Local Politics · Broward County
In-person early voting for Florida's 2026 midterm elections runs Monday, Oct. 19 through Sunday, Nov. 1 at 30 locations in Broward County and 28 in Palm Beach County, open 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. Residents wanting a vote-by-mail ballot must file a request with their county Supervisor of Elections by 5 p.m. Thursday, Oct. 22; mail ballots must be received at the elections office by 7 p.m. on Election Day, Nov. 3. Broward added two new early voting sites near the busy Davie-Cooper City Library, while Palm Beach added Lake Worth and Loxahatchee Groves campuses of Palm Beach State College. Voters need a current photo ID with signature; student and retirement center IDs are accepted this election but not future ones. Ballot measures include Broward's sales tax increase for health screenings, Palm Beach's parks-and-recreation tax, and numerous city referendums (10 in Fort Lauderdale, 9 in Deerfield Beach, 8 in Lauderdale-by-the-Sea).
Public Safety · Doral, FL
The G20 Leaders Summit will be held Dec. 14-15 at Trump National Doral in Miami-Dade County, designated a National Special Security Event with the U.S. Secret Service as lead coordinating agency. Federal, state, and local agencies including FBI, FEMA, Broward, Palm Beach, and Miami-Dade counties began public messaging Monday to warn residents of upcoming traffic changes and increased law enforcement presence in Doral. Specific road closures and security zones have not yet been released; the city of Doral plans a news conference Oct. 28 with additional preparation details. Officials urged residents to plan ahead and follow guidance from local public safety agencies as more information becomes available.
Local Politics · Miami-Dade County
Early voting for the general election runs Monday through Nov. 1 in Miami-Dade and Broward counties, and until Oct. 31 in Monroe County. Voters will decide races including governor (Byron Donalds vs. David Jolly), a U.S. Senate special election (Ashley Moody vs. Angie Nixon), and Congressional Districts 25 and 27. Amendment 3 would increase the homestead exemption from $50,000 to $150,000 in 2027 and $250,000 in 2028. Miami-Dade and Broward counties each have school-funding referendums to renew a property tax for teacher pay, student safety, and mental health services. City of Miami Referendum 3 proposes leasing 30 acres of Virginia Key to a new developer for a marina project.
Local Politics · Miami-Dade County
Early voting for the 2026 midterm elections opened at 7 a.m. Monday in Miami-Dade, Broward, and Palm Beach counties, and at 8:30 a.m. in Monroe County. Voters will decide races including governor (Byron Donalds vs. David Jolly), U.S. Senate (Ashley Moody vs. Angie Nixon), and competitive congressional districts 25 and 27. Ballot measures include Florida Amendment 3 on homestead exemptions, school funding renewals in Miami-Dade and Broward, and a Virginia Key waterfront lease vote in Miami. Early voting runs through Nov. 1 in Miami-Dade, Broward, and Palm Beach counties, and through Oct. 31 in Monroe County.
Want tomorrow's South Miami edition in your inbox? It's free.
Subscribe free
Public Safety · Miami-Dade County
Federal regulations and the Florida Building Code prohibit single-family homeowners in flood zones from installing permanent flood barriers such as flood panels, with violations risking loss of National Flood Insurance Program coverage or denied claims. Miami-Dade County does not issue residential flood panel permits, while Naples allows them for some homes with sufficiently strong foundations, and Fort Myers Beach stopped issuing them after FEMA intervention. Custom certified flood panels cost approximately $22,000 for a typical three-bedroom home, though temporary barriers like inflatable dams and door-mounted gates are generally permitted. The NFIP reimburses up to $1,000 for sandbags, lumber, or pumps when a flood is imminent, plus federal minimum wage for installation labor.
Housing & Development · Broward County
United Way ALICE data published in 2024 estimates that 41% of households in Miami-Dade County and 36% in Broward County are Asset Limited, Income Constrained, Employed—earning above the federal poverty level but unable to consistently cover housing, childcare, healthcare, food, and transportation. Broward County recorded 16,666 eviction filings in 2025 (roughly 60 per 1,000 renter households), while Miami-Dade logged 16,814 filings that year, according to the University of Florida's Florida Housing Data Clearinghouse. Kathleen Cannon, CEO of United Way of Broward County, said most residents spend 50% to 60% of income on housing alone. The article highlights Mission United, a United Way program connecting veterans with community resources, as one avenue for assistance.
