MIAMI – There were no lines at South Florida polls Tuesday. Primary election voters did not have to wait long. The polls were mostly quiet and afternoon rain in some parts of Miami-Dade County did not help.

Voter turnout was expected to be less than 20 percent in Florida. About 30,000 voters in Miami-Dade and about 19,000 in Broward went to the polls during early-voting. About 84,000 in Miami-Dade and about 40,000 in Broward submitted absentee ballots, officials said.

During a press conference, Florida Secretary of State Ken Detzner said Tuesday morning that there was a statewide increase on votes cast before election day. In 2010, there were 600,153 absentee ballots statewide and this year there were 856,378.

"Voters find absentees convenient, so I think it's a positive trend," Dentzner said.

Also on Tuesday, Arizona and Vermont were holding primary elections. Oklahoma was holding a run-off. Missouri and Oregon had filing deadlines. Florida polls close at 7 p.m.

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Here is what South Florida voters need to know:

The primary's highlight: Who will be Republican incumbent Gov. Rick Scott's opponent during the contentious gubernatorial election November 4? Democratic voters will get to choose between former Republican Gov. Charlie Crist and Senate Democratic Leader Nan Rich.

Crist was expected to beat the veteran politician, The One and Only Local 10 News political expert Michael Putney has said.

Crist has ignored Rich and has focused on attacking Scott, who has the backing of former Gov. Jeb Bush. Rich has criticized Crist's political metamorphosis, but her voice has gone nearly unnoticed. The real issue for Democrats is that Florida hasn't had a Democratic governor since 1994.

Democrats must also choose the candidate that will oppose Republican Attorney General Pam Bondi. The options: George Sheldon served as a member of the Florida House of Representatives and as the Acting Assistant Secretary at the federal Administration for Children and Families. State Rep. Perry Thurston serves as minority leader and has been in office since 2006.

Thurston's supporters recently questioned Sheldon's eligibility due to his time in Washington, D.C., as part of President Barack Obama's administration.

A contention subject in both elections, is the issue of same-sex marriage

LOCAL 10 DEBATE: This Week In South Florida talks to Nan Rich

LOCAL 10 DEBATE: This Week In South Florida talks about Miami Herald poll

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Voters were also choosing several other party's nominees for 41 legislative districts, including two South Florida races.

The most heated election in South Florida is the Republican race for District 26, which covers Monroe County to west Miami-Dade. Democratic incumbent Joe Garcia will be vying for the seat again. Former U.S. Rep. David Rivera, who lost the seat to Garcia, wants to reclaim it.

Rivera was accused of being the co-conspirator in a campaign-finance scheme. Garcia's supporters also accused Rivera of using a straw candidate -- Justin Lamar Sternad --  to weaken Garcia's bid in the 2012 primary.

LOCAL 10 DEBATE: This Week in South Florida on the 26th Congressional District

LOCAL 10 REPORT: Mitt Romney supports Carlos Curbelo for District 26

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Also on the ballot for Broward County voters is a judicial race between sitting Judge Lynn Rosenthal and challenger Jahra McLawrence.

Rosenthal made headlines earlier this year, after she was arrested on suspicion of DUI. She crashed her SUV into a deputy's cruiser outside the courthouse. Rosenthal later had her DUI charge reduced to reckless driving. She was sentenced to three months of probation and 25 hours of community service.

Shortly after resolving the case, Rosenthal told Local 10 News she was "sleep driving" at the time of the crash because of the Ambien she had taken the night before.

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Voters will also focus on four Miami-Dade County Commission seats. The two most contested are District 2 and 8.

In District 2, voters will have to choose between incumbent Jean Monestime and Dorrin Rolle. In District 8, voters will choose between incumbent Lynda Bell and Daniella Levine Cava.

Other Miami-Dade County jobs open include School Board school board positions and property appraiser.

LOCAL 10 DEBATE: This Week on South Florida on nasty commission race

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North Miami voters will choose a new mayor. The former mayor, Lucie Tondreau, was suspended and is facing fraud charges. Miami Gardens voters will be electing two members of the city council.

Voters in Miami, Miami Beach and Doral have to consider several municipal charter amendments. There are 10 amendments in Doral.

In Miami, voters must make decisions on Bayside Marketplace, 401 Biscayne Blvd.  A renovation and the SkyRise tower, a privately financed development on public property, are on the line. Miami Mayor Tomas Regalada was on Spanish radio early Tuesday morning supporting the project.

In Miami Beach, voters face possible changes to the charter related to developers applications with historic preservation regulations variances and elected officials' term limitations.

LOCAL 10 DEBATE: This Week In South Florida talks to Miami Beach Mayor

LOCAL 10 REPORT: $430 million SkyRise observation tower

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