DORAL, Fla. – At the Miami-Dade County Elections Department Headquarters in Doral, a steady stream of drivers arrived throughout the day to drop-off their vote by mail ballots.
Among the issues they told Local 10 News were bringing them to the polls were woman’s rights, legislation for school teachers and for first responders.
“The importance has to do with the choices we have between two very polarized parties with two very different visions for the future,” said Charles Zelden, Professor of History and Politics at Nova Southeastern University.
By 4 p.m. Tuesday, the Miami-Dade Elections Department reported more than 163,000 registered voters had cast their ballot on Election Day.
Add to that early voting numbers and voter turnout in the county stood at 42 percent, with Republicans outpacing Democrats.
“The Democratic Party has been fragmenting over the last four years,” said Zelden. “The loss in the governor’s race four years ago really affected the party. And so you not only have the possibility of a red wave going on with the Republicans, but the fundamentals in Florida are swinging Republican as well. It’s going to be a long night for Florida Democrats.”