Early voting on Dolphins' stadium referendum begins

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MIAMI, April 29 (UPI) -- Early voting began Monday in a public referendum to authorize payment for renovations to the Miami Dolphins' stadium, though it hinges on a vote by lawmakers.

The Florida Legislature has until the end of its lawmaking session Friday to approve $289 million over 30 years to pay for improvements to Sun Life Stadium. If it does not, the May 14 referendum will be canceled, with results of early balloting kept secret, The Miami Herald reported.

The Dolphins have endorsed the improvement plan and a political action committee, Friends of Miami First, has raised $1 million to be used to phone voters and pay for advertising supporting the referendum. All the money has come from the Dolphins and from South Florida Stadium LLC, team owner Stephen Ross' stadium ownership company, the newspaper said.