Getty
In the 2020 presidential election, Florida has emerged as one of the most pivotal swing states. While early voting showed Joe Biden with a lead early on, by 8:11 p.m. Eastern time, Decision Desk HQ projected President Donald Trump as the winner in Florida.
That means Florida’s 29 electoral votes will go to Trump. Leading up to Election Day, polls predicted “razor-thin margins,” as reported by The Washington Post’s Aaron Blake. The only other swing state with more electoral votes is Texas, with 38 votes up for grabs.
The polls in Florida closed at 7 p.m. Eastern time. While Florida has a history of extremely tight races that take days or weeks to call at the statewide level, it was expected that Florida could announce a projected winner early in the evening this time around, due to an increase in early voting.
To see how each county is voting, click on the area in the map you’d like to expand.
Florida is one of the 10 most populated states in America, with an estimated population of 21.4 million people, according to WUSF Public Media.
Florida’s Early Voting Results Showed More Democrats Voted Than Republicans
Democrats bumped their ballots-cast advantage over Republicans in Florida back to 108K yesterday. Won’t be the final margin as mail ballots will continue to come in today. One day till the voting ends.
According to the Florida Division of Elections, just over 100,000 Democratic votes were received on Sunday, which was the last day people could vote early. Republicans in Florida had sent in about 88,000 ballots.
By Sunday evening, 8.974 million early ballots had been cast, a number which nearly matched the entire 9.5 million votes cast in the 2016 presidential election, as reported by the Miami Herald. The votes cast early showed 39% were cast by Democrats and 38% by Republicans. Independent or unaffiliated voters cast 21.5% of the votes. The rest of the votes were made by residents affiliated with minor political parties.
Trump Won Florida in 2016 By Just Over 100,000 Votes
GettyPresident Donald Trump and 2016 Democratic presidential nominee Hillary Clinton.
On November 8, 2016, Trump received 49% of the popular vote in Florida, which marginally beat out Hillary Clinton, who received 47.8% of the vote.
A total number of 4,617,886 votes were cast for Trump in Florida in 2016, while Clinton nabbed 4,504,975 votes.
As of October 30, RealClear Politics polling showed Biden with a marginal lead over Trump. However, in Florida, mail-in results were released first and were expected to reveal a stronger showing for Democrats. Later on, in-person votes were expected to heavily favor Trump.
Florida Has Seen Record-Breaking Voter Turn Out in 2020
GettyA poll worker drops off a vote-by-mail ballot at a Ballot Drop Box at Miami-Dade County Election Department in Miami, Florida, on November 3, 2020.
As of noon on Tuesday, the voter turnout in the Florida Keys was at 76%, which is equal to the total number of votes cast there in the 2016 election, according to The Miami Herald. “I can feel the record breaking,” said Monroe County E. Joyce Griffin via e-mail.
Florida Update:
GOP: 4,149,144 (+191,876)
DEM: 3,957,268
NPA/Other: 2,597,260
Total: 10,703,672
Via @umichvoter99
Broward County is also seeing a record turn out. “Right now the overall turnout is almost 71%,” said Steve Vancore, spokesman for the Broward County Supervisor of Elections. “We’re still picking up ballots at the post office and there’s been a nonstop line at drop boxes for mail-in ballots, so an 80% turnout is within reach.”
READ NEXT: WATCH: Paul Rudd Hands Out Cookies to Voters Waiting in the Rain