The Florida primary will be held on January 31. While Republican front-runners Newt Gingrich and Mitt Romney have plenty of super PAC money to get their messages out, Rick Santorum and Ron Paul lack matching funds. What does the Florida election landscape look like? How the Sunshine State vote in the 2008 primaries?
Who is on the ballot?
The Florida Division of Elections reports that the Republican candidates listed on the Presidential Preference Primary ballot for Jan. 31 are Michele Bachmann, Herman Cain, Newt Gingrich, Jon Huntsman, Gary Johnson, Ron Paul, Rick Perry, Mitt Romney and Rick Santorum. Since President Barack Obama is the only Democratic candidate listed, there will be no Democratic Party Presidential Preference Primary in 2012.
What is the electorate's makeup in the Sunshine State?
Election officials highlight that -- as of Jan. 23 -- there are 4,071,185 registered Republican voters. Additionally, there are 4,559,918 registered Democrats and 2,633,521 voters without party affiliation. To vote in the Republican primary, a voter must be a registered Republican. Registered Democrats or unaffiliated voters may not vote for a Republican candidate vying for the party nomination in this primary election.
When does voting start?
The 2012 Elections Calendar details that early voting already started on Jan. 21. It will continue until Jan. 28. The deadline to register for voting in the presidential primary was Jan. 3. Election Day is Jan. 31. Polls will be open from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m.
Is early voting popular in Florida?
MSNBC notes that already in excess of 143,000 registered voters have cast their ballots for the Florida primary. This figure is the sum total of absentee ballots received as well as early voter turnout. Palm Beach County's Supervisor of Elections has released an unofficial tally of local early voters. It shows that as of Jan 23, in this vicinity already 3,659 individuals have cast their ballots at various libraries and city halls.
How did Florida vote in the 2008 primaries?
The CNN Election Center highlights that in 2008, 36 percent of voters voted cast their ballots for John McCain. Romney was a close second with 31 percent. Paul came in with 3 percent. Of Democratic primary voters, 50 percent chose Hillary Clinton. Only 33 percent of voters picked then-candidate Obama. On both sides of the aisle, the majority of voters were 60 years of age or older. The next biggest demographic was comprised of the