After falling behind in voting by mail, Florida Republicans quickly moved ahead of Democrats in ballots cast in the November election on the strength of turning out to early voting sites.
Data posted Tuesday morning on the state Division of Elections website showed that 202,036 Republicans had gone to early voting sites in the 50 counties where the option became available Monday, compared to 108,832 Democrats. Another 58,373 unaffiliated voters and 7,794 third-party voters also cast ballots at early voting locations.
The first-day early voting turnout put the GOP ahead of Democrats by just over 15,000 ballots cast in the Nov. 5 election. Democrats had a more than 77,000-voter lead in ballots cast by mail, a method that former President Donald Trump, the GOP presidential nominee, has sometimes criticized as fraudulent.
In Flagler County, ballots turned in by registered Democrats had an edge before early voting started on Monday, and Democrats were clinging to a bare difference of a few dozen ballots in that category by midday today. But a record turnout in the first two days of early voting quickly wiped out that advantage.
In late morning Wednesday, Republicans had cast 3.5 ballots for every one ballot cast by a Democrat at Flagler County’s five early-voting sites (4,538 to 1,262), running away with a combined advantage of 10,000 ballots to Democrats’ 6,725, when mail-in ballots are included. Independents and smaller party registrants had cast nearly 4,000 votes.
Early voting was running at over 400 votes per hour in Flagler County’s first two days, with both days–Monday and Tuesday–breaking the single-day record for most early-voting ballots cast in 2016. Mail-in ballots continue to pour in at a high rate as well, with almost 1,500 accepted on Tuesday and 1,200 on Monday.
Republican Party of Florida Chairman Evan Power pointed to early voting as a key to the party’s turnout strategy.
“I think you know there has been some concern about mail,” Power said Monday. “So, they (Republicans) want to vote in person, but they want to get their vote in early. I think President Trump has done a good job of communicating to people that he needs them to vote early so that we don’t have to rely just on Election Day voters. And, so, I think we’re headed in that direction.”
The new numbers reflected trends that have developed in Florida since 2016.
In 2016, when Trump defeated Democratic presidential candidate Hillary Clinton in Florida by 1.2 percentage points, Republicans cast 1,108,053 votes by mail compared to 1,049,809 by Democrats. In early voting, Democrats cast 1,580,003 ballots and Republicans cast 1,425,309.
Four years later, as Trump won Florida by more than 3 percentage points over eventual President Joe Biden, Democrats cast 2,189,710 votes by mail and 1,401,451 through the early voting process. Florida Republicans returned 1,506,223 vote-by-mail ballots and cast 1,959,875 early votes.
Florida Democratic Party Chairwoman Nikki Fried, before casting an early vote Monday at the Leon County Courthouse, said her party has changed its focus since the 2022 elections, when just 49 percent of registered Florida Democrats voted compared to 64 percent of registered Republicans.
“We recruited candidates in literally every seat from the (state) House and Senate to the congressionals. We have knocked on doors in all 67 counties. We’ve built an army and we have been message disciplined,” Fried said. “We’re holding the Republicans accountable. We’re talking about property insurance. We’re talking about abortion, the issues that are actually important to the people of the state. And so, you’re going to see a very different turnout than in 2022.”
As of Tuesday morning, Democrats had returned 555,450 mail-in-ballots while Republicans had returned 477,778, according to the Division of Elections website. Another 247,038 vote-by-mail ballots had come from unaffiliated voters, while 26,375 were from people registered with third parties.
While most counties started early voting Monday, it must be available statewide as of Saturday.
In Flagler County, early voting is open every day from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m.
The locations are as follows:
- Flagler County Elections Supervisor’s Office, Government Services Building, 1769 East Moody Boulevard, Bunnell.
- Flagler County Public Library, 2500 Palm Coast Pkwy NW, Palm Coast.
- Palm Coast Community Center, 305 Palm Coast Parkway NE.
- Palm Coast’s Southern Recreation Center, 1290 Belle Terre Parkway.
