Live updates: Polls open at 7 a.m. on Election Day in Florida
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WHERE TO VOTE: To find your precinct, click your county here.
VOTER GUIDE: The candidates on the top issues
AMENDMENTS: Explainers on tax breaks, revision commission, more
9:14 am: Taking the kids along in Hillsborough County
Derek Messmore brought Nolan, 3, and Milo, 6, along with him to the voting precinct at the Philippine Art and Cultural Foundation in Tampa. Messmore applied his own “I voted” sticker to his Ron DeSantis tank top, but Milo got a sticker too.
9:07 am: The turnout so far in Pinellas
Only 32 minutes after the polls opened, Pinellas County Supervisor of Elections Julie Marcus tweeted that more than 7,700 people had voted in Pinellas County today.
8:35 am: What is Florida Googling?
Google search data provided by Google Trends offered a glimpse into what Floridians have been searching for ahead of the 2022 midterm elections. Among political issue search terms, “wages” was the most-searched topic over the past week, followed by “unemployment” and “social security.”
Interest in “senate race” — that’s incumbent Marco Rubio facing Democratic challenger Val Demings in Florida — has been about even with “governor race.”
And voting searches have mostly centered around when and where to vote. (Polls are open until 7 p.m., and you can find your Florida precinct by clicking on your county here).
8:11 am: First in line to vote in Pasco County
Voter Gerard Porebski was the first in line moments before Precinct 33 opened for in-person voting at the Gulf Harbor Civic Association in New Port Richey. Polls opened across Florida at 7 a.m.
7:55 am: Breezy forecast for Election Day
The Tampa Bay area is looking at a warm, breezy Election Day with northeast winds of 10 to 20 mph, and some higher gusts, according to Bay News 9. Temperatures will reach the mid-80s, with scattered showers moving through but mostly low chances of rain. Subtropical Storm Nicole, churning in the Atlantic, is expected to begin impacting Florida on Wednesday.
6 am: It’s Election Day, with much at stake
Good morning, Florida. Election Day 2022 has arrived, and polls are open from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. to vote in person.
If you haven’t voted yet, you’ll need to visit your designated polling place to help decide who will become Florida’s governor, which party controls the U.S. Congress and who will fill dozens of state legislature, county commission and school board seats in Pinellas, Hillsborough and Pasco counties.
As of Oct. 28, more than 2.1 million Floridians had voted early or by mail. Republicans showed an advantage at that time, based on registered party. Democrats last week were said to be “bringing in the big guns” to increase turnout.
To hear Gov. Ron DeSantis and his Democratic challenger Rep. Charlie Crist tell it, today’s election is a fight for Florida’s soul. We’ll also learn if Republicans gain a supermajority in the state Legislature and whether there’s support for local projects like a tax to improve public transportation in Hillsborough, an expansion of the Dali Museum in St. Petersburg and a giant development in Clearwater.
Meanwhile, local elections officials have been combating a steady drumbeat of myths about election fraud from an increasingly wary public.
The Tampa Bay Times will have reporters and photographers at polling places and with candidates all day long. Stay tuned to this live blog for updates, photos and interviews from the polls as Floridians cast their ballots and as results come in tonight.
In the meantime, catch up with the Tampa Bay Times’ election coverage, including local races, here.
Tampa Bay Times Election Coverage
WHAT’S AT STAKE? 9 things Florida’s election could say about its future
WHAT’S REAL? Florida elections officials grapple with misinformation, myths
DESANTIS VS CRIST: Why DeSantis will win, and why DeSantis will lose
RUBIO VS DEMINGS: 5 takeaways from contentious Demings-Rubio debate
OPINION: See Tampa Bay Times editorial board candidate recommendations
