Voter 2024 Election Guide
Check out our Election Event Calendar
Voter Info
Early Voting - Click Here
Miami Beach Polling Locations: City Hall & North Shore Library
NOW until Sunday, November 3rd - 7 am - 7 pm
Vote By Mail Ballots Must Mail By October 28 (received by 7pm Nov. 5)*
General Election – November 5th 7 am - 7 pm*
*The Supervisor of Election (SOE) must receive the vote-by-mail ballot request by 5 p.m.; a postmarked vote-by-mail ballot request is not valid. The Miami Beach Dems recommend mailing it before 8 days to ensure it is received in time. You may drop it at a box, bring the SOE or vote in person.
*On Election Day, you MUST vote at the polling location listed on your Voter Identification card
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Constitutional Amendments
In less than two centuries, Florida has had six different constitutions. Our current constitution, ratified in 1968, has been amended 144 times—most recently in 2020. In Florida, constitutional amendments require a 60% supermajority vote of approval to pass.
Amendment 1 - Partisan School Board Members
NO RECOMMENDATION
A "yes" vote supports making school board elections partisan beginning in the November 2026 general election and for primary elections nominating party candidates for the 2026 election.
A "no" vote opposes making school board elections partisan, thereby maintaining current procedures where school board members are elected in a nonpartisan election.
Amendment 1 would make school board elections partisan beginning in 2026. Candidates would be nominated for the general election through partisan primaries and be featured on the ballot with partisan labels, such as Democrat and Republican. As of 2024, the Florida Constitution requires school board elections to be nonpartisan, meaning that partisan labels do not appear on the ballot next to a candidate's name. Currently, candidates for school board seats cannot run under a party affiliation (Republican, Democrat, Libertarian, etc .) and instead must run with no party affiliation (NPA).
Amendment 2 – Prioritize the Right to Hunt and Fish
VOTE NO
Proclaims hunting and fishing as the preferred means of responsibly managing and controlling fish and wildlife rather than limiting hunting and fishing to protect their numbers, which is the preferred means of conserving fish and wildlife. It could undermine current restrictions like prohibiting gill fishing and creating a wall of death for all fish. If Amendment 2 passes, fishing will be made a 'public right,' opening up our waters to massive foreign commercial fishing vessels. A no vote means that the state legislature can more easily place restrictions on Floridians’ hunting and fishing activities. Such restrictions would be part of an effort to conserve various wildlife species or areas.
Amendment 3 – Legalizes Recreational Marijuana
VOTE YES
It allows those 21 and older to have up to 3 ounces and up to 5 grams of cannabis concentrate... Tax revenues from the legal cannabis industry for federal and state governments are projected to reach $4.06 billion in 2025. There is no evidence that legalizing marijuana for medical or recreational use at the state level, as 37 states already have done, has boosted underage consumption from the regulated marketplace. The continued black market sale of marijuana perpetuates a culture of criminality. If adult-use cannabis is legalized, Florida users will have accountability, transparency, and regulations in place to ensure products are not laced with or contain potentially deadly chemicals. (Medical marijuana was adopted by Florida voters in 2016 by a vote of 71% to 29%.) Legalizing marijuana recreationally gives citizens a new right enshrined in the state constitution. Further, marijuana businesses and increased sales from a new recreational market would significantly add to tax revenues. Such revenues could be used to fund a variety of other initiatives that benefit Floridians.
Amendment 4 - Abortion Access
VOTE YES
This will limit government interference in women’s health decisions and keep the decision between the woman and her physician. The initiative would provide a constitutional right to abortion before fetal viability (estimated to be around 24 weeks) or when necessary to protect the patient's health, as determined by the patient's healthcare provider. The amendment will ensure that no law shall prohibit, penalize, delay, or restrict abortion before viability or when necessary to protect the patient’s health, as determined by the patient’s healthcare provider. Supporters argue that such a ballot measure is crucial to guarantee Floridians’ right to an abortion, as state amendments are far more difficult to overturn than a legislature’s decision on the matter. Limited abortion access is currently offered to Floridians, but many supporters of this amendment see its passage as a way to expand and protect that right
Amendment 5 - Homestead Annual Inflation Adjustment
VOTE NO
A no vote supports keeping the current homestead tax exemption regardless of inflation. This means that taxes will automatically rise as property values rise with inflation, without local officials having to cast a vote to increase taxes. Opponents of this measure highlight its negative impact on tax revenues for local governments. By adding an inflation adjustment to the homestead exemption, automatic tax increases will no longer occur . As a result, local governments will face decreased tax revenues, unless local officials vote to raise taxes.
Background:
To put a legislatively referred constitutional amendment before voters, a 60 percent vote is required in both the Florida State Senate and the Florida House of Representatives. The amendment was approved by the Florida House of Representatives on February 1, 2024, with 86 representatives voting in favor and 29 representatives voting against. Among House Democrats, five were in favor and 29 were opposed. Among House Republicans, 81 were in favor and none were opposed. The amendment was approved in the Florida State Senate on March 6, 2024, by a vote of 25-15. Of Senate Republicans, 25 were in favor and three were opposed. All 12 Senate Democrats voted against the amendment.
