Florida GOP takes early lead in returned vote-by-mail ballots

[RandySF]

More than 200,000 Floridians have cast their ballots via mail, according to the state Division of Elections website.

And with less than a month until Election Day, Republican voters hold an early returned-ballot lead. Of the number of total votes cast so far, 92,224 came from registered GOP voters, with 71,506 coming from Democrats.

That puts the Republican Party on an early track to continue its history of outpacing Democrats in returning vote-by-mail ballots. In 2016, Republican voters mailed in nearly 60,000 more ballots than Democrats. In 2014, the last midterm election, the Republican vote-by-mail edge was more than 100,000.

In the 2018 primary election, Republicans returned 621,402 ballots compared to the Democrats’ 564,607. GOP voters also had requested fewer ballots, meaning the party’s return rate was exceedingly higher than the Democrats’.

Still, Democrats are pointing to metrics that might signal a change in the early enthusiasm tide.

Florida Democratic Party Executive Director Juan Peñalosa pointed to the number of vote-by-mail ballots requested. For the first time ever, it’s higher than the number requested by Republicans.


http://floridapolitics.com/archives/277530-florida-gop-takes-early-lead-in-returned-vote-by-mail-ballots

[Iliyah]

1. I have very little faith in a GOP run state.

I do have faith that there are a whole lot of people for sincerely and totally pissed.

[MyOwnPeace]

3. I agree.....

these numbers again prove that we MUST GET OUT THE VOTE!!!!!!!!!

You can't just be "totally pissed" - you've gotta' VOTE!!!!!

[OrlandoDem2]

2. If you requested a VBM ballot, be sure to fill it out correctly and send it back!

[beachbum bob]

4. Remember just because a voter had voted republican before doesn't

Mean it's 100% done deal this time. A number of retirees who have voted republican in the past are put off by trump and GOP attacks on Social Security, Medicare, Medicaid...this could be the case and now.

[major debacle]

5. It seems a tad undemocratic to release the results before everyone else has voted.

[RandySF]

6. Voter activity is public record.

Anyone can look it up.

[Persondem]

9. Just to be clear ... these are not vote totals, just numbers of ballot requests nt

[UncleTomsEvilBrother]

7. These aren't necessarily bad numbers.

DEMS in FL are not necessarily a "vote-by-mail" demographic. I'm surprised DEMS even have that many to be honest.

In Florida, GOTV movement messages emphasize early voting and "take somebody to the polls" with you and "Souls to the Polls".


Now, if we want to focus on numbers, we have to look at early voting numbers. If early voting numbers show a drastic lag for DEMS, then we may be in trouble.

[edhopper]

8. All those Evangelical churches

are good at making sure their members vote for the GOP.

Helping them with the forms and all.