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Presidential Primary Early Voting Begins Monday In Miami-Dade, Monroe

MIAMI (CBSMiami) -- Early voting for the 2020 Presidential preference primary is officially underway in Miami-Dade and Monroe Counties and runs through March 15.  It starts March 7 in Broward.

Early voting gives you the flexibility to vote when and where it's most convenient for you.

However, it was a slow start Monday at the Coral Gables Library Monday morning.

"It has been a little slow," said campaign volunteer William Harris. "Just started up, 15 voters so far."

Low turn out on the first day is not surprising for Miami-Dade's Election Supervisor Christina White.

"Turn out is a little light so far. That's very normal for the first day of early voting," she said. "The historical data here in Miami-Dade is about 20-25% total turn out."

The West Dade Regional Library was a bit busier but running smooth.

"This is really easy. It is easy, no big deal," said early voter Jorge Bravo.

"I think it is very good because you do not have the line, people are kind and nice to you because they are not tired. I think this is wonderful," said early voter Mita Buierado.

The Miami-Dade Canvassing Board is already meeting to review some of the 80-thousand early vote-by-mail ballots, which at times, is critical work in elections in the Sunshine State.

"Today's responsibilities are mail ballots that have come in, maybe the signature does not match, the voter forgot to sign, so we are reviewing to decide to accept or not," explained White.

There are over 20 locations where you can go to cast your early voting ballots in Miami-Dade, and Broward and five in Monroe.

Important Dates For Campaign 2020

EARLY VOTING for the presidential primaries:

Miami-Dade Early Voting runs March 2 - 15. 

Broward Early Voting runs March 7 - 15.

Monroe County Early Voting runs March 2- 15.

To avoid delays, elections officials ask you bring one or two forms of identification that include your signature and photo. Without proper identification, you may still vote a provisional ballot, which will later be evaluated by a canvassing board for eligibility.

To make the voting process go faster, officials suggest you bring your sample ballot to the polling place with notes on how you plan to vote. By making your voting decisions before going to the polling place, you help keep the lines down.

Only voters registered with Florida's two major political parties can vote in the presidential preference primary. The deadline to register for the presidential primary was Feb. 18.

Here are other important voter information deadlines.

Related: Campaign 2020

March 17: Presidential primaries plus municipal elections in Surfside, Lauderdale-by-the-Sea, Lighthouse Point, Pembroke Pines, and Pompano Beach.

July 20: Last day to register to vote or change political party affiliation for the general election primary on Aug. 18.

Aug. 8-15: Early voting begins for the general election primary.

Aug. 18: General election primary.

Oct. 5: Last day to register to vote or change political party affiliation for the general election.

Oct. 24-31: Early voting for the general election.

Nov. 3: Election Day 2020. Includes presidential, congressional and state legislative elections, state constitutional amendments and local races.

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