The number of early votes is close to setting a new record across College Town

• Both Florida State and Florida A&M have early voting sites on campus.
• Nearly 10,000 votes had been cast as of Wednesday afternoon, nearly more than the 2020 number of early votes on campus.
• Watch now to hear what concerns students on both sides of the aisle are expressing about this election.

BROADCAST TRANSCRIPT:

I check the early voting numbers in my area at Florida State University and Florida A&M University.

I’m Alberto Camargo, College Town neighborhood reporter.

I crunch the numbers and talk to student voters who say voting makes them feel like they’re playing a role in democracy.

“Come in! Democracy is calling for you to come inside! I hear him say, “Come out and vote!”

Students checking in and leaving the early voting facility at each school’s student union building.

Looking at the latest data from the Leon County Supervisor of Elections, a snapshot of early voting:

As of 4:30 a.m. Wednesday, nearly 10,000 people had voted on campus.

The busiest day was Tuesday, National Early Voting Day.

Voting continues on Wednesday at FSU Market.

Breakdown by party: Registered Democrats make up about 3,500 voters in FSU and about 1,300 in FAMU.

The students I talked to who voted blue are most concerned about abortion rights and marijuana legalization.

“We must start implementing the ideals we want now, not later. We can therefore see exponential progress in our legislation.”

Across the aisle, registered Republicans account for more than 2,000 voters in FSU and just 27 in FAMU.

Vondrick Anderson says his main concerns are the economy and immigration.

He is also part of a group of Rattlers who want to re-establish a GOP club on campus. He has been inactive since 2018.

“They may not feel comfortable or praised in their political views, which is their culture. How they appeared. This is what we are trying to base the university GOP on.”

The message to all parties: feel valued as a voter with a convenient on-campus voting location.

“I also know how important it is for students to vote, so it actually encourages students to vote because you can do it here.”

“Make informed choices about things that may or may not apply to you, so it’s very helpful to have this on hand, right next to where you’ve already been all day.

Every student I’ve talked to says the polling places on campus are never busy, which makes the whole process quick and convenient.

With 10,000 people voting early and counting, 2024 will likely set a new record compared to 2020.

In College Town, Alberto Camargo, ABC27.