Monday is deadline to register to vote for South Florida’s January election
Monday, Dec. 13, is the deadline to register to vote in the January elections to finalize the next South Florida member of Congress and choose three members of the Florida Legislature.
The highest profile race will finalize the replacement for the late U.S. Rep. Alcee Hastings. The Broward-Palm Beach County 20th Congressional District is so overwhelmingly Democratic that party nominee Sheila Cherfilus-McCormick is all-but-guaranteed to win the Jan. 11 special general election.
On the same day, voters will decide on candidates to replace a state senator and
two state representatives who resigned those jobs to run for the congressional seat. All three lost, but their resignations are irrevocable.
On the ballot
Congress: Voters in the two-county 20th Congressional District will make the final decision on who should replace Hastings. All registered voters in the district are eligible. Besides Democrat Cherfilus-McCormick, Republican Jason Mariner, Libertarian Mike ter Maat and no party affiliation/independent candidates Jim Flynn and Leonard Serratore are on the ballot.
State House, Broward: Daryl Campbell, Josephus “JoJo” Eggelletion III, Rod Kemp and Elijah Manley, all Democrats, are running in the 94th state House District. Since no Republican came forward to run for the post, it’s a universal primary open to all registered voters and the winner will go to Tallahassee.
State Senate and House primaries: Voters in Broward will pick a nominee to fill a soon-to-be vacant Senate seat and voters in Palm Beach County will decide on a nominee to fill a House vacancy. Florida has closed primaries, so only Democrats can vote in those contests. Candidates in the 33rd state Senate District primary are Rosalind Osgood and Terry Ann Williams Edden. Running in the 88th House District primary are Jervonte “Tae” Edmonds and Clarence Williams.
What you need to know
Anyone who isn’t registered to vote — or who isn’t registered as a Democrat and wants to vote in the party primaries — faces a Dec. 13 deadline. Information on registering to vote, mail ballots and whether someone lives in one of the districts with an election is available online and by phone.
Broward County: www.browardvotes.gov, 954-357-8683. To find out if your mail ballot request is active and if you live in the 20th District, click on the “My Voter Status” button on the website. Palm Beach County: www.votepalmbeach.gov, 561-656-6200. To find out if your mail ballot request is active and if you live in the 20th Congressional District, click on the “My Status” button on the website.