Miami and Houston Change Voting Locations for the 2026 Presidential Run-Off Election
Colombian consulates in Miami and Houston have relocated their voting centers for the June 21 presidential run-off election, following reports of public disorder, traffic congestion, and overcrowding during the first round of voting in May, officials confirmed.
The sudden changes disrupt the logistics for thousands of Colombian expatriates living in southern U.S. states, including Florida, Texas, Oklahoma, Louisiana, and Arkansas, ahead of the early voting period that begins Monday, June 15. In Miami, one of the largest electoral hubs for Colombians abroad, the Coral Gables Police Department denied the special permit required to use the Consulate General of Colombia as a polling station.
According to an official notice sent on June 10, local authorities decided after evaluating risks to public safety, crowd management, and emergency service access. During the first round, the area experienced long lines and large crowds, disrupting traffic on streets adjacent to the consulate.
U.S. police also warned that the logistical challenges were compounded by overlapping activities scheduled for the FIFA World Cup in the area. Consequently, the National Civil Registry and the consulate relocated the polling center to the Watsco Center at the University of Miami.
The venue will be open from June 15 to June 21, between 8 a.m. and 4 p.m. Authorities noted the arena has the necessary security infrastructure, parking, and logistical capacity to host a large-scale event safely and efficiently.
Colombians voting in Texas face similar restrictions to those voting in Miami
A similar situation unfolded in Houston, where the Consulate General reported that the administration of the building housing its main headquarters explicitly prohibited early voting on the premises. The restriction follows disturbances and altercations reported at the commercial complex on Monday, May 25.
The diplomatic delegation attempted to relocate the polling stations to the city’s Metropolitan Multiservice Center, but the venue was ruled out due to previously scheduled academic and sports activities.
Operating under government instructions to secure alternative spaces at “zero cost,” the consulate stated it is actively working to guarantee the normal development of the elections and urged the community to check its official website and social media for the final addresses of the new polling sites.
Colombian citizens registered in major Texas cities will be able to vote from June 15 to June 20
Electoral authorities specified that citizens registered in Houston, Dallas, Austin, San Antonio, Oklahoma City, and New Orleans will be able to vote early from Monday, June 15, to Saturday, June 20, at the authorized Houston location, which will feature five voting booths.
However, on Sunday, June 21, the official election day, voters will only be permitted to cast their ballots in the specific city where they are registered, between 8 a.m. and 4 p.m. To oversee the closing processes and the transmission of results abroad, Colombia’s national registrar, Hernan Penagos, confirmed the deployment of 65 special delegates to various consulates worldwide.
In Miami, early voting will now take place at Watsco Center (University of Miami) 1245 Dauer Dr, Coral Gables, FL, 33146, from June 15 to June 21. The Houston early voting site will now be at 6430 Hillcroft Ave, Houston, TX, 77081, from June 15 to June 21.