A Look at the Numbers as More than 4.5 Million Have Voted in Florida So Far

With the general election rapidly approaching, Florida has seen a significant surge in voter turnout. Over the past weekend, more than 1 million Floridians either mailed in ballots or voted at early voting polling sites. As of the latest update from the Florida Division of Elections, over 4.5 million ballots have been cast, a substantial increase from the 3.3 million reported on Friday. This wave of civic engagement reflects strong voter interest and sets the stage for a potentially record-breaking election turnout.

High Turnout Across the State

Florida’s 13.8 million registered voters include 5.4 million Republicans and 4.4 million Democrats, while another 3.5 million are unaffiliated with any party. Early voting officially commenced on October 21 in select counties, with statewide early voting mandated to run from October 25 to November 2. Counties have the option to extend early voting by several days, either beginning earlier or continuing through November 3, allowing flexibility for those aiming to cast their votes ahead of Election Day on November 5.

Vote-By-Mail and Early Voting Trends

As of October 28, over 4.5 million ballots had been cast through a combination of vote-by-mail and early voting, with nearly 2.1 million by mail and another 2.5 million in-person during early voting. Breaking down vote-by-mail turnout by party affiliation, 753,060 Republicans, 884,410 Democrats, and 410,401 independents or voters without party affiliation have mailed in their ballots.

In terms of early voting turnout, Republicans continue to lead, with over 1.3 million having already voted in person, compared to approximately 681,000 Democrats and nearly 459,000 unaffiliated voters. The counties with the highest in-person early voting turnout include Miami-Dade (271,356 voters), Broward (188,360 voters), and Palm Beach (158,944 voters). In each of these counties, turnout is relatively balanced between the two major parties, reflecting Florida’s status as a crucial swing state.

Processing Ballots and Anticipating Election Night Results

Florida law allows counties to begin processing ballots as soon as they are received, which helps facilitate a more streamlined count on election night. The counting equipment undergoes public testing at least 25 days before early voting starts, and results are securely held until polls close. This early tabulation process often allows Florida to report a significant portion of its results on election night, which has traditionally provided voters with early projections of winners.

Nonetheless, several ballots are typically counted after election night. Absentee ballots from military personnel and citizens living abroad, which must be postmarked by Election Day, have up to 10 days to be counted. Provisional ballots cast by voters needing to verify eligibility or correct minor errors will also be counted in the days following the election.

Florida’s Early Voting Schedule and Final Preparations

Florida’s early voting period runs from October 25 to November 2, with some counties extending it to October 21 or November 3. To accommodate voter turnout and reduce wait times, polling locations have been set up across the state, with times and dates varying slightly by county. For those who missed the deadline to request a vote-by-mail ballot (October 24), in-person voting remains an option.

With Floridians turning out in record numbers, officials anticipate a smooth election night, though final counts may take days to complete. The Florida Division of Elections encourages voters to confirm their voting locations, especially for those voting in person on November 5, as precinct assignments are strictly enforced.