TAMPA, Fla. (WFLA) — Thousands of Hillsborough and Polk residents are making their voices heard this year, as early voting for Florida’s presidential preference primary began Monday in those counties.
“We’ve already had about a 35 percent rate of return on our vote by mail ballots that we sent out,” said Hillsborough County Supervisor of Elections Craig Latimer. “So the 50,000 plus vote by mail ballots we sent out, we’re starting to approach about 20,000 have been returned.”
There are 27 early voting sites in Hillsborough County, two more than the last election. Florida is a closed primary state, so primary voters must be registered Republicans this year.
“Those requesting vote-by-mail ballots will need to request it, update that request every election cycle now,” explained Latimer. “If somebody requests that ballot now, they’ll get it right through the November general election.”
Even though former President Donald Trump is leading in the polls, there is still information to be gleaned from a primary election.
“In the last primaries, Donald Trump might have won, but 40 percent have gone for his opposition,” said Tara Newsom. “Who are those voters? And they may not necessarily turn out for Donald Trump in 2024.”
St. Petersburg College professor Tara Newsom said it’s also unlikely Trump’s legal troubles will impact any primary election, including Florida.
“I don’t think any of us can look in a glass ball and see what’s going to happen, but I think what most Floridians are really looking at is, do they even want to vote?” Newsom said. “This is the worst elections in terms of voter apathy that I’ve ever seen.”
