Proposed term limits and election rescheduling aim to modernize city governance, boost voter turnout, and restore public trust.
Miami, FL — To overhaul how local government operates, Miami City Commissioner Damian Pardo is set to introduce two major election reform proposals at Thursday’s city commission meeting. The measures, if approved, would be placed on the ballot for voters to decide in the upcoming November 4 election.
One proposal seeks to establish strict term limits for city leaders, capping service at two consecutive four-year terms for both commissioners and the mayor. The second initiative would shift Miami’s municipal elections to align with the national midterm election cycle, which Pardo says is designed to increase voter turnout significantly.
“These changes are about making Miami’s government as modern and dynamic as the city itself,” Pardo said in a written statement. “Our democracy should reflect the energy and innovation of our people, not the entrenchment of career politicians.”
Elected officials in Miami can serve two consecutive terms, take a break, and run again indefinitely. Pardo’s proposed reform would close that loophole by prohibiting former officeholders from returning after a hiatus — a practice he calls “outdated and undemocratic.”
If approved, the term limit measure would apply retroactively, meaning current and former officeholders would be subject to the new restrictions. This marks a stark departure from the city’s long-standing system that has allowed some politicians to remain in office for decades through staggered terms.
The second proposal would reschedule the city’s next elections — originally set for 2025 — to 2026, syncing them with the federal midterm cycle. According to Pardo, voter participation in Miami’s off-year elections has hovered around a low 15 percent. He believes aligning city elections with national voting periods could boost that number to over 70 percent.
“Higher turnout leads to a more representative government,” Pardo told the local press. “We need a system that encourages more civic engagement, not one that discourages it by design.”
If the city commission votes to advance the proposals, Miami voters will have the final say at the ballot box this November. Whether the reforms succeed could determine the future of local leadership — and potentially serve as a model for electoral reform across other municipalities in Florida.
Back