2022 Midterm Elections: Where to vote in Florida? When do your designated polls open and close?
With just two more days to cast a ballot, here is what you need to know when voting in Florida... ID requirements, polling locations, early vote.
Candidates in the Sunshine State are racing to get their voters to the polls with just two days left to cast a ballot. While, polls show that Republicans are favored, Democrats have kicked their campaigns into high gear, hoping to turn-out first time and independent voters.
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As of Sunday 6 November, 4,558,858 votes had been cast early, either in person or by mail. With 14.6 million registered voters, this means that almost a third have already cast their ballot. Although Republicans have begun to cast doubt on mail-in voting, as well as early voting, more GOP voters have taken advantage of the processes.
| Party | Mail-Ballots Returned | Early Votes Cast | Total |
|---|---|---|---|
| Democrats | 1,063,734 | 598,457 | 1,662,191 |
| Republicans | 912,427 | 1,086,949 | 1,999,376 |
| No Party Affiliation | 505,501 | 391,790 | 897,291 |
| Total | 2,481,662 | 2,077,196 | 4,558,858 |
What do you need to bring to vote?
Florida has a state-wide voter ID law, meaning that those hoping to cast a ballot need to bring sanctioned ID with them to the polls. The ID does not have to be issued by the state or federal government, giving those without an official ID or driver’s license, more choice. However, whatever form is given must have a photo and a signature.
What types of IDs are accepted in Florida for voting?
- Florida driver's license or ID card issued by the Department of Highway Safety and Motor Vehicles
- US passport
- debit or credit card
- military ID
- student ID
- retirement center ID
- neighborhood association ID
- public assistance ID
- veteran health ID issued by the US Department of Veterans Affairs
- license to carry a concealed weapon or firearm
- or an employee ID card issued by the federal government, the state of Florida, or any county or municipality
What happens if you do not bring an ID to vote in Florida?
Voters who come to the polls without an ID will be given a provisional ballot. Once turned in, the ballot will be counted if the signature matches that which was used when a person registered to vote. If the signatures do not match, the vote is not counted.
When do the polls open?
Polling locations are open from 7:00 AM to 7:00 PM across the state. The Florida Department of State offers a tool for voters to find their specified polling location.
State of the Race
Florida voters will have a chance to determine who will fill five of the highest offices in the state.
Governor
Incumbent Gov. Ron DeSantis (R) currently leads in the polls against his Democratic challenger Charlie Crist.
DeSantis has been criticized for his response to the covid-19 pandemic, which killed over 86,000 Florida residents. The governor has defended his response saying, “The corporate media lied about Florida’s COVID response, and now study after study confirms that Florida did the right thing.”
DeSantis’ campaign has provided no links to any of these studies.
Additionally, the death rate based on the state’s population is far larger than states like California and New York, constant targets of the governor. The majority of deaths that occurred in New York happened before vaccines became available to the public. This is not the case in Florida, meaning that uncontrolled spread in a largely unvaccinated population led to preventable deaths.
| State | Covid deaths per 100,000 residents |
|---|---|
| Florida | 382 per 100,000 residents |
| California | 246 per 100,000 residents |
| New York | 362 per 100,000 residents |
That attack on California comes as the state announces a $100 billion budget surplus and the economy moves from the seventh to the fourth largest in the world. While locking down, requiring mask mandates, and taking other measures to slow the spread may have been criticized by Republicans, the state’s economy is rebounding; showing that economic prosperity and public health do not need to be pitted against one another.
Lieutenant Governor
- Jeanette Nuñez (Incumbent) (Republican Party)
- Karla Hernandez (Democratic Party)
- Jerry Rorabaugh (Libertarian Party)
- Kyle Gibson (No Party Affiliation)
Attorney General
- Ashley B. Moody (Incumbent) (Republican Party)
- Aramis Ayala (Democratic Party)
Chief Financial Officer
- Jimmy Patronis (Incumbent) (Republican Party)
- Adam Hattersley (Democratic Party)
Agriculture Commissioner
- Naomi Blemur (Democratic Party)
- Wilton Simpson (Republican Party)
US Senate and House of Representatives
Republican incumbent Marco Rubio faces a challenge from Congresswomen Val Demings. The race is much closer, with a recent poll from Florida Atlantic University found that Rubio was leading 47 to 42 percent.
Both candidates have been endorsed by former presidents of their respective parties, with Donald Trump throwing his support behind Rubio (after years of calling him Little Marco) and Barack Obama announcing his support for Demings earlier this week.
Since terms in the House of Representatives are only two years, Florida voters will have the chance to elect a new congressional delegation to send to Washington to represent their interests. Based on the information collected through the 2020 Census, Florida gained an additional seat in the House of Representatives.
Currently, of the twenty-six-person delegation, sixteen are Republicans, nine are Democrats, and two seats are vacant.