Early Voting in Miami-Dade: Only 7% of Registered Voters Participate After First Week

Merely 7% of registered voters in Miami-Dade have cast their ballots through early voting after the initial week leading up to the August 18 primaries. This statistic was revealed by Alina García, the county's Supervisor of Elections, during a press briefing at the Joseph Caleb Center on Sunday.

"Only 7% of the votes have been cast. We have 1.6 million voters," stated García. She organized the briefing alongside community groups to boost participation in the remaining days.

This turnout is notably lower than the previous cycle. During the August 2024 primaries, Miami-Dade saw about an 11% early voting turnout by the period's end, a figure already considered low at the time.

Encouragement to Increase Voter Participation

García urged voters not to miss the chance to have their voices heard. "Party affiliation doesn't matter. The important thing is to vote. Next week, we'll be open from 11 a.m. to 7 p.m. On Saturday and Sunday, from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. There are no excuses," the official emphasized.

The county's 23 early voting sites will remain operational until August 16, open from 11 a.m. to 7 p.m. on weekdays and from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. on weekends. On the official primary day, Tuesday, August 18, voters must cast their ballots at their designated precincts, not just any center.

Broad Options for Voters

García highlighted that the primaries offer choices for voters across all affiliations. "There's something for everyone. Republicans and Democrats will decide who appears on the November ballot, while independents will select judges, commissioners, and the school board," she explained.

In Broward, early voting kicked off on Saturday and will continue until August 16, from 10 a.m. to 7 p.m. The county features one of the cycle's most contested races: the Democratic primary for the newly redrawn Congressional District 20, with ten candidates vying for the nomination.

Key Decisions in Miami-Dade

In Miami-Dade, ballots include three County Commission districts—directly influencing transportation, housing, and budget decisions—and two School Board districts, overseeing the nation's fourth-largest public school system. Additionally, Miami residents are voting on potentially shifting municipal elections from odd to even years.

Community leaders joined the call to action during Sunday's meeting. Juan D'Arce, president of the Spanish-American League Against Discrimination (SALAD), invoked the experiences of those who emigrated from countries lacking democratic freedoms: "Voting is crucial. Many of us left countries where voting is restricted or non-existent due to dictatorship, and now we have the opportunity to vote freely."

The event occurred three days after the 61st anniversary of the U.S. Voting Rights Act, signed by President Lyndon B. Johnson in 1965, which secured voting access for millions of historically disenfranchised citizens.

The August 18 primaries are among the most significant in years for the state, partly because Governor Ron DeSantis is term-limited, leading to an open race for Florida's governorship.