Florida primary 2022 live updates: Voters head to polls in Brevard County election

Britt Kennerly, Florida Today
·5 min read

It's Election Day in Florida and voters are headed to the polls to cast ballots in local and statewide primary and nonpartisan races.

In local races, Brevard County Commission District 4 has four Republicans facing off in the primary and District 2 has four GOP candidates in the running this primary, and three school board seats also are being contested in nonpartisan primaries in Districts 1, 2 and 5.

There are also Democratic primaries for U.S House District 8 and Florida Senate District 8, and Republican primaries for Florida House Districts 30 and 34.

There also are nonpartisan races for judge positions and for seats on the Titusville City Council.

The winners of partisan primary races advance to the general election on Nov. 8. In nonpartisan races where no candidate receives more than 50% of the vote, the top two compete in a runoff on Nov. 8.

Primary Elections 2022 Guide: Everything you need to know

Election Laws: What changed in Florida's election laws

School board battleground: DeSantis will tour Florida to tout conservative school board candidates

Scenes from primary day: Photos: Brevard County votes in 2022 Florida primary election

10:30 p.m. | A look back at 'the wave'

From Walter Butler Community Center to Dr. Joe Lee Smith Community Center to Rockledge City Hall and beyond, from candidates to supporters to flags ... the vote-for-insert-name-here wave started early and stayed steady throughout primary day in Brevard County.

7:06 p.m. | The polls are closed

Twelve hours later, the unofficial voter turnout in Brevard County is 122,469, or 26.96%. Ballots by type: 55,567 votes, mail; 18,057, early votes; 48,781 in-person votes; and 64 provisional ballots.

6:05 p.m. | Surrounded by signs

Judge Kelly Ingram is surrounded by signs at Fred Poppe Regional Park in Palm Bay. The incumbent, she is running in the race for county judge, Group 2.
Judge Kelly Ingram is surrounded by signs at Fred Poppe Regional Park in Palm Bay. The incumbent, she is running in the race for county judge, Group 2.

5:40 p.m. | Topping 25% and counting

With the polls closing in a little more than an hour, the unofficial voter turnout in Brevard County is 116,134, or 25.57%. Ballots by type: 55,529 votes, mail; 18,057, early votes; 42,492 in-person votes; and 56 provisional ballots.

Voters enter Faith Fellowship Church in Melbourne to vote in the Aug. 23 primary.
Voters enter Faith Fellowship Church in Melbourne to vote in the Aug. 23 primary.

4:45 p.m. | Beating the heat

A poll deputy at the polling place located inside the Brevard Baptist Association in Rockledge agrees: It's warm out there today with temperatures in the 90s, and some shade helps when you're stationed outside.
A poll deputy at the polling place located inside the Brevard Baptist Association in Rockledge agrees: It's warm out there today with temperatures in the 90s, and some shade helps when you're stationed outside.

4:20 p.m. | Veteran: 'It's my duty'

At the Dr. Joe Lee Smith Community Center, Jeff Kellum, who served in Vietnam chose the "Thank You Vets" version of the "I Voted" stickers available for voters.

Kellum wouldn't miss voting, he said.

"It's my duty. Simple as that," Kellum said. "If you don't take advantage of the right to vote, you never know what can happen ... every little bit, every vote, helps."

4:03 p.m. | By the numbers

So just how many potential voters are there in the Sunshine State? The Brevard Supervisor of Elections office reports that as of book closing (29 days prior to the election) there were 14.3 million voters statewide. Brevard had 454,230 total registered voters. And size-wise, Brevard is the 10th-largest county in the third-largest state.

3:15 p.m. | County court judge's race

David Baker, running for county court judge, Group 2, was set up at the Veterans Memorial Complex in West Melbourne.
David Baker, running for county court judge, Group 2, was set up at the Veterans Memorial Complex in West Melbourne.

2:45 p.m. | Shade to do 'the wave'

Shielded from the sun by a hand-painted umbrella, Julie Shannon, in support of District 2 school board candidate Erin Dunne, waves at motorists across the street from the Dr. Joe Lee Smith Community Center.
Shielded from the sun by a hand-painted umbrella, Julie Shannon, in support of District 2 school board candidate Erin Dunne, waves at motorists across the street from the Dr. Joe Lee Smith Community Center.

2:33 p.m. | 'Time for a fresh idea'

Robert Willis, right, greets a poll deputy outside the Dr. Joe Lee Smith Community Center in Cocoa. Willis, a candidate for the Democratic nomination in the Florida governor's race, is a teacher at Emma Jewel Charter Academy.
Robert Willis, right, greets a poll deputy outside the Dr. Joe Lee Smith Community Center in Cocoa. Willis, a candidate for the Democratic nomination in the Florida governor's race, is a teacher at Emma Jewel Charter Academy.

