After a competitive primary season in South Florida, the 2022 midterms are finally upon us. Many have already received their mail-in ballots, while those voting in person can take part in early voting from Monday, Oct. 24.
The biggest date in the U.S. election calendar since the 2020 presidential vote, this year's general election will be loaded with national hot-button issues including the overturning of Roe v Wade, inflation and immigration.
With the balance of power in the U.S. House and Senate in play, and with the battle between Ron DeSantis and Charlie Crist among the most closely-watched gubernatorial races in the country, the sunshine state will once again play its part in high-stakes contests.
But closer to home, voters across South Florida have multiple local decisions to make on their ballots, many of which will have a more significant — and, in the case of referendum questions, a more permanent — effect on their day-to-day lives.
However, often the candidates for roles such as county commissioner, school board member, circuit courts judge, or even those trying to get voted into the state Senate or House, have much lower name recognition. Meanwhile, referendums and other ballot questions can be hard to even understand, let alone make a decision on.
We have already published a voting guide that will help you find who is on your ballot and how to cast your vote. We also have put together an explainer that translates into plain English the statewide and countywide questions as well as some municipalities's referendums.
You can also find out about prospective judges, including the voluntary self-disclosure statements they have provided to the Florida Bar, here.
To help you further on this journey, we have compiled endorsements from newspapers, unions and other voices in the South Florida community, below.
Nonetheless, we strongly encourage voters to do their own research, including on these pages and by listening to WLRN’s on-air election coverage.
