A recent court ruling has thwarted the Miami City Commission's attempt to delay the city's 2025 elections by one year without seeking voter approval. According to NBC Miami, Miami-Dade Circuit Court Judge Valerie Manno Schurr found the ordinance passed by the commission to be unconstitutional, citing the city’s inability to change an election date without the consent of its voters as dictated by the Florida Constitution and city charter.
The city had argued that by postponing the election from November 2025 to November 2026, they aim to align municipal elections with presidential or gubernatorial races to potentially increase voter turnout and reduce election costs, according to the same report from NBC Miami, however, critics have labeled the move as a power grab, alleging it would unduly extend the terms of current officials. The proposal drew criticism from governmental figures, including Florida Attorney General James Uthmeier, which added to the controversial nature of the commission's actions.
The lawsuit that sparked the judicial review was filed by mayoral candidate Emilio Gonzalez, who, alongside Miami Commissioner Joe Carollo, opposed the ordinance. "This is not just a victory for me — it is a triumph for all voters in the City of Miami and across Miami-Dade County who believe in upholding our charter and the rule of law," González said in a statement obtained by The Miami Herald. His attorney, Alan Lawson, echoed this sentiment, celebrating the court's decision for upholding the "fundamental right to vote."
Commissioner Damian Pardo, who sponsored the ordinance, and the Miami City Attorney's Office have both signaled their intentions to appeal the decision according to statements from both parties; the city has submitted a notice of appeal swiftly after the judge’s decision, with the appellate court expected to make a swift ruling to adhere to an August 8 deadline for finalizing the election schedule, as was reported by The Miami Herald. Meanwhile, Miami-Dade County Commissioner Eileen Higgins praised the ruling as a significant win for democracy and indicated her openness to supporting a shift to even-year elections, as long as it reflects the will of the voters. She emphasized a preference for shortening terms rather than extending them without voter approval.
In her ruling, Judge Manno Schurr emphasized that any amendment to the City Charter must be approved by a vote of the electorate, as outlined within the Miami-Dade County Home Rule Charter. The city had relied on Florida statutes that allow municipalities to change election dates by ordinance, but Judge Manno Schurr found this to be inconsistent with the city's charter, which requires voter approval for such changes. Her decision emphasized that elected officials cannot extend their terms without direct voter consent.
