Miami-Dade County Voting By The Numbers in 2016 Presidential and Mayoral Election. By Geniusofdespair

Almost 1 Million people voted for President: 986,823. Now you would think that in the Senate race the numbers would be pretty similar. But, No. In the Senate race 970,909 people voted. What happened to the other 15,000 votes? Did those people only vote in one race and then make an exit? If we go down the ballot to the Mayor's race there are more surprises or just more people fell asleep after one or two votes. Remember the same amount of people -- almost a million -- should have voted in the County Mayor's race. In the Mayoral race 851,775 people voted or 135,048 less than in the Presidential race. Since the two candidates in the Mayoral race were 99,293 apart, those 135,048 people not voting could have been the difference.

In the Mayoral  race, Early Voting was king. Absentee Ballots was second and Election Day came in third.

In the Presidential election results for Miami Dade County, you see the same trend in voting methods.

The same held true for the Senate race, Early Voting was the preferred method of voting with Absentees coming in second and Election Day third, for both Dems and Pubs. By Hillary's double lead in early voting, it is easy to see where Dems prefer to vote. That would mean that in the Mayoral race, Carlos Gimenez got his jump in Early Voting from the Dems.

Last 3 days of early voting by the numbers and in photos. by Geniusofdespair

I wanted to see if "Souls to the Polls" made a difference. It looks like we had a surge everywhere in Miami Dade County. Almost half a million people voted early in Miami Dade County. Elections: You need to make arrangements for parking. That was a nightmare almost everywhere I went.

I did a picture gallery of early voting around the County:

Ana Hochkammer at Pinecrest Library

Unfortunate place for a judge candidate to stand, during early voting at West Dade Library.

State Senate Candidate Javier Jose Rodriguez at Coral Gables Library where 2,2776 people voted.

MANY MORE PHOTOS....

Early Voting: Plucky Voters Something Wrong Here...Besides You and the Rain. By Geniusofdespair

Look at West Dade Regional Library. 2,451 voters voted Nov. 4. Then 2,451 voters voted November 5th. I just think that is wrong. What do you you think?  How could it be exactly the same 2 days in a row? How?

The Saturday total number of 40,051 is down from Friday's total of 42,810. Why? Rain I suspect, rain phobia to be exact. Why does  that 51 number keep popping up? Someone at elections likes that number.

Christmas decorations at Aventura Mall Nov. 6th

Anyway, I know you are all Christmas shopping  because I saw the decorations and thousands of you peeps at the mall. You might all be saying, like I am, isn't it a little early for Christmas decorations? And I would answer, if you have an election that lasts for at least three years -- torturing us all that time -- nothing is ever too early anymore.  I want some birthday wishes today! My birthday is only 10 months away.

Take time from your Christmas shopping and Go Vote!  

This is the last day of early voting.

Early Voting is over Sunday - Early Voting Locations. By Geniusofdespair

7 a.m. to 7 p.m. Today and Tomorrow. That's all folks - then it is Election Day Tuesday. YOU CAN VOTE AT ANY OF THESE LOCATIONS. YOU DO NOT NEED YOUR VOTER ID. YOUR LICENSE OR PASSPORT WILL BE FINE.

These are Eye on Miami Picks for the Election.

How YOU can change this election. By Geniusofdespair

If there ever was a time for mother-father guilt to be applied, it is now!

There is only one way YOU can impact this election. Stop posting on Facebook and look around at your OWN family. 

Who in your family has not voted? Yes the one you nursed, put through college,  comforted, taught to ride a bike, bought countless presents for and had at least 18 birthday parties for. Have they voted? Now is the time to cash in on all that nurturing.

Stop with your friends you cannot change their minds. Get your kid to vote. Guilt them, pull them gingerly by the hair, take back the car, make them clean their room,  make a deal of some sort, but get them to vote. Today! DRIVE THEM TO A POLLING PLACE.

Do they live far from you? Are they at school? Threaten to cut them off from something if they don't send a selfie of themselves voting.

I was in the mall and I started talking to an early twenty something female who was on her lunch break. I asked if she had voted. She said no. I questioned her further and found out she liked Hillary. I said "You know you can vote right here on the other side of the mall." She said: "No I don't live here." I said: "You can vote anywhere during early voting."

I thought to myself: Where is her Fucking parents and her aunts and uncles? Why are they not talking to her. Why am I having this conversation with this sweet but dumb girl? Her parents are probably on Facebook "gold mining in the Hudson River" for votes when they have a piece of gold in their family that they actually have some power over.

Voting November 2nd in Miami Dade County - A Lot of Signs and Grumpy Poll Workers. By Geniusofdespair

North Miami Library -

I made them measure here. I think their rope was too long. Anyway, here I saw a bad precedent: Tents in the swale. How is that legal? 1,929 people voted here yesterday. 15,647 total since early voting started.  I learned one thing, poll workers are better behaved when candidates are present.

