Miami-Dade County Reports Sluggish Primary Election Turnout at 12.5 Percent

Florida’s primary election takes place Tuesday with polling locations operating from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. statewide. Alina Garcia, supervisor of elections for Miami-Dade County, expressed concern Monday about participation levels in the county, which had reached just 12.5 percent based on early voting and mail-in ballots received to that point.

Garcia, speaking from her office in Doral, emphasized Florida’s rigorous election protocols. Election supervisors throughout the state are mandated to count every ballot cast and photograph each one as part of the state’s system of checks and balances, which Garcia characterized as “the platinum standard for elections.”

Voters will decide races for judges, county commissioners, and school board members on Tuesday, with participation open to registered voters regardless of party affiliation. Those casting ballots in person must vote at their assigned precinct, while mail-in ballots must reach the supervisor’s office by 7 p.m. Tuesday to be counted.

Acceptable forms of identification include Florida driver’s licenses, state ID cards, U.S. passports, military or student IDs, retirement center identification, neighborhood association identification, public assistance identification, Veterans Affairs health identification cards, concealed carry licenses issued under Florida statute 790.06, and federal, state, county, or municipal employee identification cards.