A.G. Gancarski
Republicans continue to stack in-person early votes, and Democrats are failing to close the gap with mail ballots.
That’s what the numbers from the Florida Department of State say, suggesting that while the Republican Party of Florida may point to the scoreboard, Florida Democrats may be in “read it and weep” territory as the weekend approaches.
The Department says 821,446 Republicans have shown up to early voting locations and cast ballots already, while just 410,218 Dems have done the same.
Republicans have increased their in-person advantage by more than 104,000 votes in the last 24 hours.
To put the left-of-center party’s performance in perspective, 257,568 no-party registrants have voted, along with 32,388 people who belong to other parties.
Mail ballots, a source of strength for Dems last time around, are not buffering the in-person edge Republicans have thus far.
While 767,882 Democrats have sent their ballots in, so have 655,797 Republicans.
And Democrats likely won’t be able to stretch their mail edge that much farther, barring a robust operation and a Republican collapse.
All told, 678,778 Democratic ballots are still out for potential return, while 541,696 GOP mail ballots are still potential votes rather than reality.
Democrats had a 673,819-vote advantage in 2020’s returned mail ballots, and that won’t happen this time around in all likelihood.
Gov. Ron DeSantis is not on the ballot, but he is very active during this period, barnstorming the state in efforts to undermine constitutional amendments that would legalize recreational pot and remove abortion restrictions he signed. With no Democratic equivalent to his political punch, that may also be a potent turnout driver given his historic victory in 2022.
7 comments
MH/Duuuval
October 25, 2024 at 11:06 am
Dee can barnstorm all he likes, but my assumption is that this year the turnout will be much larger, and Dee’s mouth may well influence voters AGAINST his agenda.
In any case, the sluggard and self-centered Rick Scott is the chief target in Florida.
Cheesy Floridian
October 25, 2024 at 3:54 pm
I am waiting until election day to cast my vote.
Frankie M.
October 25, 2024 at 8:19 pm
Good…less turnout on election day for me!
Frankie M.
October 25, 2024 at 8:19 pm
Let them blow their wad now
Ron Ogden
October 26, 2024 at 4:06 am
That wheezing, gasping, asthmatic sound you hear is the air coming out of the Florida Democratic Party.
MH/Duuuval
October 26, 2024 at 10:09 am
Sometimes difficult to breathe with so much MAGA stank around.
EARL PITTS AMERICAN
October 26, 2024 at 8:08 am
Good Morn ‘Ting America,
STAND BY FOR NEWS:
Here at the EPA POLY-SCI Division of The Esteamed EARL PITTS AMERICAN Fan Club we have moles who have wormed themselves into all Supervisors of Election Offices across The Fruited Plain.
HERE’s THE LITTLE DIRTY SECRET:
What you are not being told is that these voters ARE NOT all registared Republican. No…Imdeed 1/2 of these early voters are Registared Democrat but yet are casting their votes for Trump.
The goal is to cut back on Democrats not voteing due to it clearly being a lost cause based on registared Dem’s early voteing for Trump. AMERICA, if this truth gets out to the Rank & File Democrat Voter they will see the futialtity of wasting their time voteing and most will opt to stay home and “Wank” rather than going out and voteing for “SCRUMPY RUMPEY” Kamalla.
AND NOW YOU KNOW THE REST OF THE STORY,
EARL PITTS AMERICAN