CORAL GABLES, FLA. (WSVN) - The polls are officially open and it’s time for South Florida voters to voice their choice as early voting began Monday across Miami-Dade, Broward, and Monroe counties.
Early voting for the 2024 general election runs through Nov. 3 in Broward and Miami-Dade counties and until Nov.2 in Monroe.
In Miami-Dade, at the library in Coral Gables, passionate voters said they wanted to make their voices heard early.
“I love this country. I have to do what I have to do to keep our country safe,” said Leyla Nunez.
At the Fort Lauderdale Reading Center on Sunrise Boulevard, residents wasted no time casting their votes.
“You know, we always want to complain about a lot of things that go on within the world, but then we don’t want to do that little step to make that change so that’s definitely why I came out today to make that vote,” said Justin Smith.
At the North Regional Library in Coconut Creek, a steady stream of people were seen entering to cast their votes.
“This is a very dangerous time and I’m committed to voting early. I’m excited. I could do nothing else today than think about this,” said Lesley Cedar.
“I feel like it’s very important to acknowledge who’s running our country and who’s running our state and I feel like my vote counts,” said Cindy Harris.
For Jake Solomon, it was his first time voting for president.
“I just wanted to get my vote in super early before work and just do what we needed to do to get the job done,” he said. “It was really exciting just to have my voice heard I think is super important.”
Maria Korvick, a retired judge, hoping people voice their choice for every race and amendment on the ballot.
“Our judiciary system is terribly important and the tax collector, our state representatives. These are very, very important positions, not just the presidential elections,” she said.
Others voters said it was important to come out and vote.
“First of all, it’s important to vote and second I don’t want to be in line forever,” said Veronique Manchec.
“Everybody that is a U.S. citizen should vote for our candidates regardless. That’s part of the liberty in this country,” said Nunez.
As the polls closed for the first day of early voting, Miami-Dade saw over 36,000 votes cast, a decrease from the over 43,000 votes on the first day of early voting in 2020.
In Broward, officials said over 25,000 votes were cast, also a decrease from the over 28,000 on the first day of early voting in 2020.
One of those Broward voters was 20-year-old Marina Lupercio-Sanchez who said she couldn’t wait to make her voice heard.
“First time voting! It’s a very big change, you know, depending on who our president is. I’m just happy to be included in it and happy to have a say,” said Lupercio-Sanchez. “I was very excited. I set my alarm clock just for this.”
Joe Scott, the Broward Supervisor of Elections, said people seem to be excited to vote in this year’s election.
“We’ve seen 10 percent of our registered voters have already cast a ballot for this election and we still have two weeks to go,” said Scott.
With election day just 15 days away, Florida voters will also decide on several important issues such as whether to end the state’s six-week abortion ban, legalizing recreational marijuana for adults 21 and over, and electing the first sheriff in decades for Miami-Dade County.
“The ballot amendments were super important for me to come and vote. Three and four, I think, are bringing a lot of young people to vote because it affects us personally,” said Solomon.
“The abortion was a big one and obviously for president,” said Rick Ruz.
“I made sure to go through everything before I even came to vote because you want to know because sometimes they word things weird and you want to know what you are actually voting for,” said Noah Carter.
Miami-Dade Mayor Daniela Levine Cava went to the Coral Gables Library to cast her vote.
“So voting is a sacred responsibility as well as a right. So we really want to make sure people come out and vote no matter your party, your affiliation and we have a lot of non-partisan races and constitutional amendments and local referendums,” said Mayor Daniela Levine Cava.
As South Floridians head to the polls, presidential candidates are trying to find a stronghold in key battleground states.
During early voting, voters can visit any polling location to cast their ballot, however, on election day, voters can only visit their assigned precinct location.
Former President Donald Trump started his Sunday at a McDonalds fry station in Pennsylvania, where he held a news conference and answered questions through the drive-thru window. Meanwhile, Vice President Harris stopped at two suburban Atlanta churches as part of her “souls to the polls” campaign.
Polls are open between 7 a.m. and 7 p.m. in Miami-Dade and Broward.
And from 8:30 a.m. to 5 p.m. in Monroe.
Voters can also drop off their vote-by-mail ballots at early voting locations.
For a list of early voting dates, hours, and locations in Miami-Dade County, click here. For general information, click here.
For a list of early voting dates, hours, and locations in Broward County, click here. For general information, click here.
For a list of early voting dates, hours, and locations in Monroe County, click here. For general information, click here.
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