​Election 2024: Stetson poll finds uneasiness about transition of power

(This story was updated to add new information.)

Election Day is finally here and while more than half of the eligible voters in both Volusia and Flagler counties have already cast their ballots, we still have a long day ahead of us with the polls open until 7 p.m.

Both counties could break voting records tonight and our reporters and photographers will be out at the polls today speaking to candidates, voters and others about the high-stakes election and why it's so important to them.

The News-Journal will keep you up to date with the latest news throughout the day with our live blog, including last-minute polling information, breaking news and anything else election-related.

​Stetson poll finds uneasiness about transition of power

6:35 p.m. | A Stetson University poll released after 5 p.m. Tuesday suggests more Americans are confident in a peaceful transfer of power if Kamala Harris wins the presidency, rather than Donald Trump. 

The survey of 1,006 U.S. adults between Nov. 1 and 4 found that if Trump, the Republican former president, were to lose, as he did in 2020, 59% of respondents were not confident in a peaceful transition, with 41% saying they are confident in that scenario. 

If Harris, the Democratic vice president, wins, 64% expressed confidence in a peaceful transition, while 36% were not confident. Meanwhile, 71% of college-educated respondents said they were confident in a peaceful transition with a Harris loss. 

The data shows “stark contrasts along party lines,” a Stetson news release states, with just 23% of Democrats, but 61% of Republicans saying they were not confident in a peaceful transition should Trump lose. 

Meanwhile, 77% of Democrats and 58% of Republicans and independents expressing confidence in a peaceful transition should Harris lose. 

Steven Smallpage, associate professor of political science and director of Stetson’s Center for Public Opinion Research, which conducted the survey. 

“While there is always some added anxiety and uneasiness during presidential elections, this cycle feels different and more uncertain for many Americans,” Smallpage said in a news release. “Many clearly have in mind the unrest from the outcome of the 2020 election that culminated on January 6, 2021.” 

— Mark Harper

Port Orange man flies from Italy to vote in 2024 election

6:20 p.m. | Guiseppe Venturoso is a retired restaurateur who flew back to his home in Port Orange from Italy where he spends part of the year just so he could vote in the election.

When asked what issues or races concerned him the most, Venturoso said, "That we remain a democracy, that this country remains the bigger country that it is."

Venturoso said he has typically voted for Republicans in presidential races, including Reagan and both Bushes, but said, this time around, "I went Democrat."

Volusia, Flagler first-time share why they vote

5:50 p.m. | Cassandra Taylor, of DeLand, said this election marked her first time voting in Florida, after moving from New York.

"It's a very red state (Florida) and I am from a very blue state," Taylor said, "but it was not difficult to make a choice."

Taylor voted for Vice President Kamala Harris because she does not like Trump, she said, because of what he says about people. “So the person I do not like did not get my vote,” she said.

Taylor's niece, Jasmyne Taylor, 18, was a first-time voter who also cast her ballot Harris, partly because she is a woman but more because she is taking young voters into consideration and has plans to bring better opportunities, she said.

"It felt good," Taylor said about her first vote. "I can choose who I want."

In Flagler County, Alyssa Lull, 24, said it was her first time voting. She cast her vote for former President Donald Trump.

Afterward, she posed for a picture with a large cut-out of Trump next to a Republican tent outside the library. Besides the picture of Trump, the GOP table also had a fake hand grenade-looking novelty item with Trump’s face on it. Press a button and a Trump-like voice would sound from it.

“I voted for Donald Trump today because I believe in a lot of the things that he’s going to bring to our country,” Lull said. “And I believe he’s really going to make an impact for the better. He was in before, and he showed us what he can do."

Volusia County Supervisor of Elections Office talks on counting votes

5:05 p.m. | With just a few hours before polls start closing in Volusia County, movement at the Supervisor of Elections Office is low as workers get ready for the counting to begin.

Some residents came in to drop in their mail ballots, while others were still unsure where to go to vote.

But election workers at the office, led by the county’s supervisor of elections, Lisa Lewis, have been working to assist voters who needed help today.

“We have been here since 4:30 a.m.,” Lewis said Tuesday afternoon.

After polls close, all the equipment and ballots need to be transported to the county’s drop sites and then finally to the supervisor’s office on Woodland Boulevard in DeLand for votes to be counted.

“The first results you see are vote-by-mail and early voting,” Lewis said. “Everything we have up until last night will be the first ones that come out – all the early voting results, which is our biggest turnout right now, 147,000, and then vote-by-mail, about 89,000.”

The majority of overall results, she said, will come out “just soon after the polls close,” given that election day turnout was around 55,000.

Lewis said voting went smoothly throughout the day, with the exception of a temporary malfunctioning voting machine in New Smyrna Beach.

That equipment was replaced, Lewis said, and the ballots stores in an emergency bin will be tabulated by the time polls close.

Lewis said the county is seeing “a great turnout,” with over 76% by 4:30 p.m.

“Our highest before was 77% and change, so I think we are going to see 80% at least,” she said. “We just have to ask for patience from everybody.”

