Early voting underway with increased sites and hours in Miami-Dade and Broward

Early voting for the November 3 general election started this Saturday in Miami-Dade and Broward counties, marking the first weekend voters can cast ballots early, CBS News Miami reported.

Miami-Dade County Supervisor of Elections Alina Garcia noted that general elections typically see higher voter turnout than primaries. To accommodate this, Miami-Dade has expanded early voting to 28 sites, five more than during the primary election, with extended hours to facilitate access.

Similarly, Broward County has increased its early voting locations to 30 sites, nine more than the primary. Monroe County offers five polling sites open daily until October 31, from 8:30 a.m. to 5 p.m.

Voters expressed appreciation for the convenience of early voting. One voter in Miramar, Humberto Rubio, said he voted early because he will be out of town on Election Day. Another voter, Jorge Jaen, chose to vote at the Miami-Dade Elections headquarters to avoid lines and complete his voting early.

Garcia reminded voters that while early voting allows voting at any site within their registered county, on Election Day they must vote at their assigned precinct. She also encouraged mail-in voters to send ballots at least five days before Election Day to ensure timely receipt.

With increased voter interest expected, Garcia anticipates turnout of at least 60% for the governor's race in Miami-Dade County.

CBS News Miami continues to monitor early voting participation and offers guidance for voters to make their voices heard in the upcoming election.