Photos: This is what โstop the countโ protests look like across the country
(Photo by John Moore/Getty Images) (2020 Getty Images)Trump supporters gather for a demonstration outside the TCF Center on Nov. 6, 2020 in Detroit. (Photo by John Moore/Getty Images) (2020 Getty Images)Trump supporters gather for a demonstration outside the TCF Center on Nov. 6, 2020 in Detroit. (Photo by Chris McGrath/Getty Images) (2020 Getty Images)Supporters of President Trump hold signs and chant slogans during a protest outside the Philadelphia Convention Center. (Photo by Chris McGrath/Getty Images) (2020 Getty Images)Supporters of President Trump yell at a counter protester at the Maricopa County Elections Department office on Nov. 6, 2020 in Phoenix. (Photo by Megan Varner/Getty Images) (2020 Getty Images)
The unexpected winner on election night? Drugs
While we may not know if President Donald Trump or former Vice President Joe Biden won the presidential election for a while longer, there was one clear โwinnerโ on election night, and that was recreational drugs. States across the country have been legalizing recreational marijuana every election cycle, and 2020 was no different. Residents in New Jersey, Arizona, Montana and South Dakota all voted to legalize recreational cannabis, and South Dakota also legalized medical marijuana, along with Mississippi. South Dakota became the first state to legalize medical and recreational marijuana in the same election. For the first time in U.S. history, the state of Oregon decriminalized possession of hard drugs, as well as voted to legalize psychedelic mushrooms.
Presidential race still too close to call in some battleground states. Hereโs where they stand
See All Battleground Race ResultsIt was unclear when or how quickly a winner could be determined. A late burst of votes in Michigan and Wisconsin gave Biden a small lead in those states, but it was still too early to call the race. But the margins were exceedingly tight, with the candidates trading wins in battleground states across the country. Trump picked up Florida, the largest of the swing states, while Biden flipped Arizona, a state that has reliably voted Republican in recent elections. Both campaigns had teams of lawyers at the ready to move into battleground states if there were legal challenges.
Race to the White House: See all the possible ways Trump, Biden can still win US presidential election
Polls closed Tuesday night and yet on Wednesday, hours later, neither Donald Trump nor Joe Biden had the 270 electoral votes needed to secure a win in the 2020 U.S. presidential election. Election Day is over, so whatโs the holdup? Vote tabulations routinely continue beyond Election Day, and states largely set the rules for when the count has to end. This embed is meant to serve only as a preview of what outcomes America could in the U.S. presidential election. As much as it pains me to write this, itโs possible this presidential election could end in a 269-269 Electoral College tie.
Gov DeSantis: Other states should learn from Floridaโs success in 2020 election
TALLAHASSEE, Fla. โ โPerhaps 2020 was the year that we finally vanquished the ghosts of Bush vs. Gore,โ Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis said while addressing the Sunshine State Wednesday, one day after President Donald Trump declared victory in Florida in the 2020 U.S. presidential election. โPeople are actually looking at Florida and asking the question, โWhy canโt the states be more like Florida? I also think the fact that he has really helped us with a lot of Florida issues, I think, helped him,โ DeSantis said. I donโt think that was done without some type of motive -- whether itโs ratings, whether itโs something else,โ DeSantis said.
Democrat Marco Lopez wins Osceola County sheriff race
OSCEOLA COUNTY, Fla. โ Democrat Marco Lopez has been declared the winner of the Osceola County sheriff race. He was first elected Osceola County sheriff in November 2016 and took office in 2017. Marco Lopez is very familiar with the Osceola County Sheriffโs Office after spending more than 16 years with the agency, according to his campaign website. In 2005, he joined the Osceola County Sheriffโs Office as a deputy sheriff. Now retired and living on a small farmstead in west Osceola County, Fernรกndez has seven children through a blended family with his wife, Carmen.
Mary Jane Arrington wins Osceola Countyโs supervisor of elections race
Democrat Mary Jane Arrington has been declared the winner of the Osceola County supervisor of elections race. One election happening in Osceola County is for the countyโs supervisor of elections. The supervisor of elections is the official designated by Florida law and the county charter to administer elections and voter registration for Osceola County. She began her role in government in 1994 when she was the first women to be elected to serve on the Osceola County Commission. Arrington was one on the founding supervisors of the TOHO Water Authority, where she served from 2001 to 2008.