- Flagler Beach United Methodist Church, 1520 South Daytona Avenue, Flagler Beach.
See a sample ballot here. See the Live Interviews with all local candidates below.
–News Service of Florida and FlaglerLive
Palm Coast Mayor Cornelia Manfre Mike Norris Palm Coast City Council Ty Miller, Dist. 1 Jeffrey Seib, Dist. 1 Ray Stevens, Dist. 3 Andrew Werner, Dist. 3 Backgrounders Manfre’s and Norris’s Final Clash Temper and Temperament at Tiger Bay Forum Stevens and Werner Sharpen Differences |
joe says
FYI: https://www.flaglerelections.gov/election-security-
Good reading to understand the reality of our voting system and also refute the phony claims of fraud that are certain to come.
Kaiti Lenhart says
Thank you for sharing Joe. The link had an extra hyphen at the end. This one should take you to the Election Security page directly: https://www.flaglerelections.gov/election-security
R.S. says
I sincerely hope that many of the Republican-registered voters break rank and vote on the side of sanity. Otherwise, I shall despair over how backward, ignorant, and delusional this county will have become!
Fernando Melendez says
Sorry but Republicans will never break ranks and vote with democrats. And thank you for the backward, ignorant, and delusional comment you just made, which proves my point why we would never break ranks in the first place. Why is it that you democrats feel the need to name call? is it by automatic default? Read the article carefully, you are simply outnumbered by the Republican registered voters. So, don’t despair. instead just be optimistic simple as that.
JC says
Hahahahahahahahahahahaha.
I’m a Republican who voted for the Libertarian Party Candidate, since the GOP is moving more into a Big Government Solution for everything party. Not all Republicans are going to vote for Trump, and they will always be some Republicans who will vote for the Democrat nominee for president.
Last time I check, us Republicans do a lot of name calling as well.
Republican For Harris says
I’m a Republican that voted early for Kamala. I will not vote for someone that has 34-felony convictions and is an adjudicated rapist. Not will I vote for a guy that wishes he had generals like Hitler. He’s a disgrace. I value our constitution. I want to vote again in 2028. Kamala/Tim will give me that chance.
Sherry says
@fernando. . . please tell us all what you would call a person who would vote for a “Convicted Felon” who has also been found “Guilty” of “Sexual Assault and Fraud”? Would you call that person educated? Would you call that person intelligent?
I am looking forward to what name you would call a person who wants a “Guilty Criminal” to be their President. Please reply.
tulip says
It’s all over the tv that Trump and other republican candidates took total advantage of the elderly and robbed their bank accounts of their savings to a total of 6 million dollars aggregate. They did it through e mail and letters looking for donations, and there was a space to click on if you wanted to make monthly donations. A lot of these elderly had dementia in various stages. This gave the crappy thieves access to the victims account. Youngkin was another one doing this ,as well as others, and there were also a few Dems that did it. I wish they had broadcasted this a few weeks ago Now it’s too late I think
tulip says
many republicans and republican leaders have already broken with trump and said so on tv
Kendall says
It’s nice to hear what you really think of your neighbors, Fernando. Bitter much because you lost big a couple months ago?
Marlee says
No republicans will break ranks??????
Ask …..Grisham, Cheneys, Kinzinger, Scaramucci, Troye,
Duncan, Gonzales, Negroponte, Flake, Hutchinson
about THAT!!!!!
GraceReina says
You might be speaking for yourself, but you don’t speak for ALL Republicans. RINO here and I will NOT be voting for the Republican Party until they get their act together. The Republican party never held Trump accountable for his behaviors. Therefore, I will not align myself with a party that continuously makes excuses for him, Marjorie Taylor Green, Lauren Boebert, Mike Johnson etc etc etc etc. The Republican party has become the party of sabotage. They would rather see America fail than have working relationships with the other side.
Mark Webb says
Fernando. You told outside the library this year that you would vote democrat, but you couldn’t support abortion.
I respected that.
John Bertolacci says
But are they voting Republican?
I mailed mine and I didn’t.
Wait until they are counted.
