Early Voting Ends in Florida Primary Election

Florida's primary election saw a significant decline in mail-in voting, dropping 43% from the 2020 elections, attributed to new restrictions and the end of the pandemic. Early in-person voting, however, experienced a resurgence, particularly among Republicans, with several counties reporting turnout rates of around 15-18%. In Miami-Dade, Broward, and Monroe Counties, polling places were notably busy on the last day of early voting, indicating increased engagement. Despite this, election officials expressed concerns over the overall turnout, which remained lower than anticipated, especially for mail-in ballots. The state emphasizes the importance of voting in the primary to influence November ballots, urging voters to participate. As the election day approaches, residents are reminded to submit mail-in ballots by 7 p.m. on August 20.