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Voters in central Florida came into effect on Tuesday for the 2018 midterm elections, already surpassing the 2014 turnout in some regions.
As the vote began at 7 am, long waiting lines were formed in some polling stations during a decisive mid-term election that will decide which party will not only control the governor's mansion and the state offices, but maybe also the Congress.
At 11:00 am, about 47% of Orange County's registered voters had already voted, surpassing the 44% who voted in the 2014 midterm elections. These figures were supported by the high number of anticipated votes and postal votes. In total, over 5 million of the state's 13.2 million states had already submitted their choice of candidates and new laws. In Osceola County, 93,379 people voted, or about 42.6% of the votes cast. Osceola had already exceeded the figures of the 2014 turnout at noon as well.
The stakes are high, as voters in Florida will choose not only a new governor to replace Rick Scott after eight years, but also a seat in the US Senate, all congressional offices and hundreds of other local offices and states.
Prior to the opening of the polling station, a 25-member electoral line was in front of the Longwood Community Center in Seminole County, many hoping to vote before going to work.
Several voters said they voted in favor of the party, either by supporting the leadership of President Donald Trump, or by hoping to control his influence by giving Democrats the power to vote in Congress.
Craig Voskin, 66, said his main concern was Amendment 9, especially the clause to ban drilling at sea. But Voskin also said that he had voted Republican to support Trump.
"I'm glad we have a president who can stand up and defend America with dignity," Voskin said. "We have to support him in that."
Willie Gallon, 55, of Longwood, said he was voting Democrat and was closely watching the race at the Florida governor.
"Andrew Gillum seems to understand the workers and will defend us," said Gallon.
Lysceidy Rivera, 28, a native of Kissimmee, said she had voted for the first time in the 2016 election in the precincts of the St. John's Episcopal Church, in Osceola County, and that she had gone from Democrat to Republican for the middle of the year.
"My family thinks I'm crazy because they're all democrats," said Rivera, who voted for Republican law. "But I definitely agree with the things they all support, and I'm totally for that. Certainly, to keep everything safe, you know? That's why I have to come here.
Rivera said that "everything that was going on in the country was leading her to the polls.
"I wanted to vote so that I could get what I want," she said.
Voters lined up shortly before the polls opened at Meadow Woods Recreation Center in southern Orange County, where the lines were moving normally after 7 am.
Yvette Aguilar, 49, took selfies while she was queuing with her two sons, Julian and Jason Silva. Julian, 18, voted for the first time.
"We tried to vote early, but the lines were ridiculous the day we left. Which is a good sign, "said Aguilar. "I want them to understand the importance of what we do today and in particular everything that is happening in the world today."
Polling stations close at 7:00 pm Eastern Standard Time, with the exception of a few counties in West Florida in the Central Time Zone.
The lines disappeared at 9 am and voters were free to go directly to most polling stations.
Regina Johnson told the Eatonville Municipal Assembly that she was voting in favor of returning the wave of Republicans who had taken control of the White House and Congress in 2016.
"Hillary [Clinton] should have won this election, and Trump has stolen it, "she said.
Charise Taylor voted for the Christian Church of Winter Park. Although she did not want to say for whom or for what she had voted, she preferred moderate candidates.
"I am economically conservative and socially progressive," she said. "It was difficult to find candidates for this election, which is not extreme."
Even with sharp differences between some candidates, Kathy Light, a resident of College Park, said she was torn to vote and that she made no decision until Tuesday morning.
"It's my duty to vote, so I had to study," she said as she left her polling station shortly after 10 am. "That's why I was not here earlier."
While voters voted, a local candidate, Republican Bob Cortes of Altamonte Springs, greeted the cars as he campaigned as he campaigned to keep his seat in the Florida House of Representatives.
"I have four places to campaign, and then I have to vote for myself," Cortes said.
US representative Stephanie Murphy of D-Winter Park campaigned on a five-kilometer trek between four polling stations south of Winter Park.
Among the 12 constitutional amendments to the review are proposals allowing former felons to vote, reduced property taxes and a ban on greyhound racing.
For 37-year-old Chance Ramos, she voted for Florida's next governor and Amendment 7, which brings together issues such as the benefits for first-responders' loved ones and the military requiring a qualified majority vote for increase tuition fees, was his main motivation for voting Tuesday.
"[Voting] It's not always what I do, "said Ramos.
Do you have any advice? [email protected] or 407-420-5664; Twitter, @kylelarnold or facebook.com/bykylearnold
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