MIAMI-DADE COUNTY, Fla. — Former Surfside Mayor Shlomo Danzinger and several Jewish organizations and religious leaders filed an emergency injunction Friday seeking to delay the town’s mayoral runoff election, arguing the scheduled date conflicts with the Passover holiday and would prevent many observant voters from participating.

Read here the Petition

The filing in state court asks to move the runoff election from April 7 to April 14, a one-week delay that plaintiffs say would allow broader voter participation in a community with a significant Orthodox Jewish population.

Danzinger, who received 49.4% of the vote in a three-way race earlier this month, is set to face Vice Mayor Tina Paul in the runoff. Paul is not part of the filing, which names the Town of Surfside and Miami-Dade County as defendants.

According to Danzinger, the request is supported by multiple religious institutions and organizations, including The Shul of Bal Harbour, National Council of Young Israel, Young Israel of Surfside, Agudath Israel of Florida, Magen David Congregation and Hechal Shalom Ohr Uziel.

The complaint argues that the current election date falls during a religious period when observant Jews are prohibited from activities such as driving, writing and using electronic devices, and that many families travel for the holiday, limiting their ability to vote.

Plaintiffs also said absentee voting is not a sufficient solution, citing the short timeframe between the initial election and the runoff, as well as religious restrictions during the holiday.

The filing points to prior instances in which elections were rescheduled to accommodate religious observance, including in nearby Bay Harbor Islands and in other states.

In a statement, Danzinger said the request is aimed at ensuring equal access to the ballot.

“This isn’t about politics; it is about the right of every Surfside resident to practice their faith and cast their vote without being forced to choose between the two,” he said.

The case also references statements by outgoing Mayor Charles Burkett that plaintiffs argue demonstrate bias against religious voters, though Burkett’s office has not publicly responded to the filing.

The Surfside Town Commission is scheduled to hold a special meeting Monday to discuss the town’s response to the injunction request.

A court decision on the request is expected in the coming days as the scheduled runoff approaches.