Miami officials say legal battle is over. Election is back on for November

The city of Miami is abandoning its effort to postpone the November election to 2026 without voter approval, ending a monthslong legal battle that suspended the city’s upcoming municipal races in a state of uncertainty.

After Florida’s Third District Court of Appeal on Friday denied the city’s request for a rehearing in an election lawsuit brought by mayoral candidate Emilio González, the city officials who pushed for the change are waving the white flag.

The City Attorney’s Office did not respond to a request for comment about next steps. But on Tuesday, Mayor Francis Suarez and Commissioner Damian Pardo — who championed the measure to move the city from odd- to even-year elections — said they now want to send the proposed change to voters for approval.

Suarez called for a special meeting Friday to send a referendum to the November ballot that would align the city with the national election cycle. In a statement Tuesday, he said that doing so would “save the taxpayers millions of dollars” and “increase voter participation significantly.“


https://www.newsbreak.com/miami-herald-1592483/4210706859352-miami-officials-say-legal-battle-is-over-election-is-back-on-for-november