June 30, 2025 • 11 mins
In this episode of Pulse and Politics, host Alana Sanders breaks down the City of Miami’s controversial decision to cancel its November 2025 municipal elections and move them to 2026. Supporters of the decision argue that aligning elections with state and federal races could increase voter turnout and save the city a significant amount of money. They claim this change could reduce the costs of administering a stand-alone election and improve efficiency.
However, critics—including Florida’s Attorney General—say this is a serious overreach of power. They argue that the City Charter and Florida law require voter approval for any change in election timing or extension of elected terms. Without a referendum, many believe this ordinance violates democratic principles and could face legal challenges.
Alana breaks down the legal arguments, the political motives, and what this decision could mean for cities across the country. Is this a practical financial move or a dangerous disruption of democracy? Tune in to find out.
However, critics—including Florida’s Attorney General—say this is a serious overreach of power. They argue that the City Charter and Florida law require voter approval for any change in election timing or extension of elected terms. Without a referendum, many believe this ordinance violates democratic principles and could face legal challenges.
Alana breaks down the legal arguments, the political motives, and what this decision could mean for cities across the country. Is this a practical financial move or a dangerous disruption of democracy? Tune in to find out.
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Transcript
Episode Transcript
Available transcripts are automatically generated. Complete accuracy is not guaranteed.
Speaker 1 (00:01):
Stay locked in way news meets the heartbeat of the streets.
It's posting politics.
Speaker 2 (00:09):
With Alana Sander.
Speaker 1 (00:12):
Posting politics, turn it up. Loud voices that matter, speaking
truth right now, from the city to the world. Got
the facts so clear. Elina Sanders keeps it real in here.
Breaking news, get the scoop, State Wolke, stay tuned politics,
say coach, every side, review, no spin, just facts in
the booth so sharp. Alina Sanda is bringing knowledge where
(00:34):
the mic and a spark. Posting politics, turn it up.
Loud voices that matter, speaking truth right now, from the
city to the world. Got the fact so clear. Elina
Sanders keeps it real in here. That's the post, That's
the truth only on Pulsing Politics.
Speaker 2 (00:55):
Welcome to Post and Politics, the show where we break
down the seas and power place shaping your world. I'm
your host, Sanders. How many of you call me Commission
Alena Sanders. And to day we're talking about South Florida.
(01:16):
We're gonna take it to Florida, South Florida, Yep, Miami.
But we're not talking about the beaches all the night life.
We're talking about democracy, or in this case, the delay
of it. The delay of democracy. That's right. The City
of Miami has voted to cancel its November twenty twenty
(01:38):
five municipal elections and push them to twenty twenty six. Yes,
you heard me correctly. They voted to extend their own
terms by one year. Let's get into what happens and
why it happened, and what the loss is and why
this could be a much bigger deal than it looks
(02:01):
on the surface. Just go ahead and ring the bell
because class is now in session. Okay, what did Miami
just do? So? On November twenty six, twenty twenty five,
(02:22):
which was just a few days ago, the Miami City
Commission voted three to two to pass an ordnance, an
ordnance that shifts their elections from odd number years like
twenty twenty five, to even number years, starting in twenty
twenty six. That means no local elections this year in
this year twenty twenty five. So what does that mean?
(02:46):
In real terms? It means the current mayor I'm commissioners
get an extra year in office without voters saying so, now,
why would they do this? The Commission says the move
would increase voter turnout, which is true, save money by
(03:07):
aligning with state and federal elections and prove administrative efficiency.
Sounds reasonable, right, maybe, but it depends on who you ask. Now,
they're not incorrect by it saying that it will increase
voter turnout. I've been saying this for the longest, that
elections should align with the federal state elections because we
(03:33):
have seen that voters do not come out to support
local elections. In twenty twenty, when we had all elections
around the presidential campaign presidential election, we saw a huge
voter turnout and we saw many get in office that year.
But we know in some states they use as a
voter suppression, so they keep it away from it being
(03:56):
in the state and federal elections because they know that
many people will turn out for those elections. So they
are correct when it comes to that standard. But what
the critics are saying, now, let's let's flip the coin.
