Don’t let Florida suppress your vote, Miami-Dade residents. Request mail-in ballots — right now | Opinion

For the sake of making your voice count, for the sake of pushing back against voter suppression, for the sake of this democracy, go online to request your mail-in ballot now — right this very minute! — and ask to automatically receive one for each election through the general election in 2024.

Your previous request has expired. Who knew?

The Republican-led Florida Legislature, aiding and abetting Gov. Ron DeSantis in the quest to erect hurdles to the ballot box, especially for Democrats — and particularly for Black voters — now demand, by law, that Floridians request mail-in ballots after every two general elections, instead of after every four. Now, voters have to remember to make the request twice as often. The law kicked in after November’s genera election.

It’s another cynical ploy in which some people might be unaware, too distracted or simply neglect to re-up. It’s in keeping with the state’s needless election police force, eliminating two Black-majority congressional districts and arresting ex-felons for voting even though the state said they could.

Of course, no matter one’s party affiliation, every Floridian eligible to vote has to make the request in order to automatically receive a mail-in ballot.

Call to action

Let’s take an affirmative stand and make the extra effort to not fall victim to these anti-democratic schemes.

“It’s simple to re-enroll,” Christina White, Miami-Dade County’s supervisor of elections, told the Editorial Board. “Go to iamelectionready.org, click in the blue box and re-enroll today.”

In 2023 alone, there are at least 20 municipal elections, including possible runoffs, on the schedule. Golden Beach’s general election is coming up on Feb. 21. A special election in Miami to replace District 2’s former commissioner, Ken Russell, follows a week later on Feb. 27. Such races usually are plagued by low turnout. We urge residents to get engaged, be accountable and not foolishly suppress their own votes.

Of course, in 2024, voters will weigh in, not just on an assortment of municipal races, but the highly fraught presidential primaries in March and the presidential race in November.

Mail-in ballots have become an increasing popular way to vote. For last year’s Nov. 8 general election, the Elections Department mailed out more that 400,000 ballots.

This year, White says the department is paying close attention to how many requests to re-enroll come in, and when. The new state requirement might be a hindrance.

Some concerns

“We have only 3,300 enrolled. This makes it difficult for us to project turnout and decide where to put resources,” White said, especially if voters wait until the last minute. “We will monitor and target voters who have not complied, who are putting it off or change their mind,” she said. “We’re a little concerned,

And White is being pro-active. “We’re going to send emails to all the people who have expired.”

There are options for submitting the mail-in ballot — slip it in a mailbox, turn it in at the Election Department’s Doral headquarters, 2700 NW 87th Ave., or find an official drop box, a task the misguided Legislature has made more difficult by limiting their locations and availability.

According to White, voters can request a ballot for specific elections, so they won’t be completely left out of this most convenient and increasingly popular way to vote.

But, we say, why bother? Re-enroll for the entire two-year cycle now. Don’t suppress your own vote.