Voters chat outside the Hoffner Avenue library early voting site in Orange County while others wait in line to cast their ballots. /Maria Padilla
Early voting is breaking records in Florida. And we still have one day to go.
“Seminole County already has more votes cast than were cast in the much-remembered 2000 presidential election. Amazing,” stated Seminole County Supervisor of Elections Mike Ertel in a voting update.
Sign outside Hoffner library early voting site. However, voters said the line was moving fast. /Maria Padilla
As of Saturday morning, nearly 6 million people voted in all of Florida, or roughly 46 percent of registered voters, according to the state Division of Elections. The early vote is expanding and is ahead of mail-in ballots by almost 1 million.
Early Voting Split
Democrats and Republicans are about evenly split among early voters statewide. However, no party affiliation or NPA – 626,000 votes thus far – is pulling the early vote numbers ahead of mail-in ballots.
As for political parties, Orange and Osceola counties favor Democrat voters in terms of registration and voting.
Meanwhile, in Republican-leaning Seminole, Democrats are drawing closer to the GOP in numbers. But NPA voters likely will decide the outcome of many Seminole races.
Seminole Turning Purple?
Rollins College professor and political analyst Rick Fogelsong stated earlier this week, “Seminole County is turning purple,” meaning it may turn into a swing-vote county.
In the Orlando area, the early vote is shaping up as follows :
Orange
Early – 202,240, Democrats are about 47 percent, Republicans 29 percent, NPA 23 percent
Mail – 139,166; Democrats are about 45 percent, Republicans 33 percent, NPA 20 percent
TOTAL VOTES CAST – 341,406
Voter participation rate: 48 percent
Osceola
Early – 50,332; Democrats are about 49 percent, Republicans 26 percent, NPA 24 percent
Mail – 40,108; Democrats are about 46 percent, Republicans 29 percent, NPA 23 percent
TOTAL VOTES CAST – 90, 440
Voter participation rate: NA
Seminole
Early – 89,120; Republicans are 40 percent, Democrats 36 percent, NPA 22 percent
Mail – 56,140; Republicans are about 45 percent, Democrats are 34 percent, NPA 45 percent
TOTAL VOTES CAST– 145, 260
Voter participation rate: 50 percent
Visit Orlando Latino on Monday for the final early-vote tally. Remember, mail-in voting continues through Election Day.
˜˜Maria Padilla, Editor