GOP presidential primary: More than 300,000 Floridians have voted so far on Election Day

Voting sign in the Gray Memorial United Methodist Church polling location in Tallahassee, Florida, on March 19, 2024. (Photo by Jackie Llanos/Florida Phoenix)

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Former President Donald Trump already has more than enough delegates for the GOP nomination, but Floridians are still voting in the party’s presidential primary Tuesday out of a sense of duty, voters in the state capital told Florida Phoenix. Leon County is the main section of the Capitol complex in Florida.

Overall, 317,902 people have cast their ballots across the state on Election Day, according to the Florida Division of Elections. But Republican vote-by-mail shows 520,198, and early voting shows 220,420. The three categories add up to 1,058,520 votes, so far.

Although no other Republicans are actively challenging Trump for the nomination anymore, six other candidates are still on the GOP ballot, including Gov. Ron DeSantis. Additionally, only registered Republicans can cast their ballots in Florida’s primary because President Joe Biden is the Florida Democratic Party’s only certified candidate.

Still, folks headed out to the polls to make their voices heard, albeit in smaller numbers. As of late afternoon, out of more than five million registered Republicans, 20 percent have voted, according to Republican vote-by-mail, early voting and the Election Day turnout, according to the division of elections. However, the numbers will continue to change.

In this photo, Former President Donald Trump looks on during a campaign event on Dec. 19, 2023 in Waterloo, Iowa. (Photo by Scott Olson/Getty Images)

“This country is in a bad jam. I mean, it’s ridiculous the way things have gotten so yes, I definitely had to vote,” said David Jones, a 60-year-old Tallahassee resident. He enthusiastically said he voted for Trump because he followed through on his promises.

A candidate needs 1,215 delegates to secure the nomination, and Trump has 1,273, according to the USA Today Republican Presidential primary delegate tracker.

Across six polling locations in Tallahassee, the Phoenix only saw 15 voters in the morning and early afternoon. Leon County reported  3,194 votes cast as of 4:40 p.m. The polls will close at 7 p.m.

The U.S.-Mexico border and the state of the economy were top of mind for those who made it to the polls.

“Close our borders. We’re having terrible people come in here. … We need to do that, and we have plenty of things for people to come in and actually apply for sanctuary,” Katherine Wagner said. The 88-year-old Tallahassee resident and her 93-year-old husband also said they wanted more financial security for the middle class.

Despite the criminal and civil cases against Trump, he is the only viable candidate for the GOP nomination. However, some voters are not thrilled about a Biden-Trump rematch.

“I don’t want to see it happen again,” Leon County resident Amy Kelly, 48, said. “Unfortunately, I don’t think we have great people to choose from right now.” She did not say who she voted for.

As of 4:40 p.m., Trump’s county of residence, Palm Beach, had the highest turnout (35,287 votes), according to the division of elections. The second-highest voter turnout at this point is in Brevard County, which reported 15,554 votes.

You can look at the data here: Florida Election Watch – Election Day Turnout

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