General Election Results for Central Florida School Board Races on Nov. 3, 2020
Marion CountySchool Board District 1 SeatCandidates for the District 1 are now vying for the role in a runoff election. School Board District 5 SeatMichael โMikeโ ScottScott is an Air Force veteran who was born and raised in Orlando. Osceola CountySchool Board District 2 SeatOsceola County voters will get to make the final call in a run-off race for school board. Julius MelendezMelendez is hoping to return to the Osceola County School Board after furthering his education in computer programming. Volusia CountySchool Board District 2 SeatPeople will once again select who they believe is fit to fill the District 2 school board seat.
Republican Neal Dunn re-elected in US House District 2 race
MARION COUNTY, Fla. โ Republican Neal Dunn has been declared the winner of the U.S. House District 2 race. Incumbent Neal Dunn currently holds the seat for U.S. House District 2 and was facing write-in candidate Kim OโConnor on the November ballot. [2020 VOTER GUIDE: Everything you need to know ahead of the presidential election]Hereโs what you need to know about the candidates:Neal Dunn (R)Congressman Dunn first assumed office in 2017. At the beginning of the 116th Congress, Dunn was appointed to serve on the House Committee on Veterans' Affairs, the House Committee on Agriculture, and the House Committee on Science, Space and Technology. She first graduated from the University of South Florida with a philosophy degree then got her law degree at the University of Florida.
Amendment 2 passes: Floridians vote to raise minimum wage to $15/hour
Amendment 2 outlines the stateโs $15 minimum wage initiative, which plans to increase the minimum pay-per-hour rate incrementally through 2026. Hereโs what the minimum wage increase would look like each year, according to Ballotpedia. Each September 30th thereafter, minimum wage shall increase by $1.00 per hour until the minimum wage reaches $15.00 per hour on September 30th, 2026. A vote no rejects the initiative to increase the stateโs minimum wage and thereby agrees to keep the current minimum wage of $8.46 per hour. [THE WEEKLY: Orlando attorney Matt Morgan pushes for raising minimum wage in 2020]Proponents of the initiative say Floridaโs current minimum wage isnโt livable nor does it align with the cost of living in the state.
Florida General Election Results for State House of Representatives on Nov. 3, 2020
[LIVE RACE RESULTS: Scroll to bottom of story to see all race returns starting at 7 p.m. on Nov. 3]As of early October, Republicans had a 71-46 control of the state House of Representatives, with three vacancies in the lower house of the state legislature, according to Ballotpedia.org, but all 120 Florida House seats are up for grabs in the upcoming election. Among some of the most-watched House races in Central Florida are Districts 28 and 29. As of 11 p.m. on Tuesday, the Associated Press had not declared a winner in the District 29 race. Below is a list of candidates in the running to represent Central Florida districts in the Florida House. Hereโs whoโs running in your district:State House District 22 -- MarionState House District 23 -- MarionState House District 24 -- FlaglerState House District 25 -- VolusiaState House District 26 -- VolusiaState House District 27 -- VolusiaState House District 28 -- SeminoleState House District 29 -- SeminoleState House District 30 -- SeminoleState House District 31 -- Lake, OrangeState House District 32 -- LakeState House District 33 -- Lake, SumterState House District 39 -- Osceola, PolkState House District 40 -- PolkState House District 41 -- PolkState House District 42 -- Osceola, PolkState House District 44 -- OrangeState House District 47 -- OrangeState House District 48 -- OrangeState House District 49 -- OrangeState House District 50 -- Brevard, OrangeState House District 51 -- BrevardState House District 52 -- BrevardState House District 53 -- BrevardRandy Fine (R), incumbentPhil Moore (D)Thomas Patrick Unger (WRI), no official campaign page could be foundState House District 56 -- PolkFind more election results and news on the Results 2020 page.
