live updates from Polk County

Election Day 2024 has arrived. Final voting for the general election will take place in Polk County on Tuesday from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m.

All voters in line at a polling place by 7 p.m. will be eligible to vote, according to the Polk Supervisor of Elections Office.

It’s too late to mail in your ballot. Turn it off!

For voters who requested mail-in ballots and have not yet mailed them, it is too late to mail them now. Ballots must be received at the Electoral Office no later than Tuesday at 7 p.m. The only option is to drop off the completed ballot at one of the two Supervisor of Elections offices: 250 S. Broadway Ave. in Bartow and 70 Florida Citrus Blvd. in Winterhaven. They cannot be dropped off at traditional polling places on election day.

One voting site has changed due to Hurricane Milton. Precinct 314, which previously voted at First Baptist Church of Lucerne Park, will use The Rock of Winter Haven at 2901 Lucerne Park Road in Winter Haven.

As of Sunday, however, nearly 233,000 voters in Polk County had participated, either by returning ballots or voting in person at early polling places. That represents 50.6% of the county’s registered voters.

Who voted for early voting in Polk County?

Registered Republicans had a large advantage in voting in person, with 73,708 ballots cast, compared to 41,697 for Democrats and 34,166 for those registered with other parties or no party.

Democrats had a slight lead in mail-in ballots: 33,352 votes returned, compared to 32,688 for Republicans and 17,146 for others.

What’s on the Polk County ballot?

The voting includes the presidential election, one race in Florida for the U.S. Senate and four for the US House of Representatives in various parts of Polk County.

Four elections for the Florida house from Polk County will be contested, along with one Senate race. At the provincial level, elections include: Supervisor of Elections, Polk County Commission And Polk County Sheriff.

Voters will be asked whether they want to keep two Florida Supreme Court justices five judges of the Sixth District Court of Appeal.

The ballot includes six proposed amendments to the Florida Constitution. Polk County voters will also decide on a proposed change to the county charter.