Let's go to where some people may say the devil's
advocate or what the other side is saying. So critics,
including the Florida Attorney General, are calling are calling this
(04:17):
a powergraph, plain and simple. They say the commission is
violating the Miami City Charter, which sets the rules for
how and when officials are elected. Even more important, critics
argue that you cannot legally change election dates are extend
turns without the voters themselves approving it. And here's the
(04:38):
kicker Florida. Florida's law seems to back this up. Okay,
so what is the charter saying. Let's let's break down
the law, the bible of the actual local government, the county.
Let's break that down. Some may call it the charter,
some call it the enabling legislation. Now, let's break it down.
(04:58):
Miami City's charter charter doesn't explicitly allow the Commission to
move elections or extend their own terms without a public vote.
Under Miami Dade County's home rule charter, any changes to
election dates are terms of office must be done through
a referendum, not simple ordinance. Now, Florida's constitution and legal
(05:23):
proceedings re enforce this. Local election terms are sacred and
voters have to approve any changes. It's in their charter.
So when the Commission passed its orders without voter approve,
it opened the door to legal challenges, ramifications, and the
eternal General General is already warning them that what they
did is unlikely or is likely, excuse me, unconstitutional. H
(05:50):
We also have to look up at the makeup of
the government of Florida, the bigger picture. Why does this
matter beyond Miami? Well, if this ordnance stands, it sets
a dangerous president. What's to stop other cities or counties
from doing the same thing, counseling elections and extending their
(06:12):
own terms without asking voters. Now, if we allow local
leaders to change the rules without a vote from the people,
we're not just talking about procedural changes. We're talking about
weakening the foundation of representative governments. And let's be real.
Let's be clear, changing election schedules right before a major
(06:35):
voting year smells a little bit too convenient, especially when
voters already feel like their voices are being drowned out. Now,
we gotta do a little bit more research to see
who was actually on the ballot, who was supposed to
be on the November ballot, or we have to say
it's on the ballot because it has not officially been approved.
There's some challenges with this. The issue may be is
(06:59):
party line, that's that's we gotta keep it real here.
We have to be honest. This move is gonna benefit
the party that that that does not represent Florida. You
get catch my grip, my drift. It does not represent
the majority that represents the party in Florida. They know
(07:23):
that by changing this and placing it with the state,
aligning with state elections, it's gonna bring more voters out,
which is a chance that the majority party that represents
Florida people may not get in or will not be
(07:44):
re elected. So that is their concern. That is the concern.
But on the notes of the county, elections are expensive,
especially if you're not getting additional funding from your state
to run these elections. Also, it's so hard to get
(08:05):
people to work the polls, especially how they're being paid.
In some areas, they don't get paid to after the
elections or weeks after the elections, they don't get paid
doing the election. So there's so much that it comes
to play with finances and dealing with the local government.
So in defense of the Commission, I get it from
(08:28):
the standpoint of finances. I get it from the standpoint
of getting more people out to vote, But I do
not align with excluding the people. Not the charter says
that it should go this way, Then what the commission
should have done was had the charter change. But we
know whoever represents on the state level may not approve that.
(08:51):
So y'all also have to look at their county attorney.
The county attorney who is supposed to protect the county
allow them to move forward with this without any legal ramifications,
are expressing to them what can occur? Then you have
to look at the legal part of this vote that occurred,
(09:14):
and was the county attorney present to say whether they
should go forward or whether they should now? So what
happens now? That's the full question. What happens now? Here's
what to watch next. Legal challenges are expected to come.
That's gonna happen. The state could sue to block the ordnance.
(09:37):
Advocacy groups made mobilized calling on residents to demand their
elections back. If a judge agrees that the ordnance violates
a charter or the state constitution November twenty twenty five,
election could be reinstated. In the meantime, the mayor and
commissioners of Miami have gifted themselves another year in office
(09:58):
with no votes, no no ballot, no consent from the people.
So what's the lesson here? People? What is the lesson here,
my listeners. Democracy isn't just about casting votes. It's about
protecting when and how those votes are cast. From Miami
to your hometown. We've got to stay informed, we gotta
(10:19):
stay loud, and we got to stay involved. That's just important.