Monique Worrell to replace Aramis Ayala as Orange-Osceola state attorney
ORANGE COUNTY, Fla. โ Democrat Monique Worrell has been declared the winner of the Orange-Osceola state attorney race. As of 11 p.m. Tuesday, she had 66% of the vote with 342 out of 348 precincts reporting. [LIVE RACE RESULTS: Scroll to bottom of story to see all race returns]RACE DETAILS BELOWAfter a heavily contested primary, voters had the choice of two candidates to replace Aramis Ayala as the state attorney for Orange and Osceola counties. Heโs been endorsed by former Orange County sheriffs Kevin Beary and Lawson Lamar. Monique Worrell (D)Monique Worrell has earned endorsements from Ayala, Sen. Bernie Sanders and singer John Legend.
Florida General Election Results for State Senate on Nov. 3, 2020
Find All Race Results HereTALLAHASSEE, Fla. โ Florida voters will not only be casting a vote to decide who will be the nationโs next president, theyโll also be asked to elect state legislators who will represent them in the Florida House and Senate. [LIVE RACE RESULTS: Scroll to bottom of story to see all race returns starting at 7 p.m. on Nov. 3]Currently, 40 senators -- 23 Republicans and 17 Democrats -- serve the people of Florida, according to FLSenate.gov. [MORE: Senate District 9 race pivotal for balance of Florida Legislature]Not sure which district is yours? Below is a list of candidates in the running to represent Central Florida districts in the Florida Senate. Hereโs whoโs running in your district:State Senate District 5 -- MarionState Senate District 7 -- FlaglerState Senate District 9 -- Seminole, VolusiaJason Brodeur (R)Patricia Sigman (D)Jestine Iannotti (NPA), no official campaign page could be foundState Senate District 11 -- OrangeState Senate District 13 -- OrangeState Senate District 15 -- Orange, OsceolaState Senate District 17 -- Brevard, Indian RiverState Senate District 20 -- PolkFind more election results and news on the Results 2020 page.
R.J. Larizza re-elected as Flagler-Volusia state attorney
Republican R.J. Larizza has been declared the winner of the Flagler-Volusia state attorney race. [LIVE RACE RESULTS: Scroll to bottom of story to see all race returns]RACE DETAILS BELOWVoters in the 7th Judicial Circuit, which covers Flagler, Volusia, St. Johns and Putnam counties, were asked to choose between the incumbent or an independent challenger running for state attorney. The former prosecutor believes the criminal justice system is broken with a heavy emphasis on incarceration, which he hopes to change by focusing more on diversion programs and common sense sentencing practices. R.J. Larizza (R)Incumbent R.J. Larizza has been elected for a fourth term as the state attorney for the 7th Judicial Circuit, a role heโs filled since being sworn in in January 2009. Larizza has worked in the criminal justice system since 1980 and has experience as a probation officer, a private attorney, a prosecutor and a state attorney.
Amendment 1 passes: Floridians decide to change right to vote citizenship language
TALLAHASSEE, Fla. โ Floridaโs proposed Amendment 1, which would change the verbiage that describes who has the right to vote in the state of Florida, has passed. She says the language can be tricky but the change Amendment 1 would make is actually pretty simple. So would this amendment change who is allowed to vote in Florida? A โyesโ vote supports amending the Florida Constitution to state that โonly a citizenโ of the U.S. who is 18 years old or older can vote in Florida. A 60 percent supermajority vote was required for the approval of Amendment 1, which is sponsored by the political committee Florida Citizen Voters.
Residents vote to extend Marion Countyโs 1% sales tax
MARION COUNTY, Fla. โ Marion County residents have voted to extend a 1% public safety and transportation infrastructure sales tax referendum. [LIVE RACE RESULTS: Scroll to bottom of story to see all race returns]RACE DETAILS BELOWMarion County voters will decide on the November ballot if they want a four-year extension of a 1% public safety and transportation infrastructure sales tax referendum. County officials said $167 million was generated to fund various projects from 2017-2020 from the sales tax. If approved, county officials said $196 million will be generated in revenue. Marion County officials also expect to build new facilities for safety departments and to add more safety vehicles.