Statistics:
State economists predict the measure would reduce local government tax collections by $22.8 million during the 2025-2026 fiscal year, growing to $111.8 million during the 2028-2029 fiscal year, assuming existing tax rates. Democrat State Representative Bartleman suggested the proposal would cause serious problems if the housing market crashed, as it did in the financial crisis of 2008. The Florida League of Cities opposes the initiative.
Amendment 6 – Repeal Public Campaign Financing
VOTE NO
A no vote would keep in place public f inancing for statewide candidates.Opponents contend that by giving money to candidates that may not already have money or the capacity to raise sufficient funds, the measure can effectively level the playing field for aspiring officeholders that lack political and financial connections.
Background:
The amendment was introduced in the state legislature as Senate Joint Resolution 1114. It was approved in the Senate on February 28, 2024, by a vote of 28-11. The House approved the amendment on March 6, 2024, in a vote of 82-29 with nine members not voting. The amendment was passed along partisan lines with Republicans in favor and Democrats opposed.
State Rep. Anna Eskamani (D-42): "The intention is, if you are running against an incumbent or someone of greater means, that you can leverage your small dollar support and maximize that by receiving public funds. Public money levels the political playing field."
Libby Livette of the League Of Women Voters: "Without access to public funds, only the wealthy and the well-connected would be able to afford to run."
Marcus McCoy, pastor and state director of Equal Ground Action Fund: "Public financing encourages a more diverse pool of candidates to participate in elections."
State Sen. Tina Polsky (D-30), who voted against the amendment in the Senate, said, "It is very clear that the Republican Party has a lot more money, funding, outside groups, special interest groups, who help pay for campaigns than the Democratic Party has in Florida. And, as a result, it seems this would be a negative for Democratic candidates."
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Miami Beach Referendums
Referendum 1 - Charter's "Citizens' Bill of Rights": Amending Existing Rights, Incorporating County Ethics Commission's Enforcement
VOTE YES
This will expand the rights of Miami Beach citizens. It also will expand enforcement in the instance of an ethics violation.
Referendum 2 - Charter’s "Citizens' Bill of Rights": Amending Circuit Court Forfeiture Remedy
VOTE YES
This will give courts more discretion in the instance of ethics violations. Generally, giving judges more leeway is better as not one size fits all, and sometimes, mandatory punishments are not proportionate.
Referendum 3 - Charter Section 1.03: Sale/Lease of City property; right-of-way vacations; management/concession agreements
VOTE YES
This requires more voter oversight of city property if it's sold or leased. This allows for residents to approve or disapprove of these things as they can affect the entire landscape.
Referendum 4 - Election of City Commission: Moving City's Runoff Election Date, Installation/Term Commencement, Conforming Office Terms
VOTE YES
While we supported Commissioner Kristen Rosen Gonzalez's suggestion to move the city election to even years with the county to save the City money and increase voter turnout. This current option is better than the last and moves the runoff election date after Thanksgiving. It also provides voters more time to research candidates and receive their vote by mail ballots.
Referendum 5 - Charter Section 2.05: Public Hearings and Public Notice for Ordinances
VOTE YES
This will allow two public hearings instead of just one on proposed city ordinances (there is already a carve-out for emergencies) and will enable the city to use its website to publish proposed ordinances (as opposed to continuing to publish only in a newspaper). Two hearings will provide commissioners with more understanding of the new ordinance.
Referendum 6 - Charter Section 2.07: "Vacancies in City Commission"
VOTE NO
We believe the wording of the referendum lacks clarity, and the proposed new guideless allows the commissioners to perpetually make appointments within 30 days to circumvent the need for an election.
Referendum 7 - Charter Amendments: Clarifying and Conforming Certain Charter Language to Applicable Laws and/or Current Usage
VOTE YES
This clarifies a one-year residency law for candidates running for city office.
Referendum 8 - Approve 1% Tax on Food and Beverage Sales for Homeless Assistance / Domestic Violence Centers
VOTE YES
This maintains the current 1% tax to help the homeless population and domestic violence centers.
Races
Federal
President / Vice President - Kamala Harris/Tim Walz
US SENATE - Debbie Mucarsel-Powell
US Representative - Frederica Wilson
State
FL HOUSE DISTRICT 106 - Joe Saunders
County Seats
CLERK OF THE COURT AND COMPTROLLER - Annette Taddeo
SHERIFF - James Reyes
PROPERTY APPRAISER - Marisol Zenteno
TAX COLLECTOR - David Richardson
SUPERVISOR OF ELECTIONS - Juan-Carlos 'J.C.' Planas
Judges
Florida Supreme Court
Renatha Sian Francis - NO
Meredith Sasso - NO
District Court of Appeal
Kevin M. Emas - YES
Ivan F. Fernandez - NO
Norma Shepard Lindsey - NO
County Judge, GROUP 29 - Christopher Benjamin
School Board
County School Board, District 3 - Joseph "Joe" Geller