But I also want us to look at both sides.
I have to say, elections do costs, and if we
put all the elections at the same time, have everybody
campaigning at the same time, we can save money. We
can also save money with these local board of elections
that are supported by local tax dollars and those areas
(10:41):
that may be in small rural areas to also benefit
them as well. So I get it. I completely understand.
So again, stay informed, stay engaged. I'm gonna be up
on this story. I'm gonna give you more information as
it progresses. This is Atlanta Sanders, and you've been listening
to posts politics where we keep our eyes on the
(11:02):
power plays and our ears to the people. Until next time,
stay woke, stay ready, and stay voting only on poles
and politics
Stay locked in way news meets the heartbeat of the streets.
It's posting politics.
Speaker 2 (00:09):
With Alana Sander.
Speaker 1 (00:12):
Posting politics, turn it up. Loud voices that matter, speaking
truth right now, from the city to the world. Got
the facts so clear. Elina Sanders keeps it real in here.
Breaking news, get the scoop, State Wolke, stay tuned politics,
say coach, every side, review, no spin, just facts in
the booth so sharp. Alina Sanda is bringing knowledge where
(00:34):
the mic and a spark. Posting politics, turn it up.
Loud voices that matter, speaking truth right now, from the
city to the world. Got the fact so clear. Elina
Sanders keeps it real in here. That's the post, That's
the truth only on Pulsing Politics.
Speaker 2 (00:55):
Welcome to Post and Politics, the show where we break
down the seas and power place shaping your world. I'm
your host, Sanders. How many of you call me Commission
Alena Sanders. And to day we're talking about South Florida.
(01:16):
We're gonna take it to Florida, South Florida, Yep, Miami.
But we're not talking about the beaches all the night life.
We're talking about democracy, or in this case, the delay
of it. The delay of democracy. That's right. The City
of Miami has voted to cancel its November twenty twenty
(01:38):
five municipal elections and push them to twenty twenty six. Yes,
you heard me correctly. They voted to extend their own
terms by one year. Let's get into what happens and
why it happened, and what the loss is and why
this could be a much bigger deal than it looks
(02:01):
on the surface. Just go ahead and ring the bell
because class is now in session. Okay, what did Miami
just do? So? On November twenty six, twenty twenty five,
(02:22):
which was just a few days ago, the Miami City
Commission voted three to two to pass an ordnance, an
ordnance that shifts their elections from odd number years like
twenty twenty five, to even number years, starting in twenty
twenty six. That means no local elections this year in
this year twenty twenty five. So what does that mean?
(02:46):
In real terms? It means the current mayor I'm commissioners
get an extra year in office without voters saying so, now,
why would they do this? The Commission says the move
would increase voter turnout, which is true, save money by
(03:07):
aligning with state and federal elections and prove administrative efficiency.
Sounds reasonable, right, maybe, but it depends on who you ask. Now,
they're not incorrect by it saying that it will increase
voter turnout. I've been saying this for the longest, that
elections should align with the federal state elections because we
(03:33):
have seen that voters do not come out to support
local elections. In twenty twenty, when we had all elections
around the presidential campaign presidential election, we saw a huge
voter turnout and we saw many get in office that year.
But we know in some states they use as a
voter suppression, so they keep it away from it being
(03:56):
in the state and federal elections because they know that
many people will turn out for those elections. So they
are correct when it comes to that standard. But what
the critics are saying, now, let's let's flip the coin.
Let's go to where some people may say the devil's
advocate or what the other side is saying. So critics,
including the Florida Attorney General, are calling are calling this
(04:17):
a powergraph, plain and simple. They say the commission is
violating the Miami City Charter, which sets the rules for
how and when officials are elected. Even more important, critics
argue that you cannot legally change election dates are extend
turns without the voters themselves approving it. And here's the
(04:38):
kicker Florida. Florida's law seems to back this up. Okay,
so what is the charter saying. Let's let's break down
the law, the bible of the actual local government, the county.
Let's break that down. Some may call it the charter,
some call it the enabling legislation. Now, let's break it down.
