By Coral Gables Gazette staff

Ballots for Coral Gables’ special vote-by-mail election were mailed Thursday to more than 37,000 voters, launching a referendum that will decide how the city conducts elections, oversees government activity, and manages public funds for years to come.

The Miami-Dade County Supervisor of Elections mailed 37,332 ballots from its facility in Doral, beginning a mail-only election in which voters will decide eight proposed amendments to the city’s charter.

Because there are no candidates on the ballot, the election is being conducted entirely by mail, a format election officials say reduces costs.

Voters who have not yet registered in Miami-Dade County have until Monday, March 23 to do so. All ballots must be received — not postmarked — by 7 p.m. on Tuesday, April 21.

How the mail-only election works

This election has no polling places, no early voting sites, and no local drop boxes. All registered Coral Gables voters will receive a ballot automatically at the address on their voter registration.

Ballots may be returned by mail or delivered in person to the Miami-Dade Supervisor of Elections office at 2700 NW 87th Ave. in Doral. No other drop-off locations are available.

Postmarks do not count. A ballot that is postmarked before the deadline but received after 7 p.m. on April 21 will not be counted. Postage is not required to return a ballot by mail.

Most ballot errors cannot be corrected after submission. City Clerk Billy Y. Urquia has advised voters that missing a zip code, name, or address on the return envelope cannot be cured and will result in the ballot not being counted. Signature mismatches can be corrected through an established cure process.

Voters who need a replacement ballot may request one in writing at the Doral office before 7 p.m. on April 21, or request a mailed replacement by 5 p.m. on April 9.

Voters should confirm that their registration address is current before the March 23 deadline. Address changes may be made through the Miami-Dade County Supervisor of Elections website or by calling 305-499-8444. Under Florida law, mail ballots may only be delivered to the address on a voter’s registration and cannot be forwarded.

What voters will decide

The ballot contains eight proposed charter amendments. Here is what each one asks and what a vote would mean:

Referendum One — Election timing
Asks whether Coral Gables should move city elections from April of odd-numbered years to November of even-numbered years, beginning in 2026.
A yes vote aligns municipal elections with state and national contests.
A no vote keeps elections in April.
If approved, current elected officials’ terms would be reduced by approximately four months.

Referendum Two — Locking in the date change
Asks whether future changes to the election date should require voter approval.
A yes vote requires voter approval for future election date changes.
A no vote allows the commission to change the date by vote.

Referendum Three — Board member removal
Asks whether the commissioner or charter officer who appointed a board or committee member should be able to remove that member without a full commission vote.
A yes vote gives individual commissioners and charter officers removal authority.
A no vote keeps the current requirement for a majority commission vote.

Referendum Four — Charter review committee
Asks whether the city should be required to convene a charter review committee every ten years beginning in 2035.
A yes vote formalizes the review cycle in the charter.
A no vote leaves it to the commission’s discretion.

Referendum Five — Inspector general
Asks whether the city should be authorized to contract for independent inspector general services with subpoena power to investigate fraud, waste, and abuse.
A yes vote authorizes the city to establish inspector general services.
A no vote does not authorize the arrangement.

Referendum Six — Commissioner pay raises
Asks whether voter approval should be required for pay increases beyond automatic cost-of-living adjustments.
A yes vote requires voters to approve raises above the cost-of-living adjustment.
A no vote keeps that authority with the commission.

Referendum Seven — Runoff elections
Asks whether runoff elections should be eliminated, allowing candidates to win with a plurality of votes.
A yes vote ends runoffs and allows plurality winners.
A no vote keeps the current system requiring a candidate to receive more than 50 percent of votes to win.

Referendum Eight — Reserve fund
Asks whether a 25 percent general fund reserve requirement should be placed in the city charter and require four of five commissioners to approve non-emergency spending.
A yes vote places the reserve requirement in the charter.
A no vote keeps the policy in place through commission vote but not in the charter.

The most consequential questions

Three of the eight referendums carry the broadest implications for how Coral Gables is governed.

Referendum One on election timing is the most politically contested. Supporters say moving elections to November will increase voter participation and reduce costs. Critics argue that local races will be overshadowed by national and state contests.

Referendum Five on inspector general services would give the city authority to establish independent oversight with subpoena power, a tool the city does not currently have. If approved, the commission would still need to determine how those services are structured.

Referendum Seven on runoff elections would end a system designed to ensure majority support for candidates. Supporters say runoffs are costly and produce low turnout. Opponents argue that eliminating them could allow candidates to win with only a plurality in crowded races.

Key dates and deadlines

Date	Deadline
Monday, March 23	Voter registration and address change deadline
Thursday, April 9	Deadline to request a replacement ballot by mail
Tuesday, April 21, 7 p.m.	Election Day — ballots must be received (not postmarked)

Ballots may be delivered in person to the Miami-Dade Supervisor of Elections office at 2700 NW 87th Ave. in Doral.

The outcome of the eight ballot questions will shape how Coral Gables conducts elections, oversees government activity, and manages public funds, placing long-term decisions about the city’s structure directly in voters’ hands.

Voters with questions about the election may call the Miami-Dade Elections Department hotline at 305-722-VOTE (8683). Complete ballot language and a sample ballot are available on the city’s website.