Early Voters Overwhelm Miami Elections Office

MIAMI (CBSMiami) – In an unusual move, Miami-Dade Elections Department decided to allow voters to cast their vote by absentee ballot on Sunday.

By 2:30 p.m. nearly 200 people were in line. Deputy Supervisor Christina White said with only one printer and limited staff they were so overwhelmed they were forced to close their doors. Another partial reason for the closure was that Mayor Carlos Gimenez’s office had not authorized the extra hours, according to CBS4 news partner The Miami Herald.

Extra workers and a second printer were brought in and by 3 p.m., the doors had re-opened, people in line were given tickets for absentee ballots.

While state law does not permit Early Voting on Sunday, the elections department was permitted to provide and accept absentee ballots.

Miami-Dade elections officials said voters who still want to vote by absentee ballot can also pick one up on Monday at their headquarters in Doral at 2700 NW 87th Avenue.

Voters can either fill out the absentee ballot at the elections department or take it home, fill it out and have it returned by 7 p.m. on Tuesday. Voters can no longer request absentee ballots by mail.