Broward Preps For Start Of Early Voting
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MIAMI (CBSMiami) - Donald Trump has dominated politics along with Hillary Clinton this election cycle but they're not on the ballot for the upcoming election. It's state and local races in this primary.
Voting machines are being set up at 20 different polling places around Broward County, preparing for early voting that begins Saturday.
"We'll be ready for voters at 10 o'clock on Saturday morning and we want them to come out," said Broward Supervisor of Election Dr. Brenda Snipes.
Broward Primary Election Sample Ballot
She said between early voting and mail-in ballots, about half of the people who plan to vote in this primary will have done so by Election Day.
Overall turnout is expected to be only about a quarter of registered voters.
"These are really powerful voters because a lot of people don't come out so the ones who do, really have a lot of say," commented CBS 4's Ted Scouten.
"They make decisions for the rest of us," said Dr. Snipes.
August Primary 101: From Early Voting Through Election Day
Voters will decide who will represent each party in the crucial US senate race. They'll also determine if Debbie Wasserman Schultz will get another shot at her house seat or if Tim Canova will be the one facing a Republican challenger.
There are a whole lot more seats up for grabs.
"These are local people," said Snipes. "We're voting for candidates that will be with us on a day-to-day basis. The judges are here, the school board members, the local county commissioners are here."
And for those with no party affiliation, you still have plenty of choices on the ballot.
"Everyone thinks it's just one vote," said voter Greg West, "but the ocean's made up of a whole bunch of drops of water."
Early voting in Broward runs from Saturday, August 20th to Sunday, August 28th from 10 a.m.-7 p.m. daily.
Click here for more information, including locations. Early voting is already underway in Miami-Dade County and the Florida Keys (Monroe County).
