Miami voted for a citizens’ redistricting committee. Good, but there’s more work to do | Opinion

Thank you, Miami. This week, Miami voted for fairness, transparency and accountability. Voters chose to bring our politics out from behind closed doors and put power back where it belongs — in the hands of the people.

By passing Referendum 3, we’ve made history. For the first time, Miami will have a Citizens’ Redistricting Committee — a group of residents, not politicians — who will draw the maps that shape our elections.

Finally, the residents of the city of Miami will have a voice in how their neighborhoods are represented. Miamians turned out to show how strongly they believe in maps that reflect the diverse communities that make up the city of Miami, not just the few in power.

For years, Miami’s district maps have been drawn behind closed doors with costly court battles exposing gerrymandering and backroom deals. But on Election Day, Miami’s voters stood up and said enough.

This vote proves that when residents pay attention, speak up and organize, we can make real change in our city.

As proud as we should be of this victory, it’s just the beginning. The same energy and unity that won this reform can move us toward an even stronger, more representative city government.

Right now, Stronger Miami is gathering signatures for a set of broader charter reforms to appear on the 2026 ballot. These reforms would expand the city commission from five to nine members, making each district smaller and more responsive to local needs.

It would also move city elections to November of even-numbered years, aligning them with state and national elections, when voter engagement and turnout are at their highest. This change would both boost participation and save taxpayer dollars.

Finally, the reforms would establish fair redistricting standards to prevent manipulation of district boundaries and protect the integrity of Miami’s democracy.

These changes go to the heart of how our city works and who it works for. Representation, transparency and accountability matter because they shape how our government listens, how resources are distributed and whose voices are heard.

Stronger Miami has already collected over 10,000 signatures to place these reforms on the 2026 ballot, and every new signature brings us one step closer to a government that truly represents the people of Miami.

We need your help to finish what we started. Visit StrongerMiami.org to join the thousands of Miamians fighting for a fairer, more responsive city government that truly represents its people.

Monica A. Bustinza is deputy director at Engage Miami/Florida, where she leads state and local efforts to expand youth civic participation through voter registration and Get Out the Vote initiatives. Ana Sofía Peláez is a Miami resident and executive director of Miami Freedom Project, a nonprofit dedicated to civic education, organizing and advocacy.

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