More than 1.6 million Floridians have already cast ballots in the Nov. 3 midterm elections, with registered Democrats leading Republicans by a slim margin following three days of early in-person voting. The total represents about 11.7% of Florida’s 13.7 million registered voters heading into the election.
Early Ballots Show Democratic Mail Lead and Republican In-Person Edge
Figures released by the Florida Division of Elections show registered Democrats have returned nearly 485,000 mail ballots. Registered Republicans have returned just under 406,000 mail ballots.
Republicans hold the edge in in-person early voting. Nearly 235,000 registered Republicans have voted at early voting locations, compared with approximately 211,000 Democrats. Unaffiliated voters who lack any political party registration have sent back approximately 212,000 mail-in ballots alongside 93,000 in-person votes.
Florida Counties Set Early Voting Schedules
Early voting is currently underway in more than half of Florida’s 67 counties. In Miami-Dade, Broward, and Palm Beach counties, early voting runs from Oct. 19 through Nov. 1, providing voters with 14 consecutive days to cast their ballots. In Monroe County, early voting runs from Oct. 19 through Oct. 31.
All remaining counties must offer early voting beginning Saturday. The early voting period continues through Oct. 31 and Nov. 1, depending on each county’s specific rules.
Registration Advantages Shape Turnout Patterns
Democrats have outpaced Republicans in mail voting during recent election cycles, while Republicans make up the difference through in-person early voting. Republicans also hold a significant advantage in overall voter registration, with approximately 1.5 million more registered voters than Democrats statewide.
Approximately 7.8 million residents of Florida cast their ballots during the 2022 midterm elections, which equated to 53.8% of the electorate registered back then. Election officials note that current ballot figures reflect voters’ party registration, not which candidates they supported.
Frequently Asked Questions About Florida Early Voting
Which counties allow early voting starting on Saturday?
All 67 Florida counties must offer early voting by Saturday, with the exact end date concluding on either Oct. 31 or Nov. 1 depending on local county rules.
How many unaffiliated voters have cast ballots so far?
Voters registered without a political party affiliation have returned about 212,000 mail ballots and cast another 93,000 ballots in person.
What total turnout was recorded in the previous midterm election?
In the 2022 midterm elections, about 7.8 million Floridians voted, which accounted for 53.8% of registered voters at that time.