# Miami Gardens Has Voted: What Happens Next After the August 18 Election --- url: https://miamigardens.com/miami-gardens-election-what-happens-next/ author: David published: 2026-08-19 modified: 2026-08-19 type: post categories: News tags: City Council, City Government, Civic Engagement, Election 2026, Election Results, Miami Gardens --- > Miami Gardens voted on August 18. Here is what happens next: how results become official, when new council members take office, and whether Seats 2 or 4 could head to a runoff. Miami Gardens Election Results: What Happens Next | August 2026 ** # Miami Gardens Has Voted: What Happens Next After the August 18 Election By MiamiGardens.com Editorial** · August 19, 2026 · 5 min read * The polls have closed and the votes are being counted. Here's what happens next as Miami Gardens finalizes its August 18 election results. The polls are closed and **Miami Gardens** has voted. In yesterday's August 18 [general election](/miami-gardens-election-day-august-18/), residents cast ballots for City Council members in Residential Area Seat 2, Residential Area Seat 4, and At-Large Seat 6. Now comes the part that unfolds after Election Night: counting, certifying, and, in some cases, deciding whether a race is truly settled. Here's a clear guide to what happens next and where to follow the outcome. **Looking for the numbers?** Unofficial results are posted by the Miami-Dade County Supervisor of Elections and update as ballots are counted. See the latest official tallies at **votemiamidade.gov**. Because results are unofficial until formally certified, we're pointing you to the authoritative source rather than repeating numbers that may still be changing. ## Unofficial tonight, official later On Election Night, the Supervisor of Elections begins posting unofficial results shortly after polls close at 7:00 pm. These early numbers include early voting, vote-by-mail, and Election Day ballots as they're tabulated. But "unofficial" is the key word. The count isn't final until it goes through a formal process in the days that follow. After Election Day, the county canvassing board reviews and finalizes the count, including eligible provisional ballots and any remaining valid mail ballots. Only after this canvassing process is complete are the results officially certified. It's normal and expected for numbers to shift slightly between Election Night and certification. This is the system working as designed, ensuring every valid vote is counted accurately. Election Night gives you a strong preview. Certification makes it official. The gap between them is the system doing its careful, deliberate work. ## Could a race go to a runoff? This is the big question in Miami Gardens this year, and it's a real possibility. Here's the rule: in a City Council race with more than two candidates, a candidate must receive **more than 50% of the vote** to win outright. If no one crosses that threshold, the top two finishers advance to a runoff election held later in the year. Why does that matter now? Because two of the three races on this ballot were crowded: SeatCandidatesRunoff possible? Residential Area 2Three candidates (open seat)Yes, if no one exceeds 50% Residential Area 4Three candidates (open seat)Yes, if no one exceeds 50% At-Large Seat 6One candidate (unopposed)No, decided With three candidates each in Seats 2 and 4, it's entirely possible that no candidate reached a majority, which would send the top two vote-getters in that race to a runoff. Seat 6, by contrast, was uncontested, so it was effectively decided before a single ballot was cast. If either contested race heads to a runoff, we'll let readers know the date and the matchup. ## When do the winners take office? Once results are certified (and any required runoff is completed), the newly elected council members are sworn in to begin their four-year terms. Newly elected officials in Miami Gardens are typically seated at a designated council meeting following certification. The exact swearing-in date is set by the city, so watch for the announcement. ## What these new council members will shape Whoever takes these seats will have real influence over daily life in Miami Gardens. City Council members vote on the budget and property tax rate, guide development and zoning, oversee city services and code enforcement, fund parks and programs, and set the priorities that shape the city's future. The people elected this week will help steer Miami Gardens through an exciting period of growth, from post-World Cup momentum to major new development. Their decisions will matter. ## Stay engaged after the election Voting is the beginning of civic participation, not the end. Once your new representatives are seated, you can stay involved by attending City Council meetings, sharing your concerns, and holding your elected officials accountable to the priorities they campaigned on. Local government works best when residents stay engaged year-round, not just on Election Day. **Follow the outcome:** For official, updating results, visit the Miami-Dade Supervisor of Elections at votemiamidade.gov. For questions about the city's election and swearing-in, contact the Miami Gardens City Clerk at 305-622-8000, ext. 2830. We'll continue covering the results and any runoffs as they're confirmed. ## Frequently asked questions ### Where can I find Miami Gardens election results? Official and unofficial results for the August 18, 2026 Miami Gardens election are posted by the Miami-Dade County Supervisor of Elections at votemiamidade.gov. Unofficial results begin posting shortly after polls close at 7 pm on Election Night and update as ballots are counted, becoming official once certified by the county canvassing board. ### Will there be a runoff in the Miami Gardens election? A runoff is possible in the contested races. In Miami Gardens council races with more than two candidates, if no candidate receives more than 50% of the vote, the top two finishers advance to a runoff later in the year. Seats 2 and 4 each had three candidates, so either could go to a runoff. At-Large Seat 6 was uncontested. Check votemiamidade.gov for results. ### When do newly elected Miami Gardens council members take office? Newly elected Miami Gardens City Council members are sworn in to begin their four-year terms after results are certified and any required runoff is completed. The swearing-in typically takes place at a designated council meeting following certification, on a date set by the city. Election process information based on Miami-Dade County and City of Miami Gardens procedures. For official results, visit votemiamidade.gov. Results are unofficial until certified. 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