Submitted by Suanne Z. Thamm
Reporter – News Analyst
March 14, 2016 9:55 a.m.
Early voting in Nassau County in the 2016 Florida Presidential Preference Election ended Saturday, March 12. As of Sunday morning, 24.22% of the county’s eligible voters have already cast their ballots in person or by mail, even though the official election date will be Tuesday, March 15. Early, in-person voters (6,626) out numbered those voting by mail (4,678).
Republicans (8,650 ballots, or 26.81%) appeared to be more interested in casting ballots prior to Election Day than Democrats (2,656 ballots, or 18.40%).
Because Florida is a closed primary state, voters may only cast ballots for candidates of the party in which they are registered. Those Republican voters casting early ballots by mail may have discovered after the fact that the candidate they supported has subsequently withdrawn from the race. Names of 13 candidates appear on the Republican ballot, and as of today only four of them—Ted Cruz, John Kasich, Marco Rubio and Donald Trump—remain in the race.
The highest percentage of votes received to date came from Precinct 202: American Beach Community Center, Amelia Island (36.62%); Precinct 201: First Baptist Church, Fernandina Beach (29.40%); and Precinct 301: New Life Baptist Church, Yulee (29.39%). The lowest: Precinct 303: Celebration Baptist Church, Yulee (17.06%); Precinct 203: Springhill Baptist Church, Yulee (18.57%); and Precinct 501: Yulee Sports Complex, Yulee (18.75%).
If you are a registered Nassau County voter who has not yet voted, remember that Tuesday, March 15, 2015 is the official Presidential Primary Election Day. That will be your last chance to make your vote count in this election cycle.
For more information on voting Tuesday, including the location of your polling place, visit the Supervisor of Elections website: www.votenassau.com, where you may also find additional information on early voting and mail ballot results.