Early voting began in Florida today, with some people saying they’re waiting in line for hours to cast their ballot. In South Florida voters even braved heavy downpours to be among the first to exercise their right to vote. The Sun-Sentinel reports:
Many lined up before daybreak Monday, anxious to get their ballots cast — undeterred by the weather, which ranged from heavy downpours to light sprinkles throughout the region.
Jose Sanchez, 54, of Fort Lauderdale, was at the front of the line at the early voting station in Wilton Manors. He arrived just before 5 a.m. and stood for two hours. “I want to make sure I get my vote in.” The wait, he said, was “absolutely well worth it.”
At 6:50 a.m., 52 people were waiting. By 7:20 a.m., the line had grown to more than 100.
Heavy rain in Broward County this morning is not deterring residents from voting on the first day of early voting in Florida!! Let’s go! Broward County will paint Floria Blue! #VoteBidenHarrisToSaveAmerica https://t.co/J6ttvVUEjM
— Madam Auntie VP Kamala Harris is THEE GOAT! (@flywithkamala) October 19, 2020
The Miami Herald adds, “More than 3 million people will likely vote early this year in Florida before Election Day on Nov. 3:”
Sandra Lively, a 64-year-old retired certified nurse’s assistant, said through a red-and-white-striped mask that she wanted to vote in person and as early as possible to make sure her vote is counted. Lively, a resident of Miami Gardens, the largest majority Black city in Florida, said she’s been unhappy with Trump and will vote for Biden in part because she thinks he’ll do a better job responding to the pandemic.
MIAMI | Timelapse of the line for early voting at the North Miami Public Library, where downpours this morning haven’t dampened voter enthusiasm #Vote2020 pic.twitter.com/U50IRqhoe7
— Manuel Bojorquez (@BojorquezCBS) October 19, 2020
The Associated Press says no major problems have been reported in the state, other than one site having to shut down due to coronavirus:
In the Panhandle, Okaloosa County Elections Supervisor Paul Lux announced that he and an employee had tested positive for the coronavirus. That resulted in the closure of the early voting site at the county’s main office, but four other sites remained open. The Republican-dominated county has approximately 150,000 voters.
The presidential race is expected to be tight in Florida. It could, once again, come down to a slim margin. And while we shouldn’t read anything into mail-in ballots, here are the numbers so far.
FLORIDA ‼️ – early voting by mail. Returned ballots by party affiliation:
Democrats – 1,227,883
Republicans – 757,694
No Party – 494,297Keep going. Keep getting out our vote. 15 days. Organize and donate every day!!!
— Amy Siskind 🏳️🌈 (@Amy_Siskind) October 19, 2020
Watch more from the NBC affiliate in West Palm Beach above.