Amendment 6 passes: Floridians approve transfer of veteran benefits to surviving spouses
Floridaโs proposed Amendment 6, which aims to ensure beneficiaries of veterans with combat-related disabilities continue to receive Homestead tax benefits after the death of the veteran, has passed. Amendment 6 ensures the beneficiaries of veterans with combat-related disabilities would continue to receive Homestead tax benefits after the death of the veteran. The discount may be transferred to a new homestead property of the surviving spouse under certain conditions. A โyesโ vote supports allowing a Homestead property tax discount to be transferred to the surviving spouse of a deceased veteran. A โnoโ vote opposes allowing a Homestead property tax discount to be transferred to the surviving spouse of a deceased veteran.
Voters re-approve Brevard Countyโs half-cent surtax
BREVARD COUNTY, Fla. โ Brevard County residents have voted to extend a half-cent surtax for a school board referendum on their November ballot. [LIVE RACE RESULTS: Scroll to bottom of story to see all race returns]RACE DETAILS BELOWVoters in Brevard County will have to decide whether to extend a half-cent surtax for a school board referendum on their November ballot. The half-cent surtax was approved by voters in 2014. The reason for the initial referendum was to upgrade aging schools, school security and technology, according to the district. The surtax is shared with charter schools based on proportionate share or district enrollment, according to the countyโs board of elections.
Republican Scott Franklin wins US House District 15 race
Republican Scott Franklin has won Florida Rep. Ross Spanoโs seat in the U.S. House. Franklin defeated Democrat Alan Cohn in Tuesdayโs election, ensuring that Spanoโs seat stays in Republican hands. The Lakeland commissioner has operated a small business in the city for 20 years. He said he never voted for a tax increase while serving as a Lakeland commissioner. Alan Cohn (D)Cohn is a Peabody Award-winning television investigative journalist and is making another run for the District 15 seat.
Flagler County voters re-elect Sheriff Rick Staly
FLAGLER COUNTY, Fla. โ Republican Rick Staly has been declared the winner of the Flagler County sheriff race. The sheriff leads more than 300 Flagler County Sheriffโs Office employees who serve a community of more than 95,000. He then served 23 years in the Orange County Sheriffโs Office before being promoted to undersheriff. Staly began leading the Flagler County Sheriffโs Office in 2017. Although he is running as a Democrat, on his Facebook page, he reminds people living in Flagler County thatโs heโs a candidate for all.
Republican Michael Waltz re-elected in US House District 6 race
Republican incumbent Michael Waltz has been declared the winner of the U.S. House District 6 race. [LIVE RACE RESULTS: Scroll to bottom of story to see all race returns]U.S. House District 6 View All CandidatesRACE DETAILS BELOWFloridaโs 6th Congressional District represents portions of Flagler, Volusia and Lake counties. Incumbent Michael Waltz currently holds the seat for U.S. House District 6 and had to beat out a few others in November to keep his spot for another term. According to his campaign website, Waltz attended the Virginia Military Institute and then served 21 years in the U.S. Army. Clint Curtis (D)Curtis is an attorney who practices government corruption law, veterans law and social security disability law.
Brevard County voters re-elect Republican Sheriff Wayne Ivey
BREVARD COUNTY, Fla. โ Republican Wayne Ivey has been declared the winner of the Brevard County sheriff race. The race marks the first time in eight years that Brevard County residents cast their votes for sheriff. Sheriff Wayne Ivey, who was first elected in 2012, faced Democratic challenger Alton Edmond this year after Ivey ran unopposed in 2016. The winnerโs responsibilities will include leading the men and women of the Brevard County Sheriffโs Office, which, according to the agencyโs Twitter, provides law enforcement services to more than 510,000 residents on Floridaโs East Coast, and managing the agencyโs multi-million dollar budget. Hereโs how to track your ballot]Hereโs what you need to know about the candidates:Wayne Ivey (R)Republican incumbent Wayne Ivey has more than 40 years of law enforcement experience in Florida, according to his campaign site.
