Miami, FL
‘Do not wait': Miami-Dade kicks off election by delivering vote-by-mail ballots
For all intents and purposes, the presidential election began Monday in Miami-Dade County.
That’s because, the supervisor of elections said, the Elections Department mailed out 260,000 vote-by-mail ballots to voters who requested them. The process has begun, which means the election has begun.
“As we all know, this is a very important election,” said supervisor of elections Christina White. “You should be taking your time with this ballot, doing your research on the candidates. There’s also six constitutional questions that are all very important so you should do your research, but my advice for this election is do not wait – as soon as you get your ballot, do your research, return it to us as soon as possible. This is not an election where you want to do things at the last minute.”
White reminded users of absentee ballots to sign their names inside the red box on the outside of the ballot and to leave contact information on the ballot as well. That way, she said, if the signature doesn’t match the signature they have on file, they can contact the voter and correct the situation.
White also said the number of requested vote-by-mail ballots has gone down. In 2020, during the pandemic, her department mailed out more than 600,000 ballots, and in 2022, the number was 438,000 compared to the 260,000 this year.
“Low vote by mail numbers means a lot of people are gonna be voting in person. That means lines, and so what you’re gonna want to do is if you want to vote by mail make sure you do it now, do it early, or make a plan to vote early at one of our lower turnout sites,” White said.
Voters who receive a vote by mail ballot but don’t want to actually drop it in the mail have another option.
“So beginning October 21st, you can actually hand your ballot to an elections official at an early voting site. There will be 33 of them all throughout Miami-Dade County, from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m., you get your sticker, it is the perfect hybrid way of voting,” the supervisor said.
Anyone who’s expecting a vote by mail ballot but does not receive one in the next few days should call the elections department. A state law that went into effect in 2023 made all vote-by-mail requests expire, so voters must re-apply for an absentee ballot. Anyone who hasn’t registered at all to vote can still do so for the next six days.
Rumors have swirled around Charlotte Hornets guard LaMelo Ball for several seasons, recently heating up ahead of the 2025-26 NBA season. Despite coming into the season with a promising young core, headlined by the All-Star guard, Charlotte’s struggles have persisted.
Ball has been largely inefficient in a new-look rotation, shooting just 41% from the field, tying the second-lowest mark of his career thus far. Monitoring teams around the league, several suitors could offer enticing returns for Ball, but one Eastern Conference club is one of the more sensible destinations for the Hornets guard: the Miami Heat. Here’s a mock trade that sees Ball moved to South Beach:
Charlotte Hornets-Miami Heat Mock Trade & Fantasy Basketball Impact
Charlotte Hornets receive Andrew Wiggins, Simone Fontecchio, 2029 first-round pick, 2031 first-round pick
Miami Heat receive LaMelo Ball
A trade to a consistent playoff contender could help Ball overcome lasting narratives that have surrounded the star point guard. Fans, media personnel and coaches alike have speculated over Ball’s commitment and ability to buy in throughout his career, something that could be overcome with a trade to the Heat.
In Miami, Ball could contribute to a winning culture for a team prepared to re-enter title contention after moving on from Jimmy Butler last season. The Heat would roll out a big-three consisting of Ball, Bam Adebayo and Tyler Herro, a trio that has the potential to emerge as one of the top in the NBA.
From a fantasy basketball standpoint, his stock could take a noticeable leap in an improved situation. Ball would take on greater scoring responsibility, while retaining his role as the offense’s primary ball-handler. With two co-stars and a plethora of perimeter shooters, he could overcome an inconsistent start to the season and hit his stride down the stretch of the year.
Why The Hornets Make The Trade
While Ball has brought his stardom to the Hornets, the team has struggled throughout his career, failing to reach the postseason in his first six seasons. Charlotte has pieced together a promising young wing duo of Brandon Miller and Kon Knueppel, two key contributors for the Hornets to build around as they establish an improved culture over the next several seasons. While he’s just 24 years old, I’m not confident Ball fits alongside this hypothetical new-look Hornets club, considering previous frustrations with the team.
Why The Heat Make The Trade
Miami has sought a trade for a star player to help the team return to title contention, a billing that Ball fits perfectly. He presents a consistent floor general to help the Heat’s offense overcome a slow start to the season, ranking 20th in the NBA in defensive rating to this point of the season (114.8). I love Ball’s fit alongside the likes of Herro and Adebayo, taking pressure off the two All-Stars with consistent playmaking and versatile scoring ability. The Ball-led Heat would be set up for title contention over the next several years.
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