(04:58):
Miami City's charter charter doesn't explicitly allow the Commission to
move elections or extend their own terms without a public vote.
Under Miami Dade County's home rule charter, any changes to
election dates are terms of office must be done through
a referendum, not simple ordinance. Now, Florida's constitution and legal
(05:23):
proceedings re enforce this. Local election terms are sacred and
voters have to approve any changes. It's in their charter.
So when the Commission passed its orders without voter approve,
it opened the door to legal challenges, ramifications, and the
eternal General General is already warning them that what they
did is unlikely or is likely, excuse me, unconstitutional. H
(05:50):
We also have to look up at the makeup of
the government of Florida, the bigger picture. Why does this
matter beyond Miami? Well, if this ordnance stands, it sets
a dangerous president. What's to stop other cities or counties
from doing the same thing, counseling elections and extending their
(06:12):
own terms without asking voters. Now, if we allow local
leaders to change the rules without a vote from the people,
we're not just talking about procedural changes. We're talking about
weakening the foundation of representative governments. And let's be real.
Let's be clear, changing election schedules right before a major
(06:35):
voting year smells a little bit too convenient, especially when
voters already feel like their voices are being drowned out. Now,
we gotta do a little bit more research to see
who was actually on the ballot, who was supposed to
be on the November ballot, or we have to say
it's on the ballot because it has not officially been approved.
There's some challenges with this. The issue may be is
(06:59):
party line, that's that's we gotta keep it real here.
We have to be honest. This move is gonna benefit
the party that that that does not represent Florida. You
get catch my grip, my drift. It does not represent
the majority that represents the party in Florida. They know
(07:23):
that by changing this and placing it with the state,
aligning with state elections, it's gonna bring more voters out,
which is a chance that the majority party that represents
Florida people may not get in or will not be
(07:44):
re elected. So that is their concern. That is the concern.
But on the notes of the county, elections are expensive,
especially if you're not getting additional funding from your state
to run these elections. Also, it's so hard to get
(08:05):
people to work the polls, especially how they're being paid.
In some areas, they don't get paid to after the
elections or weeks after the elections, they don't get paid
doing the election. So there's so much that it comes
to play with finances and dealing with the local government.
So in defense of the Commission, I get it from
(08:28):
the standpoint of finances. I get it from the standpoint
of getting more people out to vote, But I do
not align with excluding the people. Not the charter says
that it should go this way, Then what the commission
should have done was had the charter change. But we
know whoever represents on the state level may not approve that.
(08:51):
So y'all also have to look at their county attorney.
The county attorney who is supposed to protect the county
allow them to move forward with this without any legal ramifications,
are expressing to them what can occur? Then you have
to look at the legal part of this vote that occurred,
(09:14):
and was the county attorney present to say whether they
should go forward or whether they should now? So what
happens now? That's the full question. What happens now? Here's
what to watch next. Legal challenges are expected to come.
That's gonna happen. The state could sue to block the ordnance.
(09:37):
Advocacy groups made mobilized calling on residents to demand their
elections back. If a judge agrees that the ordnance violates
a charter or the state constitution November twenty twenty five,
election could be reinstated. In the meantime, the mayor and
commissioners of Miami have gifted themselves another year in office
(09:58):
with no votes, no no ballot, no consent from the people.
So what's the lesson here? People? What is the lesson here,
my listeners. Democracy isn't just about casting votes. It's about
protecting when and how those votes are cast. From Miami
to your hometown. We've got to stay informed, we gotta
(10:19):
stay loud, and we got to stay involved. That's just important.
But I also want us to look at both sides.
I have to say, elections do costs, and if we
put all the elections at the same time, have everybody
campaigning at the same time, we can save money. We
can also save money with these local board of elections
that are supported by local tax dollars and those areas
(10:41):
that may be in small rural areas to also benefit
them as well. So I get it. I completely understand.
So again, stay informed, stay engaged. I'm gonna be up
on this story. I'm gonna give you more information as
it progresses. This is Atlanta Sanders, and you've been listening
to posts politics where we keep our eyes on the
(11:02):
power plays and our ears to the people. Until next time,
stay woke, stay ready, and stay voting only on poles
and politics
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