Rep. Daniel Webster re-elected in US House District 11 race
Republican incumbent Daniel Webster has been declared the winner of the U.S. House District 11 race. The Associated Press called the race for Webster, who was leading Dana Marie Cottrell 67-33%. He faces Democrat Dana Marie Cottrell on the ballot. Hereโs what you need to know about the candidates:Daniel Webster (R)Congressman Webster was born in Charleston, West Virginia, on April 27, 1949. He previously represented Floridaโs 8th Congressional District from 2011 to 2012, and Floridaโs 10th Congressional District from 2013 to 2016.
Republican Kat Cammack wins US House District 3 race
MARION COUNTY, Fla. โ Republican Kat Cammack has won Floridaโs U.S. House seat held by her former boss, retiring Florida Republican Rep. Ted Yoho. Cammack owns a political consulting firm and previously served as Yohoโs deputy chief of staff and campaign manager. Yoho is leaving Congress after four terms to fulfill a campaign promise to self-impose term limits. Cammack won the August primary with 25% of the vote in a 10-way race. Cammack was the deputy chief of staff and campaign manager for Yoho from 2012-2020.
US House District 10 voters re-elect Rep. Val Demings
ORANGE COUNTY, Fla. โ Democratic incumbent Val Demings has been declared the winner of the U.S. House District 10 race. [LIVE RACE RESULTS: Scroll to bottom of story to see all race returns]U.S. House District 10 View All CandidatesRACE DETAILS BELOWThree candidates were in the running to represent Floridaโs 10th Congressional District, which includes west Orange County. Hereโs how to track your ballot]Prior to incumbent Rep. Val Demings winning the 2016 election, the House seat had been held by Republicans. Val Demings (D)Congresswoman Demings, born in Jacksonville, is the youngest of seven children. She especially wants voters to know sheโs not a politician.
Republican David Johnson wins Seminole County property appraiser race
SEMINOLE COUNTY, Fla. โ Republican David Johnson has been declared the winner of the Seminole County property appraiser race. [LIVE RACE RESULTS: Scroll to bottom of story to see all race returns]This Seminole County office has been running since 1913, and Johnson, the current property appraiser, was first elected in 2004. RACE DETAILS BELOWBefore we go over the candidates, itโs important to know exactly what a property appraiser does. [2020 VOTER GUIDE: Everything you need to know ahead of the presidential election]According to the Seminole County Property Appraiser website, their duties include identifying, locating and fairly valuing all property within the county for tax purposes. Jeff Triplett (NPA)Triplett has been the mayor of Sanford since 2011, and now heโs stepping down to run for county property appraiser.
J.R. Kroll to replace Joel Greenberg as Seminole County tax collector
SEMINOLE COUNTY, Fla. โ Republican Jeff โJ.R.โ Kroll has been declared the winner of the Seminole County tax collector race with more than 54% of voters choosing Kroll over the Democratic candidate. With 79 out of 90 Seminole County precincts reporting on Election Night, Kroll had earned 54% of the countyโs votes and Lynn โMoiraโ Dictor had 46%. The Seminole County tax collector is responsible for overseeing the office that issues driverโs licenses, decides how tax dollars will be invested back into the community and provides concealed weapons permits. Read more about Krollโs opponent, Lynn โMoiraโ Dictor, below:Some Central Florida voters may know Lynn Dictor best as Moira from โThe Philips Phileโ on Real Radio 104.1. Dictor would like to pivot from her role as radio personality to Seminole County tax collector in order to bring more transparency to the office.
Chris Anderson wins Seminole Countyโs supervisor of elections race
SEMINOLE COUNTY, Fla. โ Republican Chris Anderson has been declared the winner of the Seminole County supervisor of elections race. Currently, Republican Chris Anderson holds the position after replacing former Seminole County Supervisor of Elections Mike Ertel. Seminole Countyโs supervisor of elections, according to the countyโs SOE website, is responsible for overseeing all election activities for the county, including managing all municipal, county, state and national elections in Seminole County, preventing voting fraud activities and facilitating qualifying of county-wide candidates for office. According to the Seminole County Supervisor of Elections Office website, Seminole County currently has 335,183 registered voters. Ron DeSantis as Seminole Countyโs supervisor of elections in January of last year.
