6 OctOber 10-16, 2024 miaminewtimes.com | browardpalmbeach.com New Times | music | cafe | culture | Night+Day | news | letters | coNteNts | MONTH XX–MONTH XX, 2008 miaminewtimes.com MIAMI NEW TIMES | MUSIC | CAFE | FILM | ART | STAGE | NIGHT+DAY | METRO | RIPTIDE | LETTERS | CONTENTS | IT’S YOUR CIVIC DUTY It’s almost Election Day! Here’s what to know. BY ALEX DELUCA O nce again the time has come to play our part in this ongoing drama we call democracy. Buckle up, folks: It’s almost Election Day. On Tuesday, November 5, Miamians will head to the polls to elect America’s next pres- ident, as well as federal and state lawmakers, local school board members, county commis- sioners, and even Miami-Dade County’s first sheriff in nearly 60 years. Notably, state con- stitutional amendments enshrining abortion access and recreational marijuana will also be on the ballot this year in Florida. Monday, October 7, is the deadline to reg- ister to vote in Florida for the 2024 general election. If you aren’t registered by then, you won’t be able to vote on Election Day. Here’s a handy guide on what to know be- fore casting your vote: When Do I Need to Register to Vote? To vote in this upcoming election, eligible Florida voters must have registered to vote with their county’s supervisor of elections by this past Monday, October 7. In other words, if you have not registered, you can’t vote in this election. What’s the Deadline to Request a Mail-In Ballot? The deadline to request a mail-in ballot is Thursday, October 24. To request a vote-by-mail ballot in Miami- Dade, visit bit.ly/miami-dade-vote-by-mail To request a vote-by-mail ballot in Bro- ward, visit bit.ly/broward-vote-by-mail Vote-by-mail ballots must be received by 7 p.m. on election day. When Is Early Voting? Early voting for the election will be held from October 21 through November 3. Polls will be open from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. To view early voting information for Mi- ami-Dade residents, visit bit.ly/miami-dade- early-voting To view early voting information for Bro- ward residents, visit bit.ly/broward-early-voting What Do I Need to Bring to the Polls? If you’re heading to the polls, make sure you’re going to the correct voting precinct. To view info regarding Miami-Dade vot- ing precincts, visit bit.ly/miami-dade-precincts To view info regarding Broward voting precincts, visit bit.ly/broward-voting-precincts The only item you’ll need to bring is a valid ID. Acceptable forms include a driver’s license, United States passport, debit or credit card, military identification, student identification, neighborhood association identification, public assistance ID, or a gun license, among others. Important Dates Deadline to request mail-in ballot: Thurs- day, October 24 Early voting period: October 21–November 3 Election Day: Tuesday, November 5 Photo by Miami-Dade Supervisor of Elections | METRO | What’s on the Ballot on November 5, 2024? Several key races and referenda are on the ballot this year in Florida and locally, including: Amendment 3: Recreational Marijuana Amendment 3 is a proposed constitutional amendment to legalize marijuana usage and possession for adults 21 years or older. A “Yes” vote is a vote to legalize recreational marijuana in the state. Florida law requires a 60 percent majority for passage. Amendment 4: Abortion Rights Amendment 4 would enshrine abortion ac- cess in Florida’s state constitution. The referen- dum itself is short and to the point: “No law shall prohibit, penalize, delay, or restrict abortion be- fore viability or when necessary to protect the patient’s health, as determined by the patient’s healthcare provider.” Fetal viability is estimated to be around 24 weeks of pregnancy — the same standard once allowed under Roe v. Wade). A “Yes” vote is a vote to guarantee the right to abortion in Florida. As with the weed amendment, the 60 percent threshold applies. Miami-Dade Sheriff: James Reyes (D) vs. Rosanna “Rosie” Cordero-Stutz (R) For the first time since the 1960s, Miami-Dade voters will choose a sheriff to oversee the Miami- Dade Police Department. Democrat James Reyes, Miami-Dade’s cur- rent chief of public safety, is running against Re- publican Rosanna “Rosie” Cordero-Stutz, the county police department’s assistant director of investigative services. U.S. Senate: Rick Scott (R) vs. Debbie Mucarsel-Powell (D) Former congresswoman Debbie Mucarsel- Powell is running to unseat incumbent U.S. Sen. Rick Scott in November. If Mucarsel-Powell wins, the Ecuadorian born Democrat would become the first Latina from Florida to serve in the U.S. Senate. State Representative (District 106): Fabián Basabe (R) vs. Joe Saunders (D) vs. Moe Saunders Scott (NPA) Maureen Saunders Scott, the estranged aunt of Florida House candidate Joe Saunders, is run- ning against her nephew Joe and incumbent Re- publican state Rep. Fabián Basabe in a bizarre race that initially triggered concerns of another local “ghost candidate” scheme. Miami-Dade School Board (District 3): Joseph “Joe” Geller vs. Martin Karp Former school board member Martin Karp is headed to a November runoff against Joe Geller, a former state representative and mayor of North Bay Village, to replace progressive board member Luisa Baez-Geller. Miami-Dade School Board (District 7): Mary Blanco vs. Maxeme “Max” Tuchman After DeSantis appointee Mary Blanco failed to secure more than 50 percent of votes to retain her District 7 seat in the August primary, she will also head to a runoff race against tech entrepre- neur and teacher Max Tuchman. North Miami Beach Mayor: Michael Joseph vs. Evan S. Piper Former commissioner Michael Joseph is run- ning against current mayor Evan S. Piper to lead the embattled city of North Miami Beach, whose former leader was removed from office in 2023 after being arrested on three felony charges for using the wrong address to vote in 2022 elections. U.S. House (District 23): Joseph “Joe” Kaufman (R) vs. Jared Moskowitz (D) Republican Joseph “Joe” Kaufman is running to unseat incumbent Democratic congressman Jared Moskowitz and flip the district red. Kaufman is a counter-terrorism researcher and writer who has lost six elections since the early 1990s. Moskowitz, on the other hand, is in his first term in Congress, having previously served as Florida’s Director of Emergency Management and as a city commissioner for Parkland. Fort Lauderdale Mayor: Dean Trantalis vs. Kenneth Cooper vs. Chris Nelson vs. Jim Lewis vs. Barbara Stern A crowded field of five candidates is vying to unseat current mayor Dean Trantalis. The candi- dates include attorney Kenneth Cooper, who ran unsuccessfully for mayor in 2020; DJ and conser- vative activist Chris Nelson; criminal defense at- torney and former prosecutor Jim Lewis; attorney Barbara Stern; and Trantalis, who has served as mayor since 2018. [email protected] Here’s what to know before heading to the polls on Election Day in Miami-Dade County.
