FLAGLER COUNTY, Fla. – Looking for every opportunity to engage voters one last time before they cast their ballot, candidates for state and local races set up shop at the early voting polling locations on Saturday for the first day of early voting.
Nestled between two candidate tents, Flagler County Republican Party State Committeewoman Sharon Demers shared campaign materials from all Republicans running for seats that had provided them, as a one-stop-shop for undecided voters.
Turnout had been light the first half of the day, but the moderate pace gave candidates more time to spend talking to voters.
“Mostly it’s very quiet. I’m a little disappointed, I wish the numbers were higher,” said Demers. “A lot of the people don’t have their minds made up yet. If you’re a candidate, you should be here, pressing the flesh, meeting the people.”
With the closing of two of the primary races due to write-in candidates, (Flagler County Board of Commissioners District 3 and District 5 – only Republicans can vote in these two races) voters could possibly be confused about the ability to vote in universal, nonpartisan races.
“People don’t understand that if you’re running for a certain district that it’s a countywide race or citywide race. It’s important to communicate because they say ‘oh I don’t live in that district’ but you can vote for that district,” she reiterated.
All voters (regardless of party) may vote for the Flagler County Board of County Commissioners District 1, School Board District 3 and District 5, and Palm Coast residents can vote for Palm Coast Mayor, City Council Member District 1 and City Council District 3.
The Amendments 2024
Also out to share information, the ‘Vote No On 4” team provided rack cards on Amendment 4, which will appear on the November general election ballot.
Concerned about misleading verbiage, they hope to encourage voters to research the amendment further.
“It’s very extreme and not what it seems. They want abortion up until birth, no parental consent, no doctor needs to make a decision on whether a woman can have her abortion. All of these things are in this amendment. It’s very, very deceiving. The amendment wants abortion,” said Priscilla Positano.
“We have rules and regulations at this moment. We have a heartbeat protection bill in effect right now in Florida that allows abortions up until 6 weeks, with exceptions – rape, incest, fetal fatal anomalies, and also for women that have been trafficked. Also, for women’s health, if her life is in danger.”
Get Out and Vote
Thousands of mail-in ballots were received by the Flagler County Supervisor of Elections before the polls opened at 10 am on Saturday for early voting. The day’s total in-person voting numbers fell just a few hundred shy of first day averages according to Flagler County Supervisor of Elections Kaiti Lenhart, who stopped by the Flagler County Public Library location Saturday afternoon.
“The first day of early voting is usually a little bit busier and I think it’s because of the heat. Honestly, I think that’s keeping people away. I have high hopes for the rest of the week and hopefully people come out and vote,” said Lenhart.
“Hours are 10 to 6 every day and it runs through next Saturday, the 17th. Through the next week and Saturday. If they have any questions, just call the office. We’re working every day, so we’d be glad to hear from everybody.”
A total of 737 people voted in-person on Saturday and 484 mail-in ballots were received bringing the total number of votes cast in the primary election to 8,719 or 9.28% voter turnout.
There are four voting locations during the early voting period (August 10-17, 2024).
Questions? Visit Official Flagler County Supervisor of Elections – Elections Office (flaglerelections.com).
