The City of Coral Gables will conduct a special mail ballot election on April 21, 2026. Residents will vote on several items related to the city’s election process. All registered voters will automatically receive a ballot by mail.
This election will be conducted entirely by mail. There will be no in-person or early voting. Voters who choose not to return their ballot by mail may hand-deliver it only to the Office of the Supervisor of Elections, 2700 NW 87th Ave., Doral, FL 33172.
Casting a ballot in this election does not constitute a vote-by-mail ballot request for future elections. Voters will not receive vote-by-mail ballots for subsequent elections during this cycle unless they have an existing active request on file or submit a new vote-by-mail request.
Key Dates
March 23, 2026
Final day to register to vote to be eligible for the upcoming referendum.
April 21, 2026
Final day for mail-in ballots to be received and counted, and the last day to drop off a mail-in ballot.
How to Vote
- All registered voters will receive mail-in ballots at least three weeks before the deadline (no later than March 21). All registered voters will automatically be sent mail-in ballots.
- Ballots must be received by the Elections Office no later than 7 p.m. Tuesday, April 21, 2026. Voters return their ballot by mail. Voters who prefer not to mail their ballot may personally drop it off only at the Elections Office: Office of the Supervisor of Elections, 2700 NW 87th Avenue, Miami, FL 33172.
- Additional Instructions:
- There is no cost to mail your ballot; a stamp is not required.
- All items on the mail ballot envelope must be filled in, and voters should sign inside the red box on the back of the mail ballot envelope. Remember, you must provide your complete residential address in the indicated area above your signature. Failure to provide your complete residential address will result in your ballot not being counted.
- If your mail ballot is destroyed, spoiled, lost, or not delivered, you may obtain a new mail ballot by completing a Replacement Mail Ballot Oath. For more information please see the Mail Ballot Replacement Policy.
What is this election about?
This election is a referendum, meaning voters are asked to vote on ballot questions. Mail Ballot Elections cannot be used to elect candidates.
When is Election Day?
Election Day is Tuesday, April 21, 2026.
All completed ballots must be received by the Miami-Dade County Elections no later than 7 p.m. on Election Day.
What is a Mail Ballot Election?
In a Mail Ballot Election, all eligible registered voters automatically receive a ballot by mail. Voters return their completed ballot by mail or deliver it in person to the Miami-Dade Elections Department.
When will I receive my ballot?
Ballots will begin being mailed after March 20, 2026.
All eligible registered voters should receive their ballots before the April 21, 2026 election.
Please follow the Mail Ballot Instructions carefully when completing and returning your ballot.
Is postage included?
Yes. Postage is included.
You do not need to add postage when returning your completed ballot by mail.
Is there in-person voting or early voting?
No. In a Mail Ballot Election, there is no early voting and no in-person voting on Election Day.
How do I return my completed ballot?
You may:
- Return it by mail, or
- Deliver it in person to the Elections Headquarters in Doral at
2700 NW 87th Avenue.
When is the deadline to return my ballot?
Your completed ballot must be received by the Elections Department no later than 7 p.m. on Tuesday, April 21, 2026.
Postmarked ballots cannot be accepted.
What is the last day to register to vote?
The voter registration deadline is Monday, March 23, 2026.
You must be registered by this date to participate in the Mail Ballot Referendum Election.
Is a Mail Ballot Election secure?
Yes. Mail Ballot Elections in Miami-Dade County are safe, secure, and transparent, with multiple safeguards in place to protect voters and ensure accurate results.
What happens if my signature is missing or doesn’t match?
You may correct, or “cure,” the issue by submitting:
- A Cure Affidavit, and
- A copy of your identification
These must be received by 5 p.m. on the second day after the election (Thursday, April 23, 2026).
Can I cure my ballot if my residential address is missing?
No. A ballot cannot be cured if the complete residential address including zip code is not provided in the designated box on the Voter Certificate.
What if I lose or damage my ballot?
You may request a replacement mail ballot.
What is the deadline to request a replacement ballot?
Replacement ballots may be requested up to 7 p.m. on Election Day.
The deadline to have a replacement ballot mailed to you is 5 p.m. on the 12th calendar day before Election Day (Thursday, April 9, 2026).
How do I request a replacement ballot?
All replacement ballots must be requested in writing by submitting a Replacement Mail Ballot Oath.
Does receiving a mail ballot mean I’m signed up for vote-by-mail in the future?
No. Receiving a ballot for this Mail Ballot Election does not automatically enroll you in vote-by-mail for future elections.
Do I need to renew my vote-by-mail request?