— Brenno Carillo

New Smyrna Beach voter shares thoughts on 2024 election

3:56 p.m. | Unincorporated Volusia County resident Stanley Immich went to the St. Peter the Fisherman Episcopal Church in New Smyrna Beach Tuesday morning to cast his vote for former President Trump.

Besides his concerns over border security and the economy, Immich said he hopes the country can find a sense of unity, no matter the results.

Election workers at the precinct said the reason for the steady but quiet movement on Election Day might have to do with the fact that most assigned to that polling station have already voted early.

— Brenno Carillo

Jeff Brower shares thoughts about Election Day

3:23 p.m. | As voters filed into polling locations on Tuesday afternoon, Volusia County Chairman Jeff Brower said he was happy to see the campaign season nearing a close.

“My family’s glad. My kids are glad. It’s a lot of hard work," Brower said in a phone interview from the Bayberry Lakes Clubhouse polling location off LPGA Boulevard in Daytona Beach.

Brower went to the location to share information with voters.

“It’s been really steady,” he said. “I’m hearing that from all the precincts where we have people, that it’s steady ― not as busy as it was … Friday and Saturday.”

While people have decided on their pick for president, many don’t know about items down the ballot, Brower said.

“We’ve done everything we can for us against the odds with being so outspent with money and then being taken off the voters guide,” he said.

The Republican Executive Committee of Volusia County’s voter guide only lists his opponent, Randy Dye. Both are Republicans.

In a few hours, candidates will head to their watch parties to see the results come in.

Brower and his supporters will be at the Daytona Beach Racing & Card Club in Daytona Beach, an entertainment complex with a poker room.

“It’s free. They have a great big room, and they don’t charge for it. We were there for the primary, so they welcome us there,” he said.

— Sheldon Gardner

3:03 p.m. | Randy Dye shares thoughts about Election Day

How many Republicans and Democrats have voted in Flagler County?

2:48 p.m. | According to the county’s Supervisor of Elections Office, more than 70% of Flagler Republicans have voted, equalling just over 33,700 voters. As for Democrats, 69% of voters – about 16,700 people – did the same.  

How many Republicans and Democrats have voted in Volusia County?

2:20 p.m. | According to the county’s Supervisor of Elections Office, 65.8% of Volusia’s 161,624 registered Republicans have voted, while 63.8% of the 106,185 registered Democrats have done the same. 

As for voters with no party affiliation, 51,500 voters cast their ballots early. 

1:32 p.m. | Volusia, Flagler constituents on why they voted

How many people voted early in Volusia and Flagler counties? 

1:30 p.m. | The majority of Volusia and Flagler voters took the opportunity to vote ahead of Election Day, according to officials. 

In Volusia County, approximately 61% of eligible voters cast their ballots early — that is about 235,000 of the county’s approximately 384,000 active eligible voters.  

In Flagler County, approximately 65,000 of the county’s 96,750 active eligible voters have already cast their ballots, which represents a little more than 66% of eligible voters. 

Those numbers are higher than the 2020 presidential election. 

Statewide, almost 8 million people have already voted.  

— Brenno Carillo

Voters move swiftly, politely at DeLand polling place

12:29 p.m. | Friendliness and civility were evident among the crowd of people at a polling place in DeLand Tuesday morning. 

Dozens of people stretched beyond the doors of St. Johns Lodge No. 37, a Masonic lodge and polling location at 2557 N. Spring Garden Ave. in DeLand, at about 7:20 a.m. 

One person offered to help an older woman with a walker get through the door. Another woman smiled and waved at someone she knew as she walked out of the lodge. 

A framed image of George Washington with quotes from the first president hung on a wall inside the building. 

The line moved along well, and voting took about 30 minutes. 

People helping at the polling station guided voters with smiles and kindness.   

“Thank you for voting by your heart,” a woman said as she handed out an “I voted” sticker. 

— Sheldon Gardner

What happens if you make a mistake on your ballot? 

11:50 a.m. | If you make a mistake on your ballot, you can ask for a replacement ballot.  

Both Volusia and Flagler counties can provide assistance for voters with special needs requirements.  

— Brenno Carillo

Volusia teen votes for the first time

11:04 a.m. | After record-setting early voting in both Volusia and Flagler counties, there was still a wait at the polls Tuesday morning where residents like first-time voters Anna Larson, 18, cast their ballots.

What should voters bring to polling stations? 

10:20 a.m. | Most importantly, make sure you are registered to vote in the state of Florida and bring some form of photo ID with signature.  

Some of these documents include a Florida driver’s license, U.S. passport, student ID, retirement center ID and other possible forms of ID — click here for the full list. 

— Brenno Carillo

When do polls close in Volusia and Flagler counties? 

9:48 a.m. | Volusia-Flagler residents who waited until Election Day to cast their vote have almost all day to do it.

Polls opened at 7 a.m. and close at 7 p.m. at Volusia’s and Flagler’s precincts.  

Voters who are unsure of their precincts can visit volusiaelections.gov or flaglerelections.com. 

If you still have a mail ballot, you can drop it off at your county’s supervisor of elections office by 7 p.m.: 

Volusia — 1750 S. Woodland Blvd., DeLand. 

Flagler — 1769 E. Moody Blvd., Suite 101, Bunnell. 

— Brenno Carillo