A Tent Carlos Gimenez? Really. What next?

They were better about doing the measuring but still complained about it. I think their rope was too long.

Voting was light when I was there.

Aventura Library -

Always the most annoying location. Pretty busy, even had a short line. I made them measure which led to an enormous change in the line. They take out a 100 foot rope to measure. There is a 75 rope for the media. No candidates here, very few signs -- all the campaign workers were in one little spot on the grass banned from the parking lot. Unlike Coral Gables, they wouldn't let them stand in the parking lot. Very surprising there was so little activity since this is a busy early voting site right near the mall, 1,440 people voted here Wednesday, 13,188 total early voting so far. Some of the poll workers were downright nasty, like they had so much to do outside: Nothing.  I spoke with people at the mall and told them they could vote here. They said: "It isn't my polling place." I think a sign would be good: EARLY VOTING FOR ANYONE IN MIAMI DADE COUNTY. Democrats make one up as the mall people are being lost.

I made them measure with the rope for the 100 foot campaigning point. You have a right to campaign at the polls 100 feet from the door.

Look at the change of the line. They called election headquarters before they would do it. The top arrow is where they said 100 feet was, the bottom arrow (right) is the correction.

There were even a few voters lined up outside about 12:30pm

Vizcaya/Science Museum Garage

Lots of sign holders here. Very bored sign holders but friendly. This is not a busy site for voting (736 people voted yesterday) because it appears harder to get to. The people voting here voted at Miami City Hall previously. The total for this site so far is 6,449.  Only people with cars were voting. Very bad location.  It should be City Hall. There are plenty of ways to get there -- like walk.

Plenty of signs, no candidates to greet you.

Here are a pair of signs I liked together.

Early Voting on a rainy Sunday. By Geniusofdespair

Candidates at Early Voting in Coral Gables:

State Rep Candidate Daisy Baez - Endorsed by President Barack Obama. Thank you for dressing appropriately while running for office Daisy. Candidates should think about that, it is not about their comfort only -- it is about looking professional while you are comfortable.  PLEASE NO COSTUMES CANDIDATES. Voting is not a joke to us. You might go stir crazy out there all day but we only are there for fifteen minutes and see you for five minutes at most. 

Also looking professional, State Senate Candidate/Front-Runner Jose Javier Rodriguez, with Lobbyist-Candidate Miguel Diaz de la Portilla lurking behind him.

It was rainy, let's check the numbers for early voting at this popular site on Segovia. 1,307 people voted yesterday. That is the lowest amount of voters at this site since early voting began AND IT WAS SUNDAY. 

My rain theory is on target -- that Floridians are afraid of rain. 

All sites were down yesterday. 23,577 voted SUNDAY in Miami Dade County, from a high daily count of 35,135 (first day of early voting). Aventura, North Miami and North Dade Regional Library, were up from their Saturday numbers but not by much.

Early voting Numbers by location as of yesterday, October 29th. By Geniusofdespair

It's raining. Don't expect rain phobics (everyone) to vote today. Do they sell raincoats for adults in Miami? I can't find one.

Coral Gables Early Voting October 28th. By Geniusofdespair

I remember the lines during early voting in previous elections. I would offer people bottled water on line. They were waiting an hour or two. Now I am observing no lines, actually drips and drabs of people. Maybe because they doubled the amount of sites. Maybe because fewer people are voting early. I chalk it up to the bizarre rain-a-phobia almost all Floridians suffer from: "Look  Sarah, a cloud." "Oh, Jose, don't go out it might rain." "RAIN!!! OMG NO!"

This rain is so good for the Zika virus to spread. That is better reason NOT to go out.

Anyway here are some photos taken yesterday at 4pm or thereabouts (AND REMEMBER TO VOTE NO ON AMENDMENT 1):

Entrance to voting area Coral Gables Library on Segovia.

Yes there was one.

Mo Abety running for School Board.  I voted for Mo. It was nice to meet him in person.

Maria Rojas, the Mayors sister-in-law, running for School Board against Mo.

Miguel De La Portilla running for State Senate against my choice: JOSE JAVIER RODRIGUEZ

No One Voting? By Geniusofdespair

Early voting in progress during a Presidential Election at 5pm in the City of Miami and no one is voting? Really?

What is it with you Floridians, inclement weather scares the shit out of most of you. It is just rain. You are not going to melt. Get off your ass and go out and vote while there are no lines. I walked a mile in the rain to take this photograph. See, I didn't melt, I survived the rain.

