MIAMI-DADE COUNTY, Fla. – With early voting underway in Miami-Dade County, election officials are raising alarms over the unusually low voter turnout.
As of Friday afternoon, only 11 percent of eligible voters had cast their ballots, a stark drop from the typical 20 to 28 percent seen during early voting in primary elections.
Miami-Dade Supervisor of Elections Christina White shared her concern about the lack of engagement with Local 10′s Janine Stanwood.
“For Miami-Dade in particular, the turnout is very low,” White said. “The sluggish participation is especially troubling given the importance of local races, including the election for Miami-Dade sheriff and several non-partisan issues across municipalities.”
Voters have speculated on the reasons for the low turnout.
Some believe the focus on national politics overshadows local issues, while others think that potential voters may feel disillusioned, thinking their vote won’t make a difference.
Additionally, confusion over Florida’s new mail-in ballot law, which requires voters to request a new ballot for each general election, may be contributing to the decline.
Despite the challenges, election officials and community members are urging residents to exercise their right to vote.
“There’s a million opportunities to make sure we put the right people in office, and we need to work really hard to do that,” one voter said.
As the election progresses, officials are hoping for a late surge in participation, but the current numbers have many worried about the future of local democracy in Miami-Dade.
Early voting for the Primary Election in Monroe County also began Monday and ends on Aug. 17, and early voting in Broward will be held from Aug. 10 to Aug. 18.
CLICK HERE to view all early voting locations in Miami-Dade County.
CLICK HERE to view Local 10′s Vote 2024 guide: What you need to know to vote in Florida