JACKSONVILLE, Fla. – With early voting wrapping up this weekend, Duval County Elections officials said they saw good numbers and are hoping that the momentum remains the same on Tuesday for the general election.
Across Florida, more than 4.5 million votes were cast through mail-in ballots and early voting. Duval County experienced a 29.52% of voter turnout for early voting, which includes 56,898 ballots submitted by mail and 136,613 ballots cast in early voting.
Amy Keith with the voting rights group Common Cause is hoping that recent weather changes with the nor’easter that is expected to bring rain to the area won’t impact voter turnout.
Common Cause is a non-partisan government accountability organization that makes sure voters have fair access to the ballot.
“Weather can and often does impact voter turnout. It’s one of the reasons we really encourage people to take advantage of early voting options on every election so that they don’t get in so that the weather doesn’t impede their ability to vote,” Keith said.
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Duval County Supervisor of Elections Mike Hogan said they will play the storm by ear, but he isn’t anticipating much impact on Tuesday’s turnout.
He does, however, advise voters to cast their ballots earlier in the day, if they can.
Keith said to remember those who still have vote-by-mail ballots to sign the envelope and get it in.
“Remember that your vote-by-mail ballot has to get back to your elections office by 7 p.m. on Election Day, so it’s a bit too late to mail it in. So, folks should know that they can drop it off at their supervisor of elections office on Monday or Tuesday,” Keith said.
This election comes after lots of criticism over accuracy and trust in the 2020 election.
There are resources available at the polls, and Common Cause urges voters to use them if needed, even though they trust the voting process.
“We have heard from both sides of the aisle in 2020, ran an incredibly safe and secure election. We’re so far seeing the election run well. We have a lot of faith in our supervisor of elections here in Florida to run good elections,” Keith said.