Robert Willis, a candidate for the Democratic nomination for governor and a Cocoa resident, is a teacher at Emma Jewel Charter Academy. His local concerns, he said, include those of teachers to homelessness. Of running for office against better-known names, he said: “This is my first time, and wasn’t something I chose to do — God laid it on my heart to run for governor of Florida and I know that when God asks you to do something, you do it. And whatever the outcome is, I’m pleased with it. Most people have a tendency to lean toward the candidate they know. Here’s the problem with that: I’m change. I’m here for change and I’m being spiritually led by God .. the same issues we have now, we had the last election, the election before that. And we keep voting the same people into office. I think it’s time for a fresh idea, and God blessed me to bring that idea to the table.”

1:54 p.m. | Thank you, vets

Thank You Vets: One of the choices for stickers available to Brevard County voters who cast ballots.
Thank You Vets: One of the choices for stickers available to Brevard County voters who cast ballots.

1:30 p.m. | Signs of the primary times

David Armstrong, candidate for the District 4 seat on the Brevard County Commission, does some sign-waving alongside Wickham Road near Suntree United Methodist Church.
David Armstrong, candidate for the District 4 seat on the Brevard County Commission, does some sign-waving alongside Wickham Road near Suntree United Methodist Church.

11:15 a.m. | What voting means to me

11:28 a.m. | Proud to sport the sticker

Rob Rains, president of United Way of Brevard, chats with a poll worker outside the Walter Butler Community Center in Cocoa after casting his ballot the first hour of voting in Tuesday's primary. He said of voting: "Everybody should vote ... people have died for our right to vote. I'm proud to wear my 'I Voted' sticker all day."
Rob Rains, president of United Way of Brevard, chats with a poll worker outside the Walter Butler Community Center in Cocoa after casting his ballot the first hour of voting in Tuesday's primary. He said of voting: "Everybody should vote ... people have died for our right to vote. I'm proud to wear my 'I Voted' sticker all day."

10:45 a.m. | Busy on the phone bank

Joanne Terry of Satellite Beach, candidate in the Democratic primary for U.S. House in District 8, works the phone bank at the Brevard Democrats office before heading back out to campaign.
Joanne Terry of Satellite Beach, candidate in the Democratic primary for U.S. House in District 8, works the phone bank at the Brevard Democrats office before heading back out to campaign.

10:15 a.m. | A wave for voters

Rob Feltner, right, District 4 candidate for Brevard County Commission, waves at voters outside Precinct 427 at Faith Fellowship Church in Melbourne.
Rob Feltner, right, District 4 candidate for Brevard County Commission, waves at voters outside Precinct 427 at Faith Fellowship Church in Melbourne.

9:56 a.m. | Primary day phone calls

Primary Day phone work: Janis Gregory, office manager, and Pamela Castellana, chair of the Brevard Democrats, are pictured at the party's office early Tuesday.
Primary Day phone work: Janis Gregory, office manager, and Pamela Castellana, chair of the Brevard Democrats, are pictured at the party's office early Tuesday.

9:25 a.m. | What if I make a mistake?

Well, this is handy to know: If you make a mistake in voting, tell the clerk in charge of polling place, give him or her your spoiled ballot, and you will be issued a replacement ballot. Your spoiled ballot will be sealed and no one will be allowed to see it. You may not receive more than two replacement ballots per election.

9:05 a.m. | Bring that I.D. with you

A little bit of history, courtesy of the Brevard  County Supervisor of Elections office: In 1998 the Florida Legislature amended statute to require photo ID to vote at the polls. The Legislature eliminated the voter registration identification card from the list of acceptable forms of ID.

8:05 a.m. | 'Very, very important'

Tammy Collins, voting at the Walter Butler Community Center:, said she prefers to cast her ballot in person, on primary and election days. It's an honor for her: 'The ability to vote, the freedom to vote ... we should do it because my God, not everybody gets to do that,' she said. "It's very, very important."

Tammy Collins, voting at the Walter Butler Community Center:, said she prefers to vote in person, on primary and election days.
Tammy Collins, voting at the Walter Butler Community Center:, said she prefers to vote in person, on primary and election days.

7:55 a.m. | A sunny start to the day

Here comes the sun: Voters from Precincts 102, 129 and 230 cast their ballots at Walter Butler Community Center, 4201 N. U.S. 1 in Cocoa.
Here comes the sun: Voters from Precincts 102, 129 and 230 cast their ballots at Walter Butler Community Center, 4201 N. U.S. 1 in Cocoa.

7:12 a.m. | In case you can't decide ...

Voters do not have to vote in all of the races. The ballot scanner will count your votes in all of the races that you marked on your ballot.

7 a.m. | Polls are open! What to know if you're voting in Brevard County

Polls open at 7 a.m. and will remain open until 7 p.m.  See polling locations in Florida. Voters in line by 7 p.m. will be permitted to cast a ballot.

Brevard County voters can vote at their assigned polling location. A full list is available on the county website. You can also find sample ballots there.

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This article originally appeared on Florida Today: Primary Election Day in Florida: Live updates from Brevard County voting