Yes. Under Florida law, vote-by-mail requests must be renewed after every general election.
Have more questions?
Please refer to the enclosed Mail Ballot Instructions or contact Miami-Dade County Elections.
Summary of Items on the Ballot
For full questions, see hub below.
- Moving the election date from April 2027 to November 2026
- Adding a charter provision prohibiting further changes to the election date via ordinance
- Requiring a vote of the electors prior to changes to the fund balance and reserve policy and/or use of the city’s reserves, except during certain emergencies
- Requiring a vote of the electors prior to any changes to the compensation of elected officials beyond the annual CPI adjustment
- Amending the charter to require a charter review committee every ten years beginning in 2035, and setting the composition of that committee
- Amending the charter to authorize Inspector General services, as needed
- Amending the charter to allow the appointing commissioner or appointed official to remove a board member prior the end of their term
- Amending the charter to remove the run-off provision in the general municipal election
Referendum and Ballot Instructions Videos
Questions on the Ballot
In this section
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Amending the Charter to Change the City's Election Date to Coincide with National Elections
Change the month and day when the City of Coral Gables holds its general elections from April of each odd year to the date of the national election in November of each even year commencing in 2026, resulting in an approximately four-month reduction of current elected official’s terms and adjustment of associated dates with the intention of increasing voter turnout and decreasing the cost of general elections?
Summary: Moving the election date from April 2027 to November 2026.
Amending the Charter to Prohibit Further Changes to the Election Date Via Ordinance
Shall the City Charter be amended to:
Prohibit changing the City’s general election date away from November of even-numbered years through the adoption of an ordinance by the City Commission, in so far as that prohibition is not in conflict with state law?
Summary: Adding a charter provision prohibiting further changes to the election date via ordinance.
Fund Reserve Policy and Voter Approval of Policy Amendment or Fund Expenditure
Shall the City Charter be amended to require:
That the City maintain a twenty-five percent general fund reserve requirement and other fund requirements as adopted by the Commission in Ordinance No. 2025-05, and require that amending the City’s fund balance and reserve policy, or expending funds from the General Fund Reserve, except in those emergency situations outlined in the Ordinance, require an affirmative vote of the electors?
Summary: Requiring a vote of the electors prior to changes to the fund balance and reserve policy and/or use of the city’s reserves, except during certain emergencies
Requiring a Vote of the Electors Prior To Changing The Compensation Of City Elected Officials
Shall the City Charter be amended to require:
That any change to the compensation of the City’s elected officials, beyond the annual adjustment to compensation based on the Consumer Price Index as set forth in the Code, requires an affirmative vote of the electors prior to adoption by the City Commission?
Summary: Requiring a vote of the electors prior to any changes to the compensation of elected officials beyond the annual CPI adjustment.
Requiring a Decennial Review of the City Charter
That the City Commission convene a Charter Review Committee every ten (10) years beginning in 2035, to review the Charter and provide recommendations on potential amendments, with the Committee consisting of seven members with the Commissioners and City Manager each appointing a resident of the City and the City Attorney appointing a current or former municipal or county attorney?
Summary: Amending the charter to require a charter review committee every ten years beginning in 2035, and setting the composition of that committee.
Authorizing a Contracted Inspector General as Needed for the City of Coral Gables
Shall the City Charter be amended to authorize a contract with Miami-Dade County or a private entity to provide inspector general services, as needed, to the City to investigate, audit, and oversee municipal matters in order to identify efficiencies and investigate and prevent fraud, waste, mismanagement and abuse of power, and who can subpoena witnesses and require production of documents, and whose appointment, term,
functions, and powers shall be established by ordinance?
Summary: Amending the charter to authorize Inspector General services, as needed.
Allowing Commissioners or Officials to Remove Board Members Prior to the Expiration of Their Term
Shall the City Charter be amended to:
Allow the City Commissioner, or appointed official, who appointed a member to a City board or committee, to remove that member from that position prior to the expiration of their term, for any reason, in so far as that removal is not in conflict with state law?
Summary: Amending the charter to allow the appointing commissioner or appointed official to remove a board member prior the end of their term.
Eliminating the Run-Off Election in City Commission and Mayoral Races
Presently the City Charter requires a run-off between the two candidates with the highest vote totals where no candidate received a majority (50 percent plus 1) in the general municipal election. Should the run-off provision be eliminated so that a mayor or commissioner may be elected with a plurality vote (the most votes) even if this does not constitute a majority, understanding that the run-off would be eliminated regardless of when general elections are held?
Summary: Amending the charter to remove the run-off provision in the general municipal election.
