It’s Election Day in Florida, but many people might not realize it.
Local candidates are on the ballot in some counties like Pinellas.
Plus, Republicans are voting in their party’s presidential preference primary even though former President Donald Trump has secured enough delegates to be the Republicans’ presumptive nominee.
The Florida Democratic Party opted to not hold a presidential preference primary, awarding all the state’s delegates to President Joe Biden.
WMNF News spoke with Becky Rudolph, a new resident of Gulfport who voted at City Hall when polls opened Tuesday morning.
She is focused on the Gulfport race for city council between April Thanos and Tom Bixler and did not vote in the presidential preference primary.
Rudolph says no primary election may have led to fewer Democratic voters coming out to vote in local elections.
“It probably did, just because people don’t always pay attention to the local stuff, which I think gets overlooked a lot.
“Also, I saw that in other states people were able to protest by [voting “uncommitted.”]
“But so we weren’t given that opportunity to sort of show where we’re at.
“So it’s unfortunate but not surprising here.
“It’s very important to vote for your local because it affects you the most.”
– Gulfport resident Becky Rudolph
Listen:
Your county’s Supervisor of Elections website has information about the races and candidates on your ballot.
Polls are open until 7:00 p.m. Tuesday.
