Election Day Tips Ahead Of Tuesday's Florida Primary
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MIAMI (CBSMiami) -- Tuesday August 28 is the Florida primary election and the culmination of a number of hard-fought campaigns.
Nearly 2 million people have already cast ballots, according to the Florida Division of Election website. Nearly 1.2 million people mailed in ballots, while nearly 659,000 voted at early voting polling places.
But if you didn't vote early or send in a mail-in-ballot, then you'll have to go old-school and vote in person at your specific polling location.
CLICK HERE FOR THE CBSMIAMI.COM ELECTION GUIDE
One of the top races is the gubernatorial race. Candidates who want to take Rick Scott's place in the Governor's mansion were doing some last minute campaigning in South Florida Monday including Jeff Greene, Phillip Levine and Andrew Gillum.
Gillum is on a roll as Election Day looms. The St. Pete Polls survey, shows former Congresswoman Gwen Graham with 32-percent support among likely Democratic primary voters, followed by Gillum at 25-percent and Levine at 22-percent. Jeff Greene is barely clinging to double digits at 11-percent and Chris King has 2-percent.
GOP front man Ron DeSantis, endorsed by President Trump, was also in South Florida Monday, looking to build on a lead.
The latest Gravis Marketing poll among Republicans shows him winning the Republican nomination with ease. He has a 12 point lead over Agriculture Commissioner Adam Putnam.
But as Donald Trump proved, the polls can be wrong. Mid-term elections are often ho-hum but this one has been exciting.
"With vote by mail and early voting, it's actually quite high for a primary election," explained Miami-Dade Elections Supervisor Christina White. "We have a 13 percent voter turnout, so that's showing us that voters are encouraged and enthusiastic this time around."
There are also Cabinet primaries as well as many contested congressional races.
There are more than 13 million registered voters in Florida.
Things to remember about the Primary Election.
Florida is a "closed primary" state, which means only voters registered with a political party may vote in that party's Primary Election. One exception: If all the candidates are running as members of the same party, the primary is open to all eligible voters. All voters can also vote in nonpartisan elections for judges and school board members.
Here are some other helpful tips for Election Day.
- The polls will open at 7 a.m. and close at 7 p.m. on Election Day.
- All eligible voters in line at their polling place at 7 p.m. will be allowed to vote, regardless of the length of the line.
- Find out where you are assigned to vote before Election Day.
- Click here to find your polling location in Miami-Dade
- Click here to find your polling location in Broward.
- Bring valid identification, which must contain the voter's name, photograph and signature and must not be expired.
- If you do not have proper identification with you, Florida law allows you to vote a "provisional ballot."
- If you are voting at a school, you should avoid voting at the arrival and dismissal time for the school.
- Before heading to the polls, be informed and use your sample ballot.
- CLICK HERE to see a SAMPLE BALLOT in Miami-Dade
- CLICK HERE to see a SAMPLE BALLOT in Broward
- If you make a mistake in voting, tell the clerk in charge of the polling place, give him or her your spoiled ballot, and you will be issued a replacement ballot.
- If you received a Vote-by-Mail Ballot but decide to vote at your polling location on Election Day, please bring your Mail Ballot with you to surrender to an election official.
- For our Election Guide 2018, click here
- For more on Campaign 2018, click here.
- For more voter information, FAQ's and helpful links, click here.
- To see candidate interviews on CBSMiami.com, click here.
