Decision time for Coral Gables: Should Elections take Place in November?

Most Americans know that Election Day is held on the first Tuesday in November, every two years.

Except when it’s not. Coral Gables, which bills itself as the “The City Beautiful,” holds its elections in odd years, and oddly enough, in April.

Coral Gables voters now have a chance to change that, if they show up to vote by April 21. Residents can't exactly show up to vote, however. Instead, they have the option of sending in a mail-in ballot to change how and when elections will be held.

Uncertainty over whether the change would bolster or hinder democracy and civic engagement are at the heart of a surprisingly contested ballot, even though there are no actual candidates running for office.

Ambivalence about how to vote helped fill the pews of the Biltmore Congregational Church on March 26, not to worship but to work out where they stand.

Hosted by the Gables Good Government Committee, the event gave residents the opportunity to learn about the eight questions appearing on the ballot, make informed decisions, and hear directly from former Don Slesnick, the former mayor of Coral Gables, who is in charge of the Coral Gables Charter Review Committee.

“It is important for residents to feel they have a voice in their community,” said Melissa Acosta, a former elementary school teacher who has lived in Coral Gables for over 20 years.

Attendees engaged in a debate over diminishing voter turnout and what it means for the future of local elections. Data garnered from recent elections shows there is a significant drop in voter participation during secondary election voting, a persistent issue that has impacted the Coral Gables community. Voter turnout declined from roughly 29.6 % compared to 23.0% in the runoff election last April.

Ahead of the referendum, Coral Gables residents have been inundated with text messages from interest groups, mailings from Miami-Dade County Supervisor of Elections and even door-knockers urging residents to vote yes or no on the proposed amendments.  

A shift to a single, in-person voting day has the opportunity to drastically increase voter turnout and could ease concerns over the security of mail-in ballots, said several attendees at the referendum meeting. But advocates for mail-in ballots say it saves the city money. President Trump and other Republicans have expressed a disdain for most mail-in voting, saying it is rife with corruption and should largely be banned. Trump signed an executive order on March 31 severely restricting mail-in voting. Groups like the Brennan Center for Justice call it illegal, and Trump is being sued for the move by at least 23 states.

Just under 6,000 ballots have been returned as of publication time on April 10, out of a total 30,342 active eligible voters, or less than 20%, according to the Miami-Dade Supervisor of Elections. This trend highlights just how low voter turnout can be in elections not held on Election Day in November. 

The Coral Gables Gazette noted that other factors may work against participation. Ballots must be received, not just postmarked, by 7 p.m. on April 21 to be counted. “There is no ballot curing for errors or missing signatures. In-person drop-off is limited to a single location: the Miami-Dade Supervisor of Elections office in Doral, miles outside Coral Gables,” Coral Gables Gazette staff reported.

However, residents seemed most concerned about how moving the election from April to November might sway election results. While participation might increase, Commissioner Melissa Castro argued in a recent op-ed that when held in November “elections are more expensive and outside spending becomes more dominant.”

Most importantly, low turnout rates can result in a skewed picture of public opinion, amplifying how essential this year’s referendum is in making the voting process more straightforward.

“The referendum is a great way to engage residents in the community. Everyone should understand what they’re voting on and make it a point to vote in community elections,” said Conor Ramirez, an electrician in his 30s who attended the panel with his grandmother.

Commissioner Richard D. Lara attended the session and tried to impress upon attendees how crucial it is to understand what they are voting for.

“It is important residents know what is on the ballot,” said Lara, adding that this referendum gives residents a role in shaping their own democracy.