The Miami-Dade Commission has voted to reinstate prayer at its public meetings.

The prayers were banned eight years ago, but after a lengthy debate commissioners voted 8-3 to return the opening prayer.

The Miami Herald reported the vote followed lobbying efforts by the Christian Family Coalition. The prayers must be non-denominational and offered before the meeting officially begins.

Commissioner Jose "Pepe" Diaz, the bill's sponsor, said holding the prayer is a matter of freedom of speech.

The American Civil Liberties Union of Florida is promising to closely monitor the prayers to see if it will file a lawsuit.