Early Voting in Miami Dade County. By Geniusofdespair

Early voting starts in Florida on Monday, October 24, from Monday through Sunday, November 6. There is a change this year --- Miami City Hall is not an early voting location. The closest place for Coconut Grove to vote early is the historic Vizcaya Garage. This is next to the old Museum of Science. It's an easy lot to get in and out of and it's not far from City Hall.

The Vizcaya Garage is at 3250 S. Miami Avenue. Across the street from the Vizcaya house.

Voting times every day that the early voting is available is from 7 am to 7 pm.

Other areas in the city that will hold early voting is the Arsht Center downtown, the Stephen P. Clark Government Center, Shenandoah Branch library, Carrie P. Meek Senior & Culture Center, Model City Branch Library and Lemon City Branch Library.

Another location close to the Grove is the Coral Gables Branch library. You can vote in ANY early voting location, not just one near your home.

My suggestion: VOTE EARLY.  Following are all the early voting locations in Miami Dade County:

The Election: some final thoughts. By Geniusofdespair

The early voting numbers yesterday were the highest for the week at 39,046. During early voting 235,733 people voted overall. Absentee ballots are at 188,593. That means 424,326 people have voted out of about 1,281,368 registered voters: a third of Miami Dade's registered voters have voted. In 2008 Miami Dade County had a 70.05% voter turnout or 872,260 ballots cast out of 1,245,138 registered voters.  If we again have a 70% turnout that would mean about 896,957 will vote in this election. So, almost half the people, who will probably vote in Miami Dade County, have already voted. Also remember, there will be more absentee ballots coming in on Monday (27,009 came in Friday so I would expect to see a number close to that on Monday).  Note: Always check my math!

We did not make endorsements on all State and County races but I did have opinions on a few (The ones in bold we did endorse together).

On the local front tomorrow, I would like to see:

Audrey Edmonson win in District 3 for County Commissioner.
Luis Garcia win in District 5 for County Commissioner.
Juan Zapata win in District 11 for County Commissioner.
Gwen Margolis win as State Senator in District 35 (I endorsed only. Gimleteye did not.)
Dwight Bullard win as State Senator in District 39. (I endorsed only. Gimleteye did not.)
Jose Javier Rodriguez win as State Representative in District 112.
Ross Hancock win as State Representative in District 114.
Jeffrey Solomon win as State Representative in District 115.

In municipal races I only have one opinion, and it is strong:
I want to see John Dubois lose for Vice Mayor of Palmetto Bay.

SEE OUR ENDORSEMENTS 

Early Voting the Final Wait Time. By Geniusofdespair

The Elections Department, as of 6:42pm, had the final wait time for early voting: Coral Reef Library, The Election Department, Miami Lakes Public Library, Model City Library, South Dade Regional Library and West Kendall Regional Library all have 6 hour waits.  That means they won't get out of there till 1 or 2am. Then, and only then, will early voting be over.

Aventura Early Voting Yesterday. By Geniusofdespair

I stopped at 3 early voting locations yesterday, only in Aventura did I NOT make it out of the car.

You have to understand Aventura, most of the city has no parking on the streets AT ALL. You can't even pay to park. I wanted to stop by the City Hall location and here is what happened.

The Aventura Government Center had no parking the sign advised to go to the park to park.

This is as close as I could get to the voting location in Aventura yesterday (see voters waiting in line top right of photo). There is a big plaza up there.

This is a line of cars waiting for a parking space to open up.

As instructed I went to the park. This is Founders Park entrance.  There was no directions there,  I just happened to know where it is. The top sign would have scared me enough. Geez you go to vote and you get videotaped. Anyway, the green sign said the lot was full, and it was. I had just come from the government center that lot was full and and I  also did go to the South parking lot.  All were filled. So there was no parking at about 1:30 yesterday, the time I finally got my ass in gear.  I went to 2 other  early voting locations and found parking within 5 minutes.

In contrast, here is how they accommodated people at the North Dade Regional Library. They opened up the front lawn of the library to help voters, not hinder them. The North Dade Regional Library had a 5 hour wait at  7:25am this morning.  They also have seating inside the library for the elderly. I took a video yesterday at this location.

Early Voting Today. By Geniusofdespair

When I get around to getting dressed, will go out and check some of the early voting locations.  The 8:23am report from elections shows Coral Reef Library with a 4 hour wait.  All the rest of the locations are better, some not much better. New wait times should be posted any minute. The 9:26 report: Wait time has improved in all precincts. 10:30, Aventura is at 4 hours and 15 minutes. Shortest wait is City of Miami and North Shore Library at 7501 Collins.  11:15 - Wait times have improved at most sites. North Dade Regional Library is the worst at 3 hours 30 minutes.

