Florida Republicans Shift Toward Early In-Person Primary Voting
Florida Republicans increased early in-person voting and decreased mail-in ballot use during the current primary election, driven by legislative changes and political rhetoric.
Republican voters in Florida have shifted their primary election preferences, favoring early in-person voting over mail-in ballots. Data from the Florida Division of Elections indicates that approximately 450,000 Republicans voted early in person, a significant increase from nearly 300,000 in 2018. Conversely, mail-in voting among Republicans dropped from 621,000 to 422,000.
Ron DeSantis, the Governor of Florida, contributed to this trend by signing election laws in 2021 that require voters to request mail ballots for every election cycle. This legislative shift, combined with the public rhetoric of Donald Trump against mail-in voting, has altered Republican behavior. The surge in interest is linked to a competitive gubernatorial primary featuring candidates Byron Donalds, Jay Collins, Paul Renner, and James Fishback.
Democratic voting patterns remained consistent with previous midterm elections. Former Congressman David Jolly currently holds a commanding lead in the Democratic primary.
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