Floridians cast ballots at polls during early voting

PENSACOLA, Fla. (WALA) - As the Nov. 6 general election nears, many folks across Northwest Florida have the opportunity to vote early, thanks to the polls being open.

“We’re averaging around 600 voters per hour county wide. If we keep that pace up, we’ll be over 7000 voters in a single day,” said David Stafford, Escambia County Supervisor of Elections.

Stafford said voters came in waves throughout the day, leaving some folks waiting in lines. Since Florida looks to be a key swing state in the election, many said it was well worth the wait.

“I think any election is important, but this one in particular is defining what you believe in many issues,” said Jason Rubin, a local voter.

Randy Bricker was an early voter who said he isn’t happy with the current administration.

“The last four years have been horrible and everything that was promised and supposed to happen didn’t happen,” Bricker said.

Others say they’re hoping their vote helps President Barack Obama stay in office.

“He had four years of trying to clean up a mess that was there before he was elected. So I think if we get him back in office, it will all be cleaned up,” one voter said.

Still, folks say they’re just glad to have their voice heard.

“People fight just to have the opportunity to vote. So to have that opportunity and not vote, I think it’s sad,” said Randy Bricker.

Early voting in Pensacola and across Florida will go on from Saturday, October 27 through Saturday, November 3, 2012. Voters will be allowed to cast ballots from 7 a.m. until 7 p.m. each day.

According to the Florida Division of Elections (FDE), early voting begins 10 days before an election and ends on the third day before the election.

The FDE defines early voting as “casting a ballot in person prior to election day at a location designated by the Supervisor of Elections and depositing the voted ballot in the tabulation system."

For more information on early voting on the Division of Election's website, including how to find early voting locations in your area, click here.