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Elections chief urges South Florida voters to prepare for long lines, follow procedures

MIAMI-DADE COUNTY, Fla. – With Election Day approaching Tuesday, Broward County Supervisor of Elections Joe Scott has a reminder for voters to head to their assigned polling locations.

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“On Election Day, you must vote at your assigned polling place, and your assigned polling place is based on where you live today,” Scott said.

Scott cautioned that wait times are expected to increase as the day goes on.

“Tomorrow, as it gets later in the day, we tend to see longer and longer lines. At 7 p.m., we will cut off whoever the last person in line is,” he added.

9 a.m. report:

For those dropping off mail-in ballots, Scott noted that the signature on the ballot must match records, though it doesn’t need to be exact. “It doesn’t have to be a perfect match,” he said, encouraging voters to provide contact information to assist with any verification questions.

His reminder comes after South Florida voters flocked to early voting sites this past weekend, eager to cast their ballots before the final cutoff.

According to Miami-Dade Supervisor of Elections Christina White, the county has nearly 1.54 million active eligible voters, and over 856,000 had voted early as of Sunday night.

As the line stretched outside North Dade Regional Library on Sunday, some residents were prepared for a wait, but many found the process easier than expected.

“When we saw the line outside, I said, ‘Oh, forget it,’” said Marisol Ramis. “But when we parked, I thought, ‘OK, let’s go,’ and it was easy — smooth sailing.”

Throughout the day, a lively atmosphere greeted voters, with music and upbeat energy despite long lines and wait times of up to an hour at peak moments.

Early voter Julio Ramis described the scene to Local 10 News: “It’s like a party, it’s like a party — literally!”

Frequent rain showers didn’t deter voters at the Miami Gardens polling site, where “Souls to the Polls” events, organized by churches and community groups, boosted turnout. Many found camaraderie in the effort.

“This morning I was up on the phone, saying, ‘What time are we going? We gotta get this done,’” said early voter Diane Andrews. “And it’s such a warm feeling.”

In Broward County, the Southwest Regional Library in Pembroke Pines saw a similar rush, with long lines that included both first-time and veteran voters.

“They said it’s about an hour to an hour and a half,” one voter shared.

Alexis Culmer clocked her wait at an hour and 28 minutes.

With early voting over, voters now turn their attention to Tuesday’s Election Day.

“I think it’s very important to cast your vote and to let your community know that you are with them,” Ramis said.

FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS

How do I know if I am registered to vote?

Search this database online to look up voter information.

What is the deadline to return a vote-by-mail ballot?

7 p.m., Nov. 5

Who handles the process?

The Supervisor of Elections in the county of residence. Search this database to find the supervisor in your area.

Useful links


About the Author
Joseph Ojo headshot

Joseph Ojo joined Local 10 in April 2021. Born and raised in New York City, he previously worked in Buffalo, North Dakota, Fort Myers and Baltimore.

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