Samuel says
Correct, so many registered Republicans are voting for a Democrat this year never been seen before. So, all the so called Republicans can thank the fake tan, orange man felon for that.
TR says
You don’t know that for fact. You’re just speculating and hoping that’s what happens.
Wallingford says
I certainly hope that those who are voting early are doing so based upon recent events:
The five Gentlemen who then Mr Trump took out full page ads announcing their guilt are suing him for Defamation of Character since, although they have been deemed innocent, he continues in recent speeches to claim they are guilty of murder (original charges were rape not murder)
The Scottish government is investigating the Trump family for the questionable acquisition of the golf courses
A summit of noted Forensic Psychiatrists and Neuropsychiatrists deemed Mr Trump is suffering from
Narcissistic Personality Disorder
Malignant Narcissism
Antisocial Personality Disorder
Paranoid Personality Disorder
Psychopathic Personality Disorder
Dillusions of Grandeur
James says
Well written.
Skibum says
I just have to make an important comment regarding the increase in Republican votes turned in so far here in Flagler County. I’m fully aware that registered Republicans already outnumber registered Democrats in Flagler County. But one thing that might be a significant factor to consider is this… do you remember when there were some calling for Dems to re-register as Repubs in Flagler County when the Republican Party was finagling around and doing underhanded things to try to give them an unethical advantage for local elected offices during this year’s primary election? Well, I was one of perhaps a number of Dems who contacted the Supervisor of Elections office and changed my party affiliation to (R) for the primary election, and so far I have not changed it back. So the ballot that I received for this general election still lists me as a Repub although I am certainly in now way every going to be affiliated with their point of view. I’m quite sure that I am not the only one that did this, and maybe still have their party affiliation they have not changed back yet. So there is that to consider.
Kendall says
So am I. I want to participate in local elections and when the dems fail to put up viable candidates my only choice is to hold my nose, register as a republican and vote for the least disgusting candidate.
Mike says
Have not had a party affiliation for years. I don’t think I’m alone. Congressional approval rating in the 20th percentile indicates both parties need to improve. ☮️
Charles says
When will Republicans admit that there is no longer a Republican party, if there were there wouldn’t be so many Republicans and former Trump’s employees voting for VP Harris?
Dick Chaney, is one of the few that shows a old time Republican will not vote for Trump the want to be dictator on day one.
Wake up and smell the truth, Trump destroyed the Republican party just like he is destroying the USA and its democracy for his boss Putin.
Stop lying to yourselves.
JJB says
Lmfao Democrats don’t have a chance this year. Especially at taking Florida!
Boltman says
California and new york liberals are taking over palm coast fast. As soon as they do crime will run crazy, tents, tagging, homeless will take over.
JC says
Huh? How this is possible when the Flagler County (including Palm Coast) is turning even more red every year?
John Bertolacci says
Remember, New Yorkers, Jerseyites, and Californias are mostly very liberal and Democratics. This is not turning this State red. They came down here to avoid higher taxes and crime.
JC says
Not the ones I met. I met so many NY, NJ, and CA folks who moved to FL (including Palm Coast) for the GOP politics. My new neighbor who has a new house next to mine moved from NYC to Palm Coast and he votes GOP since he got sick of the Democrat policies in NYC.
Middle Aged White Guy for Harris says
I’m registered as “No Party Affiliation” and I just voted straight blue up and down the ballot. Its time for MAGA to be flushed away ….. sometimes you have to flush twice.
Sherry says
@Middle Aged. . . Love! Love! Love! The Flush Twice idea!!! Well Done!
Deport the gop says
What’s trumps platform make up lies and stay out of jail? Such scum of a human. No decency. And the republicans defend and support the incompetence and hate. If orange turd sits in the oval office we are all gonna be worse off you can bet on that!
Dbhammock says
My comment is completely non partisan. I don’t care what party you are affiliated with, but why is the media allowed to tell us how many republican or democrats have voted in early elections. If elections were held on election day we would not know. It should be illegal for the media to announce how many of any party has already voted. Why are they allowed to do this? It should be totally illegal. Votes should be totally sealed until actual Election Day. Am I crazy?
