Early voting in Miami-Dade County began this Monday, August 3, with 23 locations open throughout the county for residents to participate in the August 18 primary, according to County Supervisor of Elections Alina Garcia.
The early voting period runs through Sunday, August 16, with varying hours each week. Voters who prefer to vote by mail should note that August 6 is the deadline to request a ballot.
The Miami-Dade Supervisor of Elections Office has established four different time slots throughout the two weeks of early voting. From Monday, August 3, through Friday, August 7, the locations will be open from 7:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m. On the weekend of August 8 and 9, the hours are extended to 8:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m.
During the second week, from Monday, August 10 to Friday, August 14, the hours will change to the evening shift, from 11:00 a.m. to 7:00 p.m. On the last weekend of early voting, August 15 and 16, the hours will return to 8:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. Each of the 23 locations will have a ballot drop-off station staffed throughout the day.
The locations cover a wide geographic area of the county. Some of the most prominent include:
Coral Gables Branch Library (3443 Segovia Street, Coral Gables).
Florida International University — Student Academic Success Center (11200 SW 8th Street, Miami).
Miami Beach City Hall (1700 Convention Center Drive, Miami Beach).
Stephen P. Clark Government Center (111 NW 1st Street, Miami).
Supervisor of Elections Office (2700 NW 87th Ave, Doral).
Voters who choose to vote by mail have until August 6 to request their ballot. García reminded those who voted by mail in the last presidential election and did not renew their request that their order is no longer active and they must request it again.
“We want to make voting as easy and convenient as possible. Every voter must participate to keep our democracy strong and vibrant,” García stated in an official county press release. She also clarified that returned mail ballots do not require postage.
Ballots can also be dropped off at any of the early voting locations during operating hours, at the drop-off stations under the marked tents. Another option is the Supervisor’s Office in Doral or the downtown Miami office. The deadline for receiving ballots is 7:00 p.m. on Election Day, August 18.
Among the races in the August 18 primary, as reported by CBS Miami, are the selection of the Florida gubernatorial candidate and the U.S. Senate candidate, two of the most closely watched races of this election cycle in the state.