Rasmussen (Republican leaning pollsters) in their daily tracking poll has Obama and Romney at 48% each. They had been showing Romney ahead. My favorite, Five Thirty Eight  as of Nov. 1, forecasts Obama with 303 electoral votes and Romney at 234. They predict Obama has an 80.9% of winning.

SEE OUR ELECTION ENDORSEMENTS...

PHOTOS AND VIDEOS: EARLY VOTING MIAMI DADE COUNTY TODAY

West Kendall Library - Photo by Barry White

Miami Lakes Library - 1 1/2 hour wait.

North Dade Regional Library - Line went further and winded around. 3 1/2 hour wait.

Early Voting Miami Dade County October 31st. By Geniusofdespair

Early Voting in Hialeah

Video Link, Early Voting in North Miami.

Heard that one voter on line, just before 7pm yesterday, at the South Dade Government Center, finished voting at 10:15 pm. Apparently there was a glitch with a machine.

I read in the Miami Herald that Penelope Townsley, the Election Supervisor, went down to North Miami and spent the day there Tuesday, probably in response to the NAACP and others complaining in an email. Her appearance must have paid off because things were running smoothly there when I went about 5:30pm, Wednesday. There was a 2 hour wait, but they were moving along and the staff seemed quick to move new people in. I like the Supervisor of Elections. I think she is hands on and not afraid to do what should be done:

"After Townsley spent all day at the North Miami site Tuesday, the city-run library provided an extra room for voters. The elections department then installed 24 more voting booths, three more optical ballot scanners, one more ballot-printing machine and another voter check-in station."

I think the Governor saddled Townsley with a monumental task by shortening early voting. I like the Election Department's early voting wait time estimate (updated hourly). It is fairly accurate from all reports I have gotten.

I didn't quite understand the popularity of early voting over absentee ballots until yesterday. A woman in North Miami said to me that people want to go somewhere and vote, they don't want to fill out a form at home.  It makes them feel that they are participating in something very important to them and others.  She is right,  filling out my absentee ballot was a bland voting experience.

ELECTION ALERT: Voter Turned Away From Aventura Polling Site by Police. By Geniusofdespair

See the two circles (one on left voting place) to show you where the police suggested my relative park. Were arrangements made with the Park?  That is a pretty long walk for the oldsters in Aventura as the park is fenced, you can't cut through it.

A family member was turned away from the early voting site in Aventura. The police told him there was no parking. He saw the police letting other cars in and asked them why some cars were let in and not others. The police said they had city business. He said he told the cops that he had a right to vote. The cops said, I don't know maybe you can park at the Park (around the block). The end result: He didn't vote. There needs to be a shuttle to parking or some arrangements made for people not handicapped but older. The median age in Aventura, was about 54 in 2009.

Please keep us informed of any voting problems. Link to early voting wait times.

In other election news, just got word that:

South side of North Shore Library.

2 Photos taken 11:15 at North Shore Library on Collins in North Beach. The elections Department estimated an 1 hour and 1/2 wait time at 11:15. Notice they are giving out water at this location.

The line wrapped around the 4 sides of building (East and part of North side).

1:15: North Dade Regional Library and Coral Reef Library have 4 hour waits. Choose another site. Link to early voting wait times.

Early Voting and Absentee Voting in Miami Dade County by the Numbers. By Geniusofdespair By Geniusofdespair

Wait Time At Early Voting Locations in Miami Dade County. By Geniusofdespair

Partial List of wait times at polling locations

I would rather drive than stand.  Check out the wait times at early voting locations.  The page is edited each hour. The Election Department in Doral seems to have the quickest line. Although the time for Coral Gables on the County website said 1 hour, the actual voting time was 2 hours for my friend.

Remember, the polls close at 7pm but if you arrive at 6:59 pm you will get to vote.

At 12:30 these are wait time for two locations THAT ARE UNACCEPTABLE:

  No one should have to wait 3 hours, let alone 4 hours to vote. Something must be done!!

Ross Hancock at the polls today. We have endorsed him.

Early Voting October 28th. By Geniusofdespair

The voting turnout appeared lighter than Saturday on Sunday. The line was about 2 hours long when I was there about 1pm. Yesterday's line got up to 4 hours.

Anyway, I decided to do a video today of voters talking to me about the election or anything else.  Well guess what, no one would talk to me except a young man and High school girl.  The only others that wished to talk were the politicians (of course).  Although the camera I am using is good the sound sucked because of the wind so I had to dump a lot of what I shot. This is what I was left with. I did ask what they all thought of early voting. Didn't quite get an answer from everyone. I apologize to those whom I shot video of that was unusable. The young man at the end, he is so earnest, he is our future. I like our chances with a kid like him.  I was told by the campaign workers, if you show up prior to 7 pm. They do not send you away. The Polls will stay open till everyone on line votes. I would assume that people will move faster as the evening progresses.