Democrat Stephanie Murphy re-elected in US House District 7 race
Democratic incumbent Stephanie Murphy has been declared the winner of the U.S. House District 7 race. [LIVE RACE RESULTS: Scroll to bottom of story to see all race returns]RACE DETAILS BELOWFloridaโs 7th Congressional District includes portions of Orange and Seminole counties. Incumbent Stephanie Murphy currently holds the seat for U.S. House District 7 and defeated two challengers who were seeking to replace her in the November election. Stephanie Murphy (D)Congresswoman Murphy first assumed office in 2017. William R. Garlington (NPA)According to his campaign website, Garlington is a businessman, entrepreneur, author, public speaker and educator.
Seminole County Sheriff Dennis Lemma wins re-election
SEMINOLE COUNTY, Fla. โ Republican Dennis Lemma has been declared the winner of the Seminole County sheriff race with more than 58% of voters opting to re-elect Lemma. [LIVE RACE RESULTS: Scroll to bottom of story to see all race returns]RACE DETAILS BELOWThe voters of Seminole County have decided who will be their top cop going forward and decided to continue with Sheriff Dennis Lemma. The Republican candidate, Dennis Lemma, has served as Seminole County sheriff since 2017 while Democrat Paul โSpikeโ Hopkins unsuccessfully ran for the role in Orange County in 2016. Lemma will continue deciding how crime is enforced in Seminole County for the next four years and manage the sheriffโs officeโs multi-million dollar budget. Hereโs what you need to know about the candidates:Dennis Lemma (R)Before he was re-elected, Dennis Lemma was a decades-long Seminole County resident who has served as sheriff since he was sworn in on Jan. 3, 2017.
Amy Mercado wins Orange County property appraiser race
ORANGE COUNTY, Fla. โ Democrat Amy Mercado has been declared the winner of the Orange County property appraiser race. [LIVE RACE RESULTS: Scroll to bottom of story to see all race returns]Orange County Property Appraiser View All CandidatesRACE DETAILS BELOWAmy Mercado was the only name on the November ballot for the Orange County property appraiser race, though she does face one write-in candidate. The county property appraiser is responsible for identifying, locating and fairly valuing all property within the county for tax purposes. She said she wants to improve the relationships and communication with property owners, the real estate community and the property appraiserโs office. Tim Loucks (WRI)Loucks is running as a write-in candidate in the race to become Orange Countyโs next property appraiser.
Orange County voters re-elect Sheriff John Mina
ORANGE COUNTY, Fla. โ Democrat John Mina has been declared the winner of the Orange County sheriff race. Made up of more than 2,500 employees, including 1,600 sworn officers, the Orange County Sheriffโs Office is the largest law enforcement agency in Central Florida. Hereโs what you need to know about each candidate:John Mina (D)Mina became the 29th elected sheriff of Orange County in November 2018, when he won a special election to replace former Sheriff Jerry Demings after Demings was elected Orange County Mayor. You can read read more about Minaโs career as Orange County sheriff and the issues that matter most to him here. Winston Johnson (WRI)Winston Johnson, a write-in candidate on the November ballot, is running to become the next sheriff of Orange County.
US House District 9 voters re-elect Darren Soto
Democratic incumbent Darren Soto has been declared the winner of the U.S. House District 9 race. Nearly 689,000 people live in District 9, according to the last U.S. Census. Darren Soto (D)Congressman Soto was first elected in 2016 to represent Floridaโs 9th Congressional District. He was first elected to the Florida House at the age of 29 and served for five and a half years. Clay Hill (WRI)Hill is a write-in candidate in the U.S. House District 9 race.
US House District 8 voters re-elect Republican Bill Posey
Republican Bill Posey has been declared the winner of the U.S. House District 8 race. Incumbent Bill Posey currently holds the seat and beat Jim Kennedy in the November election to secure another term. Posey graduated from Brevard Community College and worked at NASAโs Kennedy Space Center until the end of the Apollo program. Prior to being elected to the U.S. House, Posey served on the Rockledge City Council and then in both the Florida House and Senate. Jim Kennedy (D)According to his campaign website, Kennedy is an engineer and scientist at the Kennedy Space Center.
