Want to vote before Election Day in South Florida? Here’s where — and tips to follow

Voters will elect a U.S. president, decide state amendments and pick local candidates on Election Day, Nov. 5.

But voters already have been casting their ballots by mail. Now, in-person early voting for the 2024 general election is upon us, too.

Early voting in Miami-Dade, Broward and Monroe opens Monday, Oct. 21.

Many of you may want to take advantage of two weeks of early voting. — maybe to avoid long lines on Election Day, or just to enjoy your civic participation among others.

Here’s a primer on early voting in South Florida:

When are early voting hours?

Early voting at 33 polling locations in Miami-Dade and 28 centers in Broward runs daily from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. Monday, Oct. 21 through Sunday, Nov. 3.

Monroe County runs five early voting sites in the Florida Keys from Monday, Oct. 21 through Saturday, Nov. 2. Hours are 8:30 a.m. to 5 p.m.

As a registered voter, you can visit any early voting location in your county during the early voting period. Miami-Dade voters can’t vote in Broward, or vice-versa.

Important tip: On Election Day, Nov. 5, you may cast your ballot only at your designated voting precinct. You cannot go to an early voting center on Election Day if it is not your precinct.

Another important tip: If you have a completed mail-in ballot in hand, you can bring it to any early voting location during operating hours — there are drop boxes so you don’t have to stand in line. You can also drop if off at the Miami-Dade Elections Department, 2700 NW 87th Ave. in Doral, Monday through Friday from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. But you can’t drop it off at your precinct on Election Day.

KNOW MORE: When can you vote by mail in South Florida? How do you get a ballot? Here are the steps

Early voting begins in Florida for the 2024 general election, which includes the presidential race.
Early voting begins in Florida for the 2024 general election, which includes the presidential race.

What do you need to bring to the voting polls?

When you go to vote, whether at an early voting site or on Election Day, you must have a current and valid photo ID with signature. These can include your Florida driver’s license, a Florida ID card issued by the Department of Highway Safety and Motor Vehicles, a U.S. passport and a government-issued employee ID.

Your voter information card isn’t required, but it doesn’t hurt to bring it.

To see a full list of IDs accepted in Miami-Dade, visit miamidade.gov/elections and click on Voter Toolkit. For Broward, visit browardvotes.gov and click “Voter ID Requirements.”

How to check your sample ballot

You can review your ballot before heading to the polls. You’ll know who and what is on the ballot and that can give you time to read up on candidates and issues if you need more information before voting. You can find your customized sample ballot through the Miami-Dade and Broward election websites.

ASSISTANCE TIPS:

You can bring a sample ballot or list or newspaper with recommendations if you follow them or need a reminder on how you planned to vote. The material may be printed or on a phone.

Voters may choose someone to assist them with voting. Florida allows voters who need assistance to vote, and they must fill out a Declaration to Secure Assistance. An election official can assist, but if the voter brings a person to help, that person must fill out a Declaration to Provide Assistance. Both of these forms are available at the voting location.

Miami-Dade early voting sites

Here are Miami-Dade’s 33 early voting sites.

Arcola Lakes Branch Library, 8240 NW Seventh Ave.

California Club Branch Library, 700 Ives Dairy Rd.

Coral Gables Branch Library, 3443 Segovia St.

Coral Reef Branch Library, 9211 SW 152nd St.

Elections Department (Main Office), 2700 NW 87th Ave.

Florida City Youth Activity Center, 650 NW Fifth Ave.

Florida International University (Student Academic Success Center), 11200 SW Eighth St. (Take the entrance on Southwest 107th Avenue. The parking garage is on the right-hand side.)

Historic Garage, 3250 South Miami Ave.

Homestead William F. “Bill” Dickinson Community Center, 1601 N. Krome Ave.

International Mall Branch Library, 10315 NW 12th St., Doral.

John F. Kennedy Library, 190 W. 49th St., Hialeah.

Joseph Caleb Center — Building A, 5400 NW 22nd Ave.

Kendall Branch Library, 9101 SW 97th Ave.

Kendale Lakes Branch Library, 15205 SW 88th St.

Little Haiti Cultural Complex, 212 NE 59th Ter.

Miami Beach City Hall, 1700 Convention Center Dr.

