Voters across Florida will get their first opportunities to cast an early, in-person ballot for the 2024 general election on Monday as early voting begins in dozens of counties across the state.
News4JAX spoke with some of the first folks in line for early voting in Duval County.
Ian Gouveia was at the Southeast Region Library in Jacksonville to vote early with his mom.
“When we got our sample ballots, we just looked at each other and went ‘Oh we’re doing this Day 1.’ The last election, there were different circumstances, but this time around there is no messing around on this one,” Gouveia said. “You got to get out of bed. You got to get out there and vote. It’s your duty, an important duty of an American citizen.”
Florida counties must offer at least eight days of early voting, but some choose to offer more.
In Northeast Florida, early voting begins Monday in Duval, St. Johns, Alachua, Bradford, Columbia, Flagler and Putnam counties.
For Duval County, check out wait times at each early voting location here: www.duvalelections.com/.
Voters can also vote by mail, but that mail-in ballot must be requested by Oct. 24.
News4JAX Voter’s Guide: Learn more about the candidates & issues on your ballot before you head out to vote
More than 833,000 Floridians have already cast mail-in ballots. That includes about a quarter of the ones sent out in Duval County.
Statewide, Democrats have extended their lead with 356,000 mail-in ballots cast to nearly 308,000 by Republicans. Unaffiliated and third-party voters account for 20% of the total so far.
Damage left from Hurricanes Helene and Milton could impact statewide turnout. That is why Gov. Ron DeSantis issued an executive order allowing counties to make changes because of Milton.
The order shortens the time frame to open new voting centers and allows state employees to take paid leave to fill in as poll workers on election day.
Early voting locations
Eligible voters can vote at any early voting location within their county.
Each Northeast Florida county’s planned early voting dates are listed below. For locations and hours, click the link for each county, or use the map below.
- Alachua County: Oct. 21 - Nov. 3
- Baker County: Oct. 24 - Nov. 2
- Bradford County: Oct. 21 - Nov. 3
- Clay County: Oct. 22 - Nov. 2
- Columbia County: Oct. 21 - Nov. 2
- Duval County: Oct. 21 - Nov. 3
- Flagler County: Oct. 21 - Nov. 2
- Nassau County: Oct. 23 - Nov. 2
- Putnam County: Oct. 21 - Nov. 2
- St. Johns County: Oct. 21 - Nov. 2
- Union County: Oct. 26 - Nov. 2
What to bring
You must bring one or two forms of valid and current identification that include your signature and photo.
Acceptable forms of ID include:
- Florida Driver License
- Florida ID Card (issued by DHSMV)
- U.S. 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)
- Concealed Weapon License (issued pursuant to F.S. 790.06)
- Employee ID card issued by any branch, department, agency, or entity of the Federal Government, the state, a county, or a municipality.
If you show up without an ID, you can cast a “provisional” ballot, which is then evaluated by a canvassing board that decides if the ballot is eligible.