FlaglerLive says
Citizens’ registration status is public information. Disclosing totals by registration in no way discloses how the registrants voted. The votes themselves are sealed, and the identity of the voters are never known even after Election Day. Disclosing this information is not illegal. It’s is informative.
T says
Makes me sick to think so many unreal Americans can vote for trump treasonous,racist,lies and talks bout mens genitals and people want that for America disgraceful
Sinan Wiese says
Guess who the World wants to win the election – U.K. Labour Party is sending Members to the US to campaign for Kamala Harris. Trump is suing claiming this is election interference. Elon Musk pays $1MM for a Trump vote but that’s okay.
Sherry says
Just a tiny bit of what Republican Senate Leader Mitch Mc Connell now has to say about trump:
“I don’t know whether you can make a conclusive argument that he’s directly responsible for them storming the Capitol, but I think it’s not in dispute that those folks would not have been here in the first place if he had not asked them to come and to disrupt the actual acceptance of the outcome of the election,” the Senate GOP leader said.
The Kentucky Republican did not mince words, calling Trump a “sleazeball,” a “narcissist” and saying that the former president is “stupid as well as being ill-tempered.” He added that Trump is “not very smart, irascible, nasty, just about every quality you would not want somebody to have.”
“Think” about that before you vote. . . .
Deport republicans says
It’s bad when people would actually vote for a convict sex offender. Says a lot about the people around.
Atwp says
I am a Democrat. Don’t like Trump. He is a big liar. Mail in ballot for Harris.
Janet Sullivan says
I am the Chair of Flagler County Democratic Party—a position I am so honored to have, as I get to work with the most spectacular humans. Hundreds of Flagler Democrats are knocking on doors, making phone calls, handing out sample ballots, staffing the office, and trying to Get Out the Vote in a myriad of other ways—in the face of many odds.
Although we only have half the number of registered voters as our counterparts; it appears we have double their class.
You’ve seen our Saturday morning sign-waving events at Island Walk and Target. Hundreds of Democrats waving signs celebrating our candidates– not denigrating Republicans or their candidates. On the other corner, however, are Trump supporters waving flags that say “Democrats Suck”, and using a bullhorn, alternating between Bible verses and talking about “Kamala Toes” (you get the drift).
Flagler Democrats contributed for the 12 large Harris/Walz signs you’ve seen around town. Democrat volunteers erected them. Each day we have to drag one of the signs out of the woods and re-erect it. Others have been destroyed completely or stolen. In an obviously weak moment yesterday, I thought there might be some reasonable local Republicans who might agree with our right to free speech and our abhorrence for vandalism. I contacted my Flagler Republican counterpart for what was evidently a ridiculous ask: To have some assistance from the Flagler Republicans in re-erecting this sign each morning, as it’s likely not a Democrat who is tearing it down. That conversation did not go as I’d hoped.
Later in the day, one of our sign wavers at the Community Center was harassed by volunteers for Mike Norris, Republican candidate for Mayor– not just yelled at from the Mike Norris tent across the driveway, but in-your-face harassed. Again, I called my counterpart. “I have no control over volunteers.” But they were volunteers for Republican Mike Norris, with him in his tent. Mike Norris DOES have control over his volunteers who were in his presence. He observed their behavior, and he did nothing. Cornelia Manfre would have fixed that in a heartbeat. I’ve met her kids. She has high standards for how people should behave.
Our Democrat donors and volunteers deserve better. They deserve to not have their money or their time tossed into the woods every night, or destroyed. They deserve the opportunity to express their right to free speech by waving a sign without someone literally in their face.
Flagler Democrats: It is a privilege to be a part of your leadership team. Thank you for your financial contributions, your time, and your extraordinary grace. Stay focused, keep your cool, and For God’s Sake—VOTE!
Janet Sullivan, Chair
Flagler County Democratic Party
Samuel L. Bronkowitz says
Voted for Claudia De la Cruz and Feena