Registration Closed For August Primary
MIAMI (CBSMiami) – Thousands of absentee ballots will be mailed out this week in Miami-Dade, ahead of the August Primary.
On Monday in Miami-Dade, elections workers were busy getting the first batch of 138,000 absentee ballots ready for the mail. Broward and Monroe counties began mailing out their absentee ballots last week.
Elections officials say if you plan to vote using an absentee ballot it's important that you sign it correctly and get it back on time.
"Make sure that ballot is received by our office by 7 p.m. on election day," said deputy elections supervisor Christina White. "We actually have to have that ballot in our hands in the elections department on election day by 7 p.m."
A challenge in federal court over the State Attorney Office in Miami could lead to the current batch of ballots going out being declared unconstitutional.
State Attorney Katherine Rundle is running again against defense attorney Rod Vereen in the Democratic primary August 14th.
It's a race that would have been open to all voters because no Republicans or independents filed to run. However, just before the April filing deadline, attorneys Omar Malone and Michele Samaroo filed to run as write-in candidates. Neither of their names will appear on the ballot.
In 1998, Florida voters overwhelmingly voted to change the state's constitution, opening primary races to all voters if a candidate did not draw a challenger from the opposing party or independents in the general election. Two years later, however, Secretary of State Katherine Harris issued an advisory opinion that decided that one single write-in candidate could close a primary.
So the entry of Malone and Samaroo closed the race to just Miami-Dade's 525,890 Democratic voters.
Last week, U.S. District Judge William Zloch denied a motion from two voters seeking to open up the race due to a technicality in the original filing. Judge Zloch said the plaintiffs, independent voter Vincent J. Mazzilli and Republican Armando Lacasa, didn't include the proper parties to be able to carry the suit out.
However, Judge Zloch said the lawsuit could be re-filed once the plaintiffs added the Secretary of State and the State Elections Canvassing Commission as defendants.
"We want to be able to allow all registered voters in Miami-Dade County to vote in the only election that's going to matter for state attorney," said the plaintiffs attorney, Roberto Martinez.
Rundle said she will await the court's final ruling.
"Whatever the court rules; we will honor and move forward," Rundle said.
The county's election department took the same stand.
"We stand ready to execute whatever the judge's ruling is," said White. "Our position here is to limit the disruption or confusion to our voters.
Monday was also the deadline for voter registration in Miami-Dade, Broward and Monroe counties.
To register to vote you have to be at least 18 years of age, a U.S. citizen and a permanent resident of the county where you live. In Miami-Dade, there is no specific time requirement to be considered a permanent resident.
July 16th is also the deadline for anyone interested in changing their political party affiliation. Since Florida is a closed primary state, it is important for voters to know what party they are registered as.
The easiest way to register to vote is go to your county's Elections Department website and click on "Register to Vote."
MIAMI-DADE ELECTIONS DEPARTMENT
BROWARD COUNTY SUPERVISOR OF ELECTIONS' OFFICE
MONROE COUNTY SUPERVISOR OF ELECTIONS
After completing the online form, it must be printed, signed, and delivered to the elections department or an approved drop off location; this varies per county. Forms must be received by close of the business day.
Voters who wish to change their party affiliation can do so online by following the instructions above or by simply submitting a signed written notice that contains the date of birth or voter registration number by email or fax to the election's office.
