Election Day 2022: What's the mood of Volusia, Flagler voters as they head to the polls?

Even in a rain shower, Joannie Awtry had time for a quick selfie with her 6-year-old daughter, Kendall, outside the Ormond Beach Regional Library after casting her ballot in Tuesday’s midterm election.

“I always vote,” Awtry said. “It’s our right. This year, my daughter wanted to come with me because they actually practiced voting in school yesterday. I vote every time.”

Despite the approach of Tropical Storm Nicole, Awtry and her daughter were joined by a steady stream of voters at the polls on Tuesday to make their voices heard in the 2022 midterms.

Latest on Nicole: Live updates: Tropical Storm Nicole postpones events throughout Volusia, Flagler counties

The ballot featured a slate of candidates that included the governor’s race between Republican incumbent Ron DeSantis and Democratic challenger Charlie Crist; the U.S. Senate race between Republican incumbent Marco Rubio and Democratic challenger Val Demings; as well as a host of statewide, county and city races.

Voter guide: Who to vote for? Here's a list of all Volusia, Flagler candidates, everything you need to know

With a storm on the way, the weather offered a mix of sunshine and occasional bands of showers that ranged from pleasant sprinkles to harder downpours. During the latter, poll workers did their best to move lines of waiting voters under shelter, but umbrellas often rivaled campaign buttons as the day’s most popular accessory.

At the Daytona Beach Regional Library at City Island, roughly two dozen voters were waiting when the polls opened at 7 a.m., just as the sun was starting to rise over the horizon.

Among the early birds was Jon Ewing, 65, a bank executive and U.S. Army veteran who traces his devotion to the voting process to his childhood in Detroit where his mother was a poll worker.

“It’s so important,” he said. “If you don’t vote, your voice isn’t counted. You don’t have a right to complain if you’re not engaged.”

Ewing was among several voters who expressed disappointment in the harsh tone of political discourse and campaigns.

“As an Army veteran, I’ll say that some of us raised our hands to protect the Constitution, to defend the Constitution,” said Ewing, who described his political views as “leaning to the left, but moderate.”

“It’s kind of scary right now,” he said. “The vitriol, it’s just toxic right now. Neither side cares what the other side thinks, and civility has disappeared.”

Nearby, another voter had a sunnier outlook.

“I’m excited because I know the right party is going to win, the right people are going to win,” said Susan Fischer, 69, of Daytona Beach. And that would be? “Republicans, of course.”

A retiree, Fischer said she voted for DeSantis because she believes he is doing what’s right for the state’s older residents, but that’s not the only reason.

“In DeSantis, I see a family man, someone who cares about his children and his wife,” she said. “Charlie Crist is just a waste of time and energy.”

Republican turnout outpaces Democrats

There seemed to be plenty of DeSantis fans at the polls on Tuesday, reflecting an overall Volusia County turnout of 87,798 Republican voters compared with 57,250 Democratic voters and 37,496 NPA voters through midday Tuesday, according to a running tally on the Volusia County Supervisor of Elections website.

Overall, there was a 49% turnout of registered voters by midday, according to the Elections Office.

Republican voters on Tuesday morning included Noah Maka, 21, who was among those who waited in a line of roughly six dozen voters to cast his ballot at the Beville Road Church of Christ.

“Here in Florida, I contribute to the red tsunami,” said Maka, who is launching his own auto detailing business. He’s a big DeSantis fan.

“He’s done so much,” he said. “Kids aren’t being taught garbage in schools. Nobody is forced against their will to get the vaccine. The gas tax holiday was amazing.”

Elsewhere, Crist also had his supporters, including Kimberly Timmons, 41, a private duty caregiver, who said she voted for the Democrat at the Ormond Beach Regional Library.

“I’m fighting to get the right leadership in our state,” said Timmons, adding that healthcare costs are a major issue for her. “We need somebody to stand up for us. Charlie Crist is pushing for the right agenda.

“I don’t think DeSantis is primarily focused on Florida,” she said. “I think he’s focused on the White House, that’s what he wants, and he’s going about it the wrong way.”

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Still other voters said that they voted for a combination of candidates that crossed party lines.

“I really vote the issues and where people stand on them,” said Nashea Turner, 45, of Daytona Beach, also among the voters at the Ormond library.

“I vote blue on some issues and red on some others," said Turner, who is concerned about the economy, women's rights and education. "I make my own decisions based on independent thought.”

This article originally appeared on The Daytona Beach News-Journal: What's the mood of Volusia, Flagler voters as they head to the polls?