The New York Times examines Florida’s early voting system. Polls opened Monday, Aug. 9, even though the primary date isn’t until Aug. 24.
Democrats in particular have experienced a change of heart with the extended process. When it first went into effect in 2002, some feared it was a trick engineered by the Republican-controlled Legislature to suppress turnout. As recently as 2008, some African-American voters feared that it led to greater disenfranchisement for one reason or another.
Two years later, Democrats have more confidence in the system, which may be a product of electoral math. The latest registration figures show Democrats with a 612,000-voter advantage over Republicans, up from about 466,000 before the 2008 primary, and 300,000 in 2006, a bright spot heading toward the general election.
Less clear is who will benefit in the 2010 primary.