LAUDERDALE LAKES, Fla. – Polls opened in Broward County at 7 a.m. Tuesday, but some Broward polling stations saw low Election Day turnout heading into the noon hour.
At a polling location in Lauderdale Lakes, there were no long lines or full parking lots in sight.
“I believe it is my right to vote and of course we are looking to see changes,” voter Sylvia Akins said.
The economy was a big concern for voters who did show up in the morning hours of Election Day.
“Getting inflation under control, (getting) the Senate to work together, both sides of the aisle,” voter Larry Ousley said.
A big race Broward voters zeroed in on was the U.S. Senate seat currently held by Republican Marco Rubio. He was being challenged by Former Orlando police Chief Val Demings.
Demings made stops Monday in historically blue Broward County, likely knowing her chances rest on a strong showing there.
Rubio and Demings stayed on message Monday, campaigning from Hialeah to Wilton Manors.
Demings focused on abortion.
“As a former police detective who worked in the crimes against children unit who investigated cases of rape and incest, no, it is not OK, for a 10-year-old girl to be raped and have to carry the seed of carry the seed of her rapist, Marco Rubio needs to go,” she said.
Rubio focused on immigration.
“What country in the world would tolerate 5-6,000 people of age walking into your country?” Rubio asked. “And you know what their answer is? Well, we don’t care. We care more about allowing people to enter our country because they’re coming from tough places and bad circumstances, that matters more than your concern about people entering the country and the drugs coming over that border as well.”
Polls have shown Rubio in the lead.