican voters cast more ballots than Democrats in Miami-Dade during the early-voting period that ended Sunday evening. By then, about 180,000 Republicans and 174,000 Democrats had voted by mail or in person in Miami-Dade. Another 112,000 ballots were cast by voters with no major party affiliation, the Miami Herald reported.

There are several theories as to why voters might stay away from the polls on Tuesday; among them are recent reports that political misbehavior on the part of extremists might disrupt voting, which White said she and her staff are working hard to prevent.

The Miami Herald reported last week that three former local members of the far-right extremist group Proud Boys landed temporary jobs as poll workers, including one who has been indicted and is awaiting trial.

Former Proud Boy Gabriel Garcia slipped through because his legal status after allegedly taking part in the Jan. 6 attack on the Capital has not been settled. Garcia is scheduled to stand trial on two felony counts and four misdemeanors for his role in the insurrection, when federal prosecutors say he broke into the Capitol and was the infamous voice heard begging House Speaker Nancy Pelosi to “come out and play.” Garcia has pleaded not guilty, the Herald reported.

The other two former Proud Boys will be allowed to serve as poll workers, who can not be barred from the volunteer position because of their affilitations. All poll workers take an oath and must follow a code of conduct.

Miami-Dade Mayor Daniella Levine Cava told the Editorial Board she is joining White in assuring Dade Countians it’s OK to vote at the county’s more than 1,000 precincts and voting centers.

It’s residents’ duty.

In Florida, as of Friday, 3.8 million people had cast ballots via early voting or mail-in ballots.

“We are committed to making sure elections in Miami-Dade are fair and accessible for all voters,” the mayor reassured voters.

But she added, in the future, the elections department would be “strengthening the code of conduct to be followed by poll workers... “attesting that they will remain impartial, nonpartisan, respectful and professional while working the polls. “

The code will be posted at all polling places in the county for voters to see.

That’s a good idea. Voters need to be reassured they will not be harassed or intimidated at the polls, regardless of their party affiliation.

The last chance to cast a ballot is Tuesday. We urge Miami-Dade’s voters to help boost the county’s Election Day turnout.

We hope to see long lines at the polls.

This story was originally published November 7, 2022 at 4:00 PM.