Republican voters in Florida turned out today, March 19, to cast their ballots in the state's primary elections, with former President Donald Trump standing unchallenged as the GOP's presumptive nominee. Trump, whose name appears alongside six others who have dropped out of the race, secured enough delegates last week to take the lead for the Republican ticket, reported WSVN.
Polling locations opened their doors at 7 a.m. local time for voters, who must cast their votes at their respective precincts. Voters are instructed to bring a valid photo ID with a signature to be allowed to vote, however, those without proper ID can vote using a provisional ballot, said CBS News Miami. The Democratic Party, having appointed President Joe Biden as their choice, opted not to hold a primary vote this cycle.
Local leadership battles have also sparked interest, most notably in Surfside, where the incumbent Mayor Shlomo Danzinger is facing off once again against former Mayor Charles Burkett. Danzinger previously won by a razor-thin margin of 35 votes. Additional mayoral races are taking place in Pembroke Pines and Lauderdale-by-the-Sea, spotlighting the significance of local governance that directly influences community policy and day-to-day life.
All eyes will also be on Broward County, where Hillsboro Beach, Lauderdale-by-the-Sea, Pembroke Pines, and Sea Ranch Lakes are hosting municipal elections. Miami-Dade is witnessing contests in South Miami and Surfside, with over 55,000 early and mail-in ballots already submitted in this crucial round of voting, according to government website figures. Polls are slated to close at 7 p.m., and those in line at the time will still get the chance to vote, CBS News Miami reported.
As the state awaits the outcome of today's primaries, the results are expected to start rolling in once the polls close, with previous elections indicating that a majority of votes are often counted within hours. The Florida Division of Elections outlined that after the primaries, delegates will meet to formally nominate their presidential candidates at their national conventions later in the year, leading up to the General Election in November.
