The U.S. midterms are in full throttle and Key Biscayne Floridians have a crowded ballot to choose from spanning local, state and federal races \u2014 with key races neck-and-neck.\u00a0<\/p>\n
Following along here for updates:<\/p>\n
[Noon] Turnout numbers strong<\/p>\n
At noon, unofficial County figures showed 47.5% of registered KB voters had cast ballots so far. That figure slightly trails the County turnout of about 49%. About 20% of island voters used early voting, while 18% cast mail ballots. <\/p>\n
However, many islanders did not return their mail ballots, election department figures showed. Some 2,011 people were issued mail ballots, but only 1,457 had been returned as of noon. (You can surrender your mail ballot at the precinct and be issued a fresh ballot) <\/p>\n
[11:45 a.m.] Key Biscayne Council candidate is \u201cvery optimistic\u201d<\/p>\n
Key Biscayne Village Council incumbent Fernando Vazquez is campaigning outside the Key Biscayne Community Center to engage with voters as he seeks a reelection bid.\u00a0<\/p>\n
He told the Independent \u00a0he is \u201cvery optimistic\u201d of the race and is ready to tackle climate change and storm infrastructure in another term.<\/p>\n
\u201cIn the next four years, there\u2019s going to be some significant changes,\u201d he said, referring to the redevelopment proposals on the Rickenbacker Causeway such as the Seaquarium and Rickenbacker Marina. \u201cPeople will decide the right way, and hopefully we\u2019ll be back in office.\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n
Campaign signs for the Key Biscayne Council candidates, Congressional Republican incumbent Maria Salazar and other state and federal candidates are littered throughout the precinct.\u00a0<\/p>\n
[11.30 a.m.] Long lines wrap inside the Key Biscayne Community Center<\/p>\n
As of 11:30 a.m., rows of residents from Key Biscayne have shown up at the Key Biscayne Community to vote. An election worker from the precinct told the Independent they will not have an official number of how many people have voted until the end of day.<\/p>\n
[11:15 a.m.] Democrat candidate for SD 38 campaigns outside polls<\/p>\n
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Democrat candidate for Senate District 38, Richard Lamondin, is talking with voters as they head into polls. He told the Independent \u201cit\u2019s a close race,\u201d but that residents in Key Biscayne are heading into polls questioning what \u201cthe government has done for me in Tallahassee.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cWe feel confident,\u201d he said. \u201cRonald Reagan once asked the country \u2018are you better off now than you were four years ago?\u2019 I think for a lot of people in this community, the answer is no.\u201d<\/p>\n
Lamondin will be at Bougainvillea\u2019s Old Florida Tavern as election results come in at 6:30 p.m.\u00a0<\/p>\n
[7:00 a.m.] Polls open in Florida<\/p>\n
Polls have officially opened at 7:00 a.m. in Florida.\u00a0<\/p>\n
What to know:<\/p>\n
Polls are open today from 7:00 a.m. to 7:00 p.m. Key Biscayne residents can vote at the Key Biscayne Community Center. About 28% of island voters, or 2,193 people, have already cast mail or early voting ballots, as of Thursday night, according to the Independent<\/a>.\u00a0<\/p>\n Five candidates are competing for three seats on the Key Biscayne Village Council: Claire London, Luis de la Cruz, Oscar Sardinas, Silvia Tarafa and Fernando Vasquez. You can listen to their candidacy goals on the Anti-Social podcast here<\/a>.<\/p>\n London<\/a> has been coined the zombie candidate after announcing an exit from the race but remaining an active candidate residents can vote for after not filing paperwork to withdraw. Sardinas has reported<\/a> the highest in campaign finance contributions, reaching $14,410, mostly\u00a0 from real estate agents and contractors. Tarafa trailed in second, reaching $6,900, supported by well-known island lawyers.<\/p>\n Architect Brett Moss becomes mayor-elect after running unopposed for the seat. The Independent recently hosted him on the Anti-Social podcast<\/a> where he discussed his process for picking the next Village Manager after Steve Williamson resigned<\/a>. He also said he supports ungrounding power lines as the top public works project.\u00a0<\/p>\n Voters are also deciding if they want a provision added<\/a> to the Village charter to require a community vote for any stormwater project in excess of $50 million over a three-year-period. Statewide, Floridians will vote on Amendment 3, which needs 60% of the vote to pass. This controversial law would increase<\/a> the homestead exemption. Some residents would have larger tax breaks which could strain the revenue stream for local municipalities. Proponents say it could filter out wasteful local spending.<\/p>\n At the state level, Floridians are voting for a new governor and lieutenant governor, as well as a new Florida Attorney General, Chief Financial Officer and Commissioner of Agriculture.<\/p>\n