Election 2026
Your November 3 Ballot: A Miami Gardens Voter Guide
Miami Gardens voters will settle a City Council runoff on November 3, along with county, state, and federal races.
Election Day is Tuesday, November 3, and Miami Gardens voters have more than federal and state races to decide. The City Council Seat 4 race is headed to a runoff, a former Miami Gardens council member is in a School Board runoff, and a statewide property tax amendment could reshape local budgets. Here is a nonpartisan look at what is on the ballot and every date you need to know.
Monday, October 5: voter registration deadline. Monday, October 19 to Sunday, November 1: early voting at 28 sites in Miami-Dade, starting at 7:00 a.m. daily. Thursday, October 22, 5:00 p.m.: deadline to request a vote-by-mail ballot. Tuesday, November 3: Election Day, polls open 7:00 a.m. to 7:00 p.m. Mail ballots must be received by 7:00 p.m.
Miami Gardens City Council, Seat 4 runoff
Seat 4 represents the southwest part of the city. No candidate won a majority in the August 18 city election, so under the city charter, the top two finishers meet in a runoff on November 3. Mykita Cherry-Prime finished first with about 46% of the vote, and Rod Mack finished second with about 40%. Third-place finisher Angela Maria Wynter is no longer in the race.
Mykita Cherry-Prime
A Miami Gardens native who describes herself as a fourth-generation resident, Cherry-Prime is a Miami-Dade County Public Schools teacher and department chair at Miami Norland Senior High School. She is a Florida A&M University graduate and previously ran for the seat in 2022. Her platform has focused on safety, education, and health, including traffic safety measures such as speed bumps and roundabouts, and reviving a youth advisory board that would include local university students.
Rod Mack
A former University of Miami linebacker, Mack has worked in finance for more than two decades and co-founded the Miami Gardens Ravens youth football program. His campaign emphasizes accountable leadership, safer neighborhoods, responsible growth, and protecting homeownership, along with his record in youth mentorship.
The winner will serve a four-year term. Seat 4 voters only will see this race on their ballot, so check your sample ballot to confirm.
Miami-Dade School Board, District 1 runoff
Many Miami Gardens voters will also see the School Board District 1 runoff. Former Miami Gardens Councilwoman Katrina Wilson, who previously held Seat 4, faces longtime teacher and radio host Linda Cothiere. School Board races are nonpartisan.
Amendment 3: property taxes
Florida voters will decide three proposed constitutional amendments. The one with the biggest local impact is Amendment 3, which deals with property taxes. Like all constitutional amendments, it needs at least 60% of the vote to pass.
What it would do
Amendment 3 would raise the homestead exemption from the current $50,000 to $150,000 in 2027 and $250,000 in 2028. The larger exemption would apply only to non-school property taxes on a primary residence. It would also lower the annual assessment cap on non-homestead properties, such as rentals and commercial property, from 10% to 5%, and require new residents to wait five years before claiming the higher exemption.
What supporters say
Supporters, including the Florida Republican Party and Florida Realtors, argue it would deliver significant tax relief to homeowners and make homeownership more affordable.
What opponents say
Opponents, including groups representing Florida sheriffs and firefighters, warn it would sharply cut local government revenue. Estimates for Miami-Dade County alone run into the hundreds of millions of dollars a year, and critics argue the gap could lead to service cuts or higher taxes and fees elsewhere. The City of Miami Gardens has noted on its website that the proposal would affect the city if passed.
For a full, neutral breakdown, read the official ballot language on your sample ballot before you vote.
Congress and other races
Miami Gardens voters will also choose a member of Congress. Former Miami Gardens mayor and current county commissioner Oliver Gilbert is the Democratic nominee for Florida's 24th Congressional District. Read more in our Oliver Gilbert story. State and county races also appear on the ballot.
How to vote
Early voting
Vote at any of Miami-Dade's 28 early voting sites from October 19 through November 1, starting at 7:00 a.m. daily. You do not have to use the site closest to home, and you can drop off a completed mail ballot at any early voting site during early voting hours.
Vote by mail
Request your ballot by 5:00 p.m. on Thursday, October 22. Under Florida law, vote-by-mail requests must be renewed for future election cycles, so confirm yours is active. Return it early: it must be received by 7:00 p.m. on November 3.
Election Day
On November 3, you must vote at your assigned polling place, open 7:00 a.m. to 7:00 p.m. Find it on your voter information card or through the Miami-Dade Elections Department.
Not sure you are registered, or moved recently? You have until Monday, October 5, to register or update your address. Contact the Miami-Dade County Elections Department to check your status and view your sample ballot. For everything else happening this month, see our October 2026 events guide.
Frequently asked questions
Who is running for Miami Gardens City Council Seat 4?
Mykita Cherry-Prime and Rod Mack are in the November 3, 2026, runoff for Miami Gardens City Council Seat 4. Cherry-Prime received about 46% and Mack about 40% in the August 18 city election.
What is the voter registration deadline for the November 3, 2026 election?
The voter registration deadline is Monday, October 5, 2026.
When is early voting in Miami-Dade for the 2026 general election?
Early voting runs Monday, October 19, through Sunday, November 1, 2026, at 28 locations across Miami-Dade County, starting at 7:00 a.m. daily.
What is Florida Amendment 3 on the 2026 ballot?
Amendment 3 would raise Florida’s homestead exemption for non-school property taxes from $50,000 to $150,000 in 2027 and $250,000 in 2028, and lower the assessment cap on non-homestead properties from 10% to 5%. It needs at least 60% of the vote to pass.
When is the deadline to request a vote-by-mail ballot in Miami-Dade?
The deadline to request a vote-by-mail ballot is Thursday, October 22, 2026, at 5:00 p.m. Completed ballots must be received by 7:00 p.m. on November 3.
MiamiGardens.com does not endorse candidates or ballot measures. This guide is based on public information from the Miami-Dade Elections Department, the City of Miami Gardens, candidate statements, and news reports as of October 1, 2026. Confirm your registration, polling place, and sample ballot with the Miami-Dade County Elections Department. Published: October 1, 2026.
