About Miami-Dade’s many municipal government elections
This summer and fall, residents in several of Miami-Dade County’s 34 municipalities will elect new local leaders or decide on changes to the rules that govern their city, village, or town. Below, you’ll find information about what’s on each municipality’s respective ballot.
For election dates, resources, and additional information, click here.
Stay tuned to sign up for our upcoming Miami-Dade Board of County Commissioners virtual Candidate Forums, happening in late July.
Click for more info on upcoming elections.
August 18, 2026 Elections
Before you start…
You might have some questions
Here are a few FAQs to assist you in understanding the terminology you’ll see below — and on your ballot.
In addition to a Mayor and Vice Mayor, a municipality’s governing body generally includes a few other representatives, referred to either as “councilmembers” or “commissioners” depending on the municipality. Collectively, the group of representatives is called a “council” or “commission.” The commission works together to create new local laws through ordinances or to direct action through resolutions. Ultimately, councilmembers are simply members of your community who decided to run for office (or, in special circumstances, were appointed to temporarily lead the community).
When an official is elected “at-large,” it means that all voters in a municipality can cast a vote for them and that the official is elected to represent the municipality’s entire population. The alternative to at-large elections is district-based elections. In district-based elections, a municipality draws a map that sorts voters into geographic voting districts based on their home address. Candidates for public office then compete to represent a particular district, and only the voters residing in that district can cast a vote for them.
A city’s charter acts as its constitution. The charter itself explains how it can be amended, often through charter amendment questions that are posed to voters during what’s called a “special election.” Other questions put in front of voters during special elections include ballot questions and bond referendums. A ballot question gives voters a say on the way their government operates. A bond referendum gives voters the power to decide whether their municipality can raise money by issuing bonds.
About Vote Miami
The Miami Foundation is committed to advancing trustworthy information to increase civic engagement across Greater Miami. We power Vote Miami in partnership with a host of devoted community partners. Established in 2020, this regional initiative was initially led by Radical Partners in collaboration with Florida Counts, Knight Foundation, Miami Herald, and The Miami Foundation.
Thank you to all of our media & community partners!