Miami Dade College Kendall Campus — The Fascell Conference Center I, Building K, 11011 SW 104th St. (Entrance is on Southwest 104th St. and Southwest 113th Pl.)

Miami Dade College North Campus — Building 2, 11380 NW 27th Ave.

Miami Lakes Mary Collins Community Center, 15151 NW 82nd Ave.

Naranja Branch Library, 14850 SW 280th St., Homestead.

North Dade Regional Library — Miami Gardens, 2455 NW 183rd St.

North Miami Public Library, 835 NE 132nd St.

North Shore Branch Library, 7501 Collins Ave., Miami Beach.

Northeast Dade-Aventura Branch Library, 2930 Aventura Blvd.

Palmetto Bay Branch Library, 17641 Old Cutler Rd.

Phillip and Patricia Frost Museum of Science, 1101 Biscayne Blvd., Miami.

Pinecrest Branch Library, 5835 SW 111th St.

Rebecca Sosa Multipurpose Facility, 1700 W 56th Ave., Hialeah.

Shenandoah Branch Library, 2111 SW 19th St, Miami.

South Dade Regional Library — Cutler Bay, 10750 SW 211th St.

Stephen P. Clark Center, Elections Branch Office, 111 NW First St.

West Kendall Regional Library, 10201 Hammocks Blvd., Miami.

Westchester Regional Library, 9445 SW 24th St.

Broward

Here are Broward’s 28 early voting locations.

African-American Research Library — Fort Lauderdale, 2650 Sistrunk Blvd. ( NW Sixth St.)

Broward College - A. Hugh Adams Central Campus — Building 3, Room 117, 3501 Davie Rd.

Broward College North Regional Library, 1100 Coconut Creek Blvd.

Broward College — South Regional Library, 7300 Pines Blvd., Pembroke Pines.

Broward County Governmental Center — Supervisor of Elections, Room 110, 115 S. Andrews Ave., Fort Lauderdale.

Carver Ranches Branch Library — West Park, 4735 SW 18th St.

Dania Beach Paul DeMaio Branch Library, 1 Park Ave. East.

Davie/Cooper City Branch Library, 4600 SW 82nd Ave.

E. Pat Larkins Community Center — Supervisor of Elections, 520 Martin Luther King Blvd., Pompano Beach.

Emma Lou Olson Civic Center, 1801 NE Sixth St., Pompano Beach.

Ft. Lauderdale Branch Library/Art Serve, 1350 E. Sunrise Blvd.

Hallandale Beach Cultural Community Center, 410 SE Third St.

Handy, Inc., 1717 North Andrews Ave., Fort Lauderdale.

Hillsboro Community Center, 50 Hillsboro Technology Dr., Deerfield Beach.

Hollywood Branch Library, 2600 Hollywood Blvd.

Island City Cultural Center of Wilton Manors, 600 NE 21st Ct.

Lauderhill Mall — Supervisor of Elections, 1519 NW 40th Ave.

Lauderhill Towne Centre Library, 6399 W. Oakland Park Blvd.

Nob Hill Soccer Club, 10200 Sunset Strip, Sunrise.

North Lauderdale Saraniero Branch Library, 6901 Kimberly Blvd.

Northwest Regional Library — Supervisor of Elections, 3151 University Dr., Coral Springs.

Pine Trails Park Amphitheater, 10561 Trails End, Parkland.

Southwest Regional Library — Supervisor of Elections, 16835 Sheridan St., Pembroke Pines.

Spectrum —Supervisor of Elections, 4650 NW 21st Ave. Fort Lauderdale.

Tamarac Branch Library — Supervisor of Elections, 8701 W. Commercial Blvd.

Tyrone Bryant Branch Library, 2230 NW 21st Ave., Fort Lauderdale.

West Regional Library, 8601 W. Broward Blvd., Plantation.

Weston Branch Library, 4205 Bonaventure Blvd.

Monroe voting sites

Here are the five early voting sites in the Florida Keys

Supervisor of Elections Offices:

5200 College Rd. Key West.

10015 Overseas Hwy., Marathon

102050 Overseas Hwy. #137, Key Largo.

Other Locations:

Big Pine Key Community Park, End of Sands Road, 31009 Atlantis Dr., Big Pine Key.

Islamorada Branch Library, 81830 Overseas Hwy., MM. 81.7 Islamorada.