Residents will be able to vote on several items regarding the city’s election process in 2026. This is a special mail ballot. All registered voters will automatically be sent by mail-in ballots. Please note: This referendum will be conducted entirely by mail-in ballot. You will not receive any other mail ballots unless you sign up for vote-by-mail.
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 may return ballots by mail or drop them off 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 must be filled in. Include full address.
- Remember to sign inside the red box on the back of the vote-by-mail envelope. See Miami-Dade's vote-by-mail flyer for an example of where you need to sign. Failure to include a signature will result in your ballot not being counted. Ballot curing will not be available for this referendum.
- For more assistance, see Miami-Dade's Vote-by-Mail FAQs.
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
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.
