Testing of voting equipment for the March 19 Presidential Preference Primary Election is complete

The Miami-Dade County Elections Department concluded an in-depth test of its voting equipment today in preparation for the March 19th Presidential Preference Primary Election.

The Logic and Accuracy Test is the final test prior to equipment deployment for the election.  Each step of the voting and tabulation process was tested: ballots were cast according to a predetermined outcome, tabulated, and reconciled to ensure the votes were counted accurately.

Supervisor of Elections Christina White said, “This comprehensive test has been completed and the results are as expected.  Our equipment is functioning properly, and votes were tabulated accurately.  Miami-Dade voters can feel confident that we are Election Ready.”  

The Department will begin deploying voting equipment ahead of Early Voting, which begins Monday, March 4th, and continues through Sunday, March 17th.  Early Voting will be available at 23 convenient locations and open for eight hours each day.

For this election in particular, voters need to know their party affiliation because Florida is a closed primary State, meaning that only voters who are registered members of a political party may vote in their respective party’s primary election. 

This year, only the Republican Party will hold a Presidential Preference Primary Election to select their presidential nominee on March 19th. 
 
The Florida Democratic Party provided only one candidate as their presidential nominee. Therefore, a primary election ballot for the Florida Democratic Party is not needed. Consequently, Democrats and voters with no party affiliation are not eligible to vote in the Presidential Preference Primary Election.
 
However, all registered voters residing in South Miami and Surfside are eligible to vote on March 19th on their municipal ballot content, regardless of party affiliation.

For more information, review the March 19th Presidential Preference Primary Election Sample Ballot, visit www.miamidade.gov/elections or call 311.