It’s Oct. 22, and that means one thing: Early voting for the Nov. 6 election is officially underway. Head here for the list of early voting sites.

It also means that we’ve got another update to our voter guide, and today we’re giving attention to some races that haven’t necessarily gotten the same spotlight as the gubernatorial or U.S. Senate contests but are super important to our state: cabinet positions and judicial retention. Shout out to Kelly Robinson, and Greg (who didn’t give his last name) – we’re answering your questions today.

Here are the cabinet positions that will be on the ballot:

• Attorney general – They’re basically the state’s top cop, and their job is to protect Floridians from all manners of fraud, to defend the state in civil litigation (like when the state sued over the Deepwater Horizon spill), and to crack down on issues like identity theft and human and drug trafficking.
• Chief financial officer – They’re essentially Florida’s main auditor. They handle a bunch of funds across the state, and any time there’s an account or claim against Florida, they oversee and audit those claims.
• Commissioner of agriculture – They oversee all of the industries and departments that deal with the state’s crops, food safety, fresh seafood and produce. Also, they do background checks for concealed weapons permits.

You’ll also have to decide on whether a Supreme Court justice and other judges will be retained in their positions, and on a local judicial race that required a runoff election. You can find the breakdown on that process and info on those positions here.

Over the next few days we’ll have info on the candidates for some key U.S. congressional seats, and the U.S. Senate and Florida governor races. And if you’ve missed any of the other parts of our voter guide, you can find them all here.

And one more thing, if the jumble of addresses for early voting doesn’t mean much to you, reader Catalina Hidalgo put together this super handy Google map of all the sites. Happy voting, Miami.

📚Want to join the latest Leadership Miami class? Well then you’ll need to move fast. The Greater Miami Chamber of Commerce is accepting applications for the program and today’s the deadline. Head here for the details.

🏠If you’re down to host a discussion about sustainability and climate resilience at your house or in your neighborhood, then Radical Partners is looking for you. The organization is seeking 25 locals to host community house parties as part of their 100 Great Ideas campaign. Interested? Head here to apply and learn more.

🗣️Want to learn more about Amendment 4? Join Catalyst Miami for a discussion of the ballot item and a look at what it could mean for more than 1 million Floridians.

🤝If you’re looking to build a great board of directors but aren’t sure where to start, the Miami Foundation and Radical Partners are hosting an info session on how to do it right. Tickets for the session are only $5 and you can get them here.

Got an opportunity, workshop, scholarship, grant, etc. you want other curious locals to know about? Hit us up at [email protected] (subject line: “Bulletin Board”) to have it listed here.

Crosstown traffic. It’s not quite an express train, but commuters between the City of Miami and South Beach now have a new transit option called the “CrossBay Express.” For $5 you can get a ride from Downtown Miami over to Washington Avenue and Fifth Street on the Beach. The bus is set to run every half hour from noon to midnight. And in case you got excited about the “express” part, heads up that the bus will still ride in regular vehicle lanes so it could still get caught in an afternoon traffic jam. (Miami Herald)

Boxelder bites. If you follow Miami’s food scene closely, you may already know that El Bagel has been serving up sandwiches and great bagels behind Boxelder on Saturday mornings. But they’re not alone — a bunch of other food pop-ups have been making the rounds at the Wynwood bar serving everything from burgers to elaborate cakes on a tricycle. Make sure you check out back next time you stop by for a beer. (Time Out Miami)

Still a mystery. Nearly two weeks after Hurricane Michael made landfall in the Panhandle, the state has provided an updated death toll of 27 people in Florida but it’s been much more tight-lipped about revealing the identities of the dead. Officials have blamed the lack of information on communication issues and trouble reaching the hardest hit counties, but as hundreds of people remain missing after the storm, families are scrambling for updates on their loved ones. (Miami Herald)

It’s 2018, people. And in the mind of a couple University of Miami students that means the school’s mascot, Sebastian the Ibis, should be making better choices about what he smokes. Two students started a legit Change.org petition to have Sebastian puffing away on a JUUL e-cigarette instead of a tobacco pipe. And they’re not alone, more than 150 Canes fans are signed on in support of Sebastian embracing that #vapelife. (Miami New Times)

Rolling out the red carpet. The site selection team for the Democratic National Convention got the VIP treatment last week as local officials made their latest pitch to bring the convention to Miami in 2020. The DNC team toured Wynwood, the newly renovated Miami Beach Convention Center, ate with Emilio Estefan at his restaurant in the Design District, and much more. But even after the charm offensive, Miami’s chances remain unclear. The committee will likely make a decision early next year. (Miami Herald)

THAT’S ALL FOR TODAY.

Make it a great week, and don’t forget to bookmark those early voting sites. We’ll catch you tomorrow.

– The New Tropic