LAUDERHILL, FLA. (WSVN) - Long lines, technical setbacks and a record number of mail-in ballots have all led to a suspense-filled election eve in South Florida, as officials make final preparations ahead of the big day.
Officials said 38 percent of voters have already cast their ballots in the Sunshine State, a significant increase over the 2014 midterms.
“It’s just been heated up, exciting, energized,” said Dr. Brenda C. Snipes, Broward County’s supervisor of elections.
Snipes said the early voting process in Broward has been smooth sailing so far, and voters mean business.
“This is the first time I’ve seen that many people participating in a gubernatorial election,” she said.
The elections supervisor said her department is ready for a long and busy Tuesday.
“People are responding,” said Snipes. “They still are dropping off ballots. It’s highly charged, and that’s good.”
While Broward reported no problems at the polls to date, printers at early voting locations in North Miami and Homestead went down on Sunday.
“The machines had just stopped printing,” said elections volunteer Veronica Matzner.
7News cameras captured a line of voters extending around the block at the North Miami Public Library, Sunday evening.
“An hour went down, two hours went down,” said volunteer Suzie Stephan. “People were just sitting there, and technicians were trying to make things happen.”
Poll workers turned to pre-printed backup ballots while technicians repaired the machines. Officials said everyone who stayed in line in North Miami was able to cast ballots.
“Even with that problem, we took care of it,” said Miami-Dade County Mayor Carlos Gimenez.
A total of 302,076 Miami-Dade residents voted early, up from 116,905 in 2014. In Broward, 299,154 cast their ballots ahead of Tuesday, as compared to 129,073 in 2014.
Statewide, 2,070,936 registered Democrats, 2,049,181 Republicans and 986,963 unaffiliated voters have already voiced their choice.
Gimenez said the number of voters who voted early or mailed in their ballots is so high that he’s hopeful those who chose to wait until Tuesday won’t have to wait very long.
“We’ve got record numbers of people voting early and also absentee, so maybe tomorrow will be pretty easy,” he said. “We’re open from 7 [a.m.] to 7 [p.m.] Please exercise your right to vote.”
Officials said voters who received a notice and an affidavit stating there was something wrong with their mail-in ballots had until 5 p.m. on Monday to address the issue.
Officials reminded voters to bring a photo ID to their precincts and advised them to research the candidates and amendments that will be in their ballots beforehand.
FOR MORE INFORMATION:
Information for 2018 midterm elections
Information about ballot amendments
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