Tuesday is Election Day in Miami-Dade. Here’s what you need to know before you vote

Voters in Miami-Dade will head to the polls on Tuesday to weigh in on several key federal, state and local races.

Among the highest-profile items on the ticket: the primaries for U.S. Senate and Miami-Dade sheriff, as well as the election for county mayor. But there are plenty of other races for voters to decide on, including contests for school board and county commission seats.

Here’s what you need to know before you head to the polls on Tuesday:

When does Election Day voting begin?

Polls open on Tuesday at 7 a.m. and close at 7 p.m. If you’re already in line by 7 p.m. but haven’t had a chance to vote yet, don’t sweat it. Polls will stay open later, if necessary, to allow those waiting in line to cast their ballots, though anyone who shows up after polls close will be turned away.

Miami-Dade County Supervisor of Elections Christina White said that she recommends getting to your voting site as early as possible to avoid any unexpected lines or logistical hiccups.

“My message there is don’t risk it,” White told the Miami Herald. “Don’t wait until the last minute. You’ve already waited until the last minute as is, so try to get there as early as you can.”

Click here for the Miami Herald Editorial Board’s recommendations

What’s on the ballot?

Because Florida has closed primaries, only voters registered with a political party will be allowed to cast their ballots in certain races, like the Democratic and Republican primaries for U.S. Senate or Miami-Dade sheriff.

That being said, there are still several nonpartisan contests on Tuesday’s ballot that all voters will be able to weigh in on, regardless of party affiliation. These include races for county judges, county commissioners and, perhaps most prominently, Miami-Dade mayor.

There are also a couple other things that you’ll see on the ballot: a non-binding “straw ballot” question asking whether Miami-Dade County should expand its existing rapid mass transit system, like the Metrorail and Metromover, and a referendum on whether to approve construction of a new fire station at Flamingo Park in Miami Beach.

Depending on where you live, you might also see some other municipal issues on your ballot. Voters in Miami Gardens will have the chance to pick their next mayor, as well as some city council members, while voters in Medley will see four proposed charter amendments and Coral Gables voters will be asked a non-binding question about whether the city should pursue the annexation of Little Gables.

Miami voters are also set to weigh in on two proposed charter amendments that, if approved, would eliminate the position of the city’s independent auditor general and replace it with an independent inspector general. Another proposed referendum asks voters whether to keep outdoor gym equipment in place at Maurice A. Ferré Park in Downtown Miami.

Sample ballots for the primaries and county-wide races can be found here, and sample ballots for the municipal elections are posted here.

Where do I go to vote?

Your polling site on Tuesday will depend on the address where you’re registered to vote. The Miami-Dade Elections Department has an online tool that will help you locate your Election Day precinct, so if you’re not sure, check before you go cast your ballot. You can also call 3-1-1 to check your precinct location or take a look at your voter information card.

What do I need to bring with me?

Registered voters will have to show a current, valid ID that includes their name, photo and signature on it when they go to vote on Tuesday. The easiest option for that, White said, is to simply provide your driver’s license or ID card issued by the Florida Department of Highway Safety and Motor vehicles, which meet all three of those requirements.

If you don’t have a driver’s license or state-issued ID, you can provide a combination of two other forms of ID that contain your name, photo and signature, White said. For example, if you have a veteran ID card with just your name and photo on it, you can show that along with a debit or credit card with your signature on it.

Check here for a full list of acceptable IDs and documents.

If I still have a mail ballot, what do I do with it?

All mail-in ballots have to be received by county elections officials by 7 p.m. on Tuesday, when Election Day polls close, so if you still have your mail ballot on hand, it’s likely too late to mail your ballot back to the elections department.

“If you still have your vote by mail ballot on Monday, I’m not recommending you place it in the mail,” White said. “The 7 p.m. Election Night deadline is Florida law and it’s a very strict law. So if it’s not there by 7 p.m. it can’t be counted as valid.”

If you have an unreturned mail ballot, White said you can drop it off on Election Day at the Elections Department office at 2700 NW 87th Avenue in Doral or at the department’s branch office at 111 NW First Street in Downtown Miami.

However, White recommends simply going to your regular voting precinct and voting in person instead of trying to return your mail ballot.

“Your most convenient option is to just go into your precinct and vote in person,” she said.