Court restores voters' right after controversial move to delay 2025 election
In a major rebuke to the City of Miami, a Miami-Dade Circuit Court judge has ruled that the city acted unconstitutionally when it voted to delay its 2025 municipal election to 2026 without voter approval. The decision, issued Monday by Judge Valerie Manno Schurr, came in response to a lawsuit filed by former city manager and current mayoral candidate Emilio González. The court's ruling could have sweeping implications for election law and voter rights across Florida.
A victory for voters, not just one candidate
Emilio González filed the lawsuit shortly after the Miami City Commission approved the controversial ordinance in two separate 3-2 votes, effectively extending the terms of current officials—including those term-limited—by one year. The court sided with González, declaring the ordinance "unlawful and invalid" for bypassing the public vote required for charter changes.
“This is not just a victory for me — it is a triumph for all voters in the City of Miami and across Miami-Dade County who believe in upholding our charter and the rule of law,” González said Monday.
His attorney, former Florida Supreme Court Justice Alan Lawson, called the ruling “a critical affirmation of the people’s right to vote,” adding, “Our client recognized the far-reaching implications of this case, and we are proud to help uphold one of the core guarantees of our Constitution: the right to vote.”
City defends move as reform—critics call it a “power grab”
Miami officials, who have signaled plans to appeal the ruling, argue the change was a strategic reform meant to increase voter turnout and reduce election costs. Commissioner Damian Pardo, who sponsored the ordinance, emphasized the benefits of aligning local elections with even-year cycles.
Critics, however, said the change undermines democratic norms. González compared the move to autocratic tactics in Latin American countries, stating in his lawsuit that such actions are “reminiscent of regimes in Venezuela, Nicaragua, Bolivia, or Cuba.”
The city has leaned on several Florida statutes and a non-binding court case involving North Miami to justify the ordinance. However, Assistant City Attorney Eric Eves conceded during a recent hearing that the decision has created a legal conflict between the city’s code and its charter.
A final decision, following the likely appeal, is expected by August 8.
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