![\"Mayor](\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-fl\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/04\/MIA_MiamicommissionmeetingAGS184.JPG\" "\\"Mayor")
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Mayor Eileen Higgins listens to public comment during a City Commission meeting on Thursday, April 23, 2026, at Miami City Hall in Miami.<\/p>\n
Alie Skowronski<\/p>\n
askowronski@miamiherald.com<\/p>\n
With a month to go before the deadline for sending referendums to the August primary ballot, the city of Miami is still weighing its options for moving from odd- to even-year elections.<\/p>\n
The development puts Mayor Eileen Higgins, who was elected in December, in a difficult spot. She\u2019d promised voters on the campaign trail that she would shorten her four-year term to three years to help make the adjustment, but she can\u2019t do so without a green-light from the City Commission.<\/p>\n
On Thursday, commissioners were scheduled to vote to finalize a ballot question seeking to align the city with the even-year election cycle by giving one-time five-year terms to the winners of the 2027 and 2029 City Commission races. That proposal, which would allow the city to have even-year elections starting in 2032, was sponsored by Commissioner Damian Pardo.<\/p>\n
But Pardo, who\u2019s championed the push to switch to even-year elections, said the city needs more time to iron out the details. He told the Miami Herald on Thursday that city is \u201cgoing to look at all the options\u201d to \u201ccreate legislation which is the most legally defensible that can be passed on the dais.\u201d<\/p>\n
Earlier this year, Higgins had asked to splinter off the mayor\u2019s race as a separate referendum so she could shorten her term. Under Higgins\u2019 proposal, the next mayoral election would be in August 2028 \u2014 separate from the City Commission races, which take place in November.<\/p>\n
Pardo said that approach, however, creates cost concerns and that it would put the city on the hook for covering the cost of a separate mayoral election. He also said it creates voter confusion to have separate ballot referendums asking about even-year elections on the same ballot.<\/p>\n
Pardo said the new plan is to fold the mayor\u2019s item into his proposal so that there is one single ballot question rather than two.<\/p>\n
Pardo\u2019s initial plan had already passed a first vote. But following the decision to combine the questions, he said the exact mechanism for aligning with the even-year cycle \u2014 such as whether to shorten or lengthen commissioners\u2019 and the mayor\u2019s terms \u2014 is still to be determined.<\/p>\n
![\"Commissioner](\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-fl\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/04\/MIA_MiamicommissionmeetingAGS084.JPG\" "\\"MIA_MiamicommissionmeetingAGS084.JPG\\"")
Commissioner Damian Pardo speaks during the public comment section of a City Commission meeting on Thursday, April 23, 2026, at Miami City Hall. Alie Skowronski askowronski@miamiherald.com <\/p>\n
Pardo said City Attorney George Wysong will be bringing options back to the next commission meeting, slated for May 14.<\/p>\n
But the clock is ticking. Wysong previously said May 22 is the deadline for finalizing ballot referendums for the August primary.<\/p>\n
The move puts Higgins in a precarious position. As mayor, Higgins doesn\u2019t have a vote on the five-member City Commission, though she can veto legislation and meet privately with commissioners to whip up votes.<\/p>\n
Speaking to the Herald after Thursday\u2019s meeting, Higgins said she wasn\u2019t sure what the new iteration of the legislation would be.<\/p>\n
\u201cIt looks like at the next meeting they\u2019re going to come back with something else,\u201d she said. \u201cI don\u2019t know what that would be. You would have to check with them.\u201d<\/p>\n
Asked if she was confident that her proposal to shorten her term will land on the August ballot, Higgins said: \u201cI\u2019m hopeful.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cThis is an odd form of government where the mayor doesn\u2019t get to vote,\u201d Higgins added, \u201cand so it really will be dependent on what the commissioners decide at the next commission meeting.\u201d<\/p>\n
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