- April 25, 2024
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Flagler County's turnout had reached about 77% by 5 p.m. on Election Day, with two hours left before the polls close. Of the 70,777 ballots cast so far, only 10,494, or 14.8%, were cast on Election Day itself, with few lines reported at most locations as voters spread out across 25 precinct polling places.
The numbers already exceeded the total from 2016, when 73.6% of registered Flagler County voters had participated in the general election.
"It was easy, everything was organized, you used your own pen — and everything COVID-related was awesome," said Livie Bonilla, a Palm Coast resident who'd voted at the Flagler County Public Library in Palm Coast, and had also done so in 2016. "It was faster and better this time," she added.
At the library, Democrats and Republicans had set up campaign tents on opposite sides of the parking lot, with a Trump-Pence tent facing westbound Palm Coast Parkway and a Biden-Harris tent facing Belle Terre Parkway; at the Palm Coast Community Center, the competing campaigns were side-by-side.
Sheriff Rick Staly — himself a candidate this election, facing a challenge from Democrat Larry Jones — said Election Day activity had so far been calm.
"I've been out looking at all the different voting locations, and turnout seems to be little light compared to past years but it may be because of people voting by mail," he said.
Jim Sinclair Jr., a Palm Coast resident, said he'd voted for Trump and then voted Republican down the line, and voted for incumbents in local nonpartisan races. "Everyone's talking about change, but sometimes business as usual is fine," he said.
Resident Monica Molina said she'd voted "very Democratic" on the amendments, but didn't back Amendment 2, which would gradually raise the minimum wage to $15 per hour, and out of concern for its impact on the service industry and on small businesses. She'd been in the service industry herself, she said — and, with tips, "I think we made way more than $15 per hour."
Shirley Zummo, a Palm Coast resident who voted at the library, said staff were helpful when she asked some questions about amendments she wasn't very familiar with. But she did have strong feelings about the presidential race, backing President Donald Trump.
"Why fix something that's not broken?" she said. "It's a shame people don't realize what he's done. He's done everything for us, the people. ... We need a person that cares about us. We need things for the people." She said she'd like to see people who are unemployed be given the opportunity for work, rather than handouts, and hoped for more national support for vocational education for people who'd like to learn a trade.
Voting ends at 7 p.m., but voters who are in line at a polling place at that time may still vote. Find your polling place at https://www.flaglerelections.com/For-Voters/Find-Your-Precinct.