SURVEY: Hereโs how Florida voters feel about key issues in 2020 election
ORLANDO, Fla. โ Voters in Florida made their pick for president while holding negative views about the countryโs direction, according to an expansive AP survey of the American electorate. AP VoteCast found that 38% of Florida voters said the United States is on the right track, and 61% of voters said it is headed in the wrong direction. ON THE ISSUESThe pandemic was top of mind for many voters in Florida. Users can also see voters' views on the coronavirus pandemic, the countryโs direction and other issues. The survey of more than 100,000 voters will provide insight into who voted, and why, in this yearโs general election.
What to know about Floridaโs Amendment 2: Stateโs $15 minimum wage initiative
[LIVE RACE RESULTS: Scroll to bottom of story to see all race returns starting at 7 p.m. on Nov. 3]Amendment 2 outlines the stateโs $15 minimum wage initiative, which plans to increase the minimum pay-per-hour rate incrementally through 2026. Hereโs what the minimum wage increase would look like each year, according to Ballotpedia. Each September 30th thereafter, minimum wage shall increase by $1.00 per hour until the minimum wage reaches $15.00 per hour on September 30th, 2026. A vote no rejects the initiative to increase the stateโs minimum wage and thereby agrees to keep the current minimum wage of $8.46 per hour. [THE WEEKLY: Orlando attorney Matt Morgan pushes for raising minimum wage in 2020]Proponents of the initiative say Floridaโs current minimum wage isnโt livable nor does it align with the cost of living in the state.
Map your own path to the White House: Hereโs a look at all the ways to win the US presidency
Itโs important to remember that the winner of the presidential election is not determined by the popular vote but rather the Electoral College. To win the presidency, one candidate needs to secure 270 electoral votes. The 538 electoral votes up for grabs this year represent the following, according to nationalpopularvote.com:435 U.S. So how will presidential candidates Donald Trump and Joe Biden win electoral votes? Click on different U.S. states to see how they typically vote and what role they could play in the presidential election.
Florida General Election Results for All Races on Nov. 3, 2020
Find All Race Results HereORLANDO, Fla. โ On Nov. 3, Florida voters will weigh in on a number of federal, state and local elections. Of course, Floridians will play a key role in the presidential election, as the winning candidate will need the Sunshine Stateโs 29 electoral college votes, according to News 6 political expert Dr. Jim Clark. Theyโll also be asked to vote for or against six proposed amendments to the state constitution. Some of the key races in Central Florida include State Senate District 9, Orange-Osceola state attorney and Brevard County sheriff. Check out all the races in Central Florida, including how residents voted for president, in the list below.
Still have your mail-in ballot? Itโs not too late to vote
Elections Supervisor Chris Anderson said more mail-in ballots were handed in versus mailed in than ever before. โThe best thing to do is, if you have a vote-by-mail ballot, just bring it directly to us. โWe will ask you to surrender your vote-by-mail ballot, weโll write โcanceledโ on it, put it in a secure bag, and then issue you a fresh new ballot so you can cast your vote,โ Anderson said. Hereโs how to track your ballot]Even if you donโt bring your mail-in ballot with you to your assigned polling place on Tuesday, you can still vote. Because they understand that actually when they check you in, it alerts them on your record that you were given a mail ballot, so theyโre actually trained to ask you for the mail ballot," he said.
Meet the candidates: Hereโs whoโs running for Flagler-Volusia state attorney
[2020 VOTER GUIDE: Everything you need to know ahead of the presidential election | TRACK YOUR BALLOT: Voting by mail? Hereโs how to track your ballot]Other roles for the state attorney include reviewing use of force incidents, determining whether criminal charges are warranted in a case and determining whether the death penalty is an appropriate punishment to be sought. The former prosecutor believes the criminal justice system is broken with a heavy emphasis on incarceration, which he hopes to change by focusing more on diversion programs and common sense sentencing practices. R.J. Larizza (R)Incumbent R.J. Larizza is hoping to get elected for a fourth term as the state attorney for the 7th Judicial Circuit, a role heโs filled since being sworn in in January 2009. Larizza has worked in the criminal justice system since 1980 and has experience as a probation officer, a private attorney, a prosecutor and a state attorney.
Meet the candidates: Hereโs