Voting so far in Miami-Dade: Low, low turnout on absentee or mail-in ballots

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Less than 5% of the people who have been mailed absentee or vote-by-mail ballots in Miami-Dade have returned them in the two weeks since they were sent by the elections department, which seems super low.

And Democrats are voting at a higher rate than Republicans — almost 2 to 1.

According to the county’s elections department website, as of Monday, 29,547 Dems voted while Republicans cast 20,154 ballots — not much more than the 15,866 cast by independent voters.

Absentee or mail-in ballots begin to arrive in Miami-Dade voters’ homes

Absentee ballots started trickling in on Sept. 23, with 101 the first day, 52 on the second day, then 84 the next day, then 67, then 39. Drip drip, drip. It picked up last week with thousands coming in. Friday was the largest mail day at the Doral office with 19,650 ballots landing. That amounts for almost 30% of the ballots returned so far.

“By historic measures, this is a low return rate at this point in the election,” Elections Supervisor Christina White told Political Cortadito, adding that she believes voters have gotten accustomed to using the drop boxes placed at early voting locations starting next week.

“It is the perfect hybrid! You get to vote from the comfort of your home, drop it off at any of the 33 locations with the assistance of an elections employee, and even get an ‘I Voted’ sticker,” White said. “I suspect this will be a highly utilized return method.”

This is Ladra’s way. My ballot is here and I can fill it out this week and drop it off at a drop box at any of the early voting locations. I usually go to the library in Coral Gables or Westchester so I can also observe the color (activity of voters and campaign workers and proliferation of signs and bullhorns) at the busiest sites.

Voter turnout for Miami-Dade August 20 primary ballot is expected to be low

Absentee or mail-in voting is no longer as fraught with fraud as it used to be. And voters can always track their ballot on the county’s website “for extra peace of mind,” White said. Track your ballot here.

“Regardless of a voter’s preferred return method — via your postal carrier, brining it to a post office branch, or dropping it into a drop box, I urge voters to do this as soon as possible.

“Do not wait,” White said. “This is too important of election to risk the ballot arriving late.”

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