OCALA, Fla. (WCJB) – Thousands of voters are casting their ballots early in Marion County.
According to the county’s supervisor of elections, nearly 9,000 ballots were received on the first day of early voting Monday.
Supervisor of Elections Wesley Wilcox says he expects early voting to possibly break 2020′s record.
“We did about 30 percent vote-by-mail, 40 percent early voting, and then another 30 on Election Day, so I expect us to follow that same pattern and early voting be the preferred method for early voters in Marion County,” said Wilcox.
He says there’s reoccurring issues every election season.
“A supporter of a candidate or an amendment, they get too close,” said Wilcox. “They don’t know what the rules are about the no solicitation zone, and we have to educate them on that.”
A line formed outside the door at the Belleview Public Library, where some residents did last-minute campaigning outside.
Voters in Dunnellon tell TV20 they didn’t see any signs endorsing former president Donald Trump when they arrived at the Dunnellon Public Library for early voting.
“Whether I vote for him or not does not make a difference. I will vote for my candidate,” said voter Augie Salzer. “It doesn’t make any difference who I vote for, but the signs should be up. It should be fair for everybody.”
Voter Beverly Parker says she and her sister had the same concern and took matters into their own hands.
“We decided that we would just make some homemade signs and so that is what we did. We came up here and stood out from about 11 till 6 just holding the signs,” said Parker.
TV20 reached out to the Marion County Republican Executive Committee and received this statement.
Every election cycle there are issues with candidate signs being picked up and removed and it could be that they are placed in areas that signs cannot be placed. Nonetheless, we will have our signs placed at every early voting precinct tomorrow with the volunteers themselves waving for Trump. This way there can’t be any concern about signs being removed. For myself personally, I enjoy sign waving and getting out there and meeting voters. I was out at the Brian Litz Deputy building, early voting precinct, from 9 AM to 3 PM today and the energy out there is monumental. The energy is vibrant, alive and biblical. The turnout is just unbelievable. The amount of support for Trump today literally has confirmed for me that the people of this country want to keep the United States a republic and not a socialist nation. This election is very polarized, and I certainly understand people getting upset if our Trump signs have been removed. In the words of President Donald J Trump, fight fight fight. The Marion County Republican Executive Committee will do just that and we will be out in force again tomorrow with Trump signs in hand, waving and smiling. Join us Marion county.
TV20 also reached out to the Marion County Democratic Party.
Our volunteers are at the polling places because they enthusiastically endorse Kamala Harris and our exciting local Democratic candidates. Our volunteers want to support fellow Democrats going to the polls in a Republican dominated county. Our volunteers are not at the polls to take down signs or campaign within the 150 feet zone. We are adamant about following the law and showing civility. Unfortunately, we have not had the same experience. Many signs for our Democratic candidates have been taken down over the past several months and in past years. If signs are being taken down by any Party, that should stop. We have faith in Supervisor of Elections Wesley Wilcox that he will enforce the rules at the polls and keep the voting places safe and secure.
There are nine early voting sites in Marion County: Belleview Public Library, Deputy Brian Litz Building, Dunnellon Public Library, Forest Public Library, Freedom Public Library, Marion County Election Center, Mulberry Center, Reddick Community Center, Silver Springs Shores Community Center.
The sites are open from 8 a.m. to 6 p.m.
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