C7D - Authorize Early Voting, Drop-box Locations

Resolutions - C7 D

COMMISSION MEMORANDUM

RECOMMENDATION

Adopt the attached Resolution authorizing Early Voting for the November 4, 2025 City of Miami Beach General Election and, if necessary, for a December 9, 2025 Run-Off Election. The Resolution also directs the Miami-Dade County Supervisor of Elections to provide drive-through Vote-by-Mail ballot drop-box locations at all designated Early Voting sites within the City. Additionally, the Resolution authorizes the City Clerk to continue discussions with the Miami-Dade County Office of the Supervisor of Elections regarding the extension of Early Voting hours for the December 9, 2025 Run-Off Election (if required) to be from 7:00 a.m. to 7:00 p.m. on each of the three Early Voting days, due to the high volume of pedestrian and vehicular traffic during the Art Basel period. Historically, the Early Voting hours for Run-Off Elections have been from 8:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m.

BACKGROUND/HISTORY

Pursuant to Florida Statutes Section 101.657(1)(e) and City Code Section 38-6, municipalities may authorize Early Voting for municipal elections that are not held in conjunction with County or State elections. The upcoming General Election (November 4, 2025) and the potential Run-Off Election (December 9, 2025) meet that criteria.

The City’s municipal election will include contests for the Office of the Mayor and City Commission Groups I, II, and III. In accordance with the City Charter, Section 2.01, a candidate must receive a majority of the votes cast to be deemed elected. If no candidate receives a majority of the votes cast, a Run-Off Election will be held between the two candidates for Mayor and/or for each Commission Group that received the highest number of votes. In the event of a tie, the outcome shall be determined by lot. The Run-Off Election, if required, is scheduled to occur on the second Tuesday in December, immediately following the General Election, which in this cycle is December 9, 2025.

ANALYSIS

The City of Miami Beach has scheduled a General Election to be held on Tuesday, November 4, 2025, to elect the Mayor and City Commission members in Groups I, II, and III; a Run-Off Election, if required, is scheduled for Tuesday, December 9, 2025.

As authorized by Section 101.657 of the Florida Statutes, and pursuant to Miami Beach City Code Section 38-6 entitled “Early Voting,” the City is authorized to provide for Early Voting in those City elections that are not held in conjunction with County or State elections and shall conduct its Early Voting activities in accordance with the provisions of Sections 101.657(1)(a)-(c) of the Florida Statutes.

Since the November 4, 2025 General Election is not being held in conjunction with a County or State election, the attached Resolution sets forth the Miami Beach City Commission’s formal declaration authorizing and providing for Early Voting relative to the General Election. Consistent with City Code Section 38-6, the City Clerk recommends the following Early Voting schedule and sites for the General Election:

Miami Beach City Hall First Floor Conference Room 1700 Convention Center Drive

North Shore Branch Library 7501 Collins Avenue,

FIRST WEEK

TIME 7:00 a.m. - 3:00 p.m. 7:00 a.m. - 3:00 p.m. 7:00 a.m. - 3:00 p.m. 7:00 a.m. - 3:00 p.m. 7:00 a.m. - 3:00 p.m. 8:00 a.m. - 4:00 p.m. 8:00 a.m. - 4:00 p.m.

Monday, October 20, 2025 Tuesday, October DATE 21, 2025 Wednesday, October 22, 2025 Thursday, October 23, 2025 Friday, October 24, 2025 Saturday, October 25, 2025 Sunday, October 26, 2025

SECOND WEEK

DATE Monday, October 27, 2025 Tuesday, October 28, 2025 Wednesday, October 29, 2025 Thursday, October 30, 2025 Friday, October 31, 2025 Saturday, November 1, 2025 Sunday, November 2, 2025

TIME 11:00 a.m. - 7:00 p.m. 11:00 a.m. - 7:00 p.m. 11:00 a.m. - 7:00 p.m. 11:00 a.m. - 7:00 p.m. 11:00 a.m. - 7:00 p.m. 8:00 a.m. - 4:00 p.m. 8:00 a.m. - 4:00 p.m.

Since the December 9, 2025 Run-Off Election, if required, is not being held in conjunction with a County or State election, the attached Resolution sets forth the Miami Beach City Commission’s formal declaration authorizing and providing for Early Voting relative to the Run-Off Election. Consistent with City Code Section 38-6 and Resolution 2025-33648, the City Commission has designated the following as the Early Voting locations within the City of Miami Beach in the event of a December 9, 2025 Run-Off Election:

Miami Beach City Hall First Floor Conference Room 1700 Convention Center Drive

North Shore Branch Library 7501 Collins Avenue

South Shore Community Center 833 6th Street;

Muss Park 4300 Chase Avenue

Consistent with City Code Section 38-6, the City Clerk recommends the following Early Voting schedule:

DATE Friday, December 5, 2025 Saturday, December 6, 2025 Sunday, December 7, 2025

For Run-Off Elections, Early Voting has regularly been held over a three-day period, from Friday through Sunday, with voting hours set from 8:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. on each day. The City Clerk has formally requested that the Miami-Dade County Office of the Supervisor of Elections extend the Early Voting hours for the December 9, 2025 Run-Off Election, if required, to 7:00 a.m. to 7:00 p.m. on each of the three Early Voting days. This request is due to the high volume of pedestrian and vehicular traffic during the Art Basel period. As of the date of this Resolution, the City Clerk has yet to receive a response from the Miami-Dade County Office of the Supervisor of Elections regarding this request and seeks permission from the City Commission to continue discussions. Should the Supervisor of Elections approve the requested extension of Early Voting hours, the City Clerk will notify the Mayor and City Commission via a Letter to Commission (LTC), and the revised hours will be publicly noticed and published accordingly. If the Miami-Dade County Office of the Supervisor of Elections does not extend the Early Voting hours for the December 9, 2025 Run-Off Election, if required, the regular Early Voting hours of 8:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. on each Early Voting day will remain in effect and be adopted.

The Resolution further directs the Miami-Dade County Office of the Supervisor of Elections to provide drive-through Vote-by-Mail ballot drop-box locations at the Early Voting sites in Miami Beach to allow voters to securely and timely deliver their Vote-by-Mail ballots to the Supervisor of Elections for the November 4, 2025 City of Miami Beach General Election, and, if required, the December 9, 2025 Run-Off Election. The Vote-by-Mail ballot drop-off locations at Early Voting sites shall be available to voters during the same days and hours of operation as the Early Voting sites. All drive-through Vote-by-Mail drop-box locations shall be staffed by a designee of the Miami-Dade County Office of the Supervisor of Elections, who shall take possession of all returned Vote-by-Mail ballots. The designee of the Miami-Dade County Office of the Supervisor of Elections shall keep such ballots in a secure, sealed container and transport them to the Miami- Dade County Elections Department at the end of every Early Voting day. The option to deliver Vote-by-Mail ballots to the drive-through Vote-by-Mail drop-box locations shall be in addition to all other legal methods of delivery of Vote-by-Mail ballots.

FISCAL IMPACT STATEMENT

The Miami-Dade County Office of the Supervisor of Elections has provided the City Clerk with an estimate of $455,730 for the City's November 4, 2025, General Election, which includes the costs of 14 Early Voting days at two Early Voting sites (See attached Estimate – General Election).

The Miami-Dade County Office of the Supervisor of Elections has provided the City Clerk with an estimate of $253,162 for the City's December 9, 2025 Run-Off Election, if required, which includes the costs of three Early Voting days at four Early Voting sites (See attached Estimate – Run-Off Election).

Does this Ordinance require a Business Impact Estimate? (FOR ORDINANCES ONLY)

If applicable, the Business Impact Estimate (BIE) was published on: See BIE at: https://www.miamibeachfl.gov/city-hall/city-clerk/meeting-notices/

FINANCIAL INFORMATION

011-9502-000312-90-400-579-00-00-00 (FY 25/26 General Election): $455,730

011-9502-000312-90-400-579-00-00-00 (FY 25/26 Run-Off Election – if required): $253,162

Subject to the adoption of funding in the FY 25/26 Budget.

CONCLUSION

Applicable Area

Citywide

Was this Agenda Item initially requested by a lobbyist which, as defined in Code Sec. 2-481, includes a principal engaged in lobbying? No

If so, specify the name of lobbyist(s) and principal(s):

Department

City Clerk

Sponsor(s)

Co-sponsor(s)

Condensed Title

Authorize Early Voting and Drive-Through Drop-Box Locations for the Nov 9, 25 General Election and Dec 9, 25 Run-Off Election. (CC)

Previous Action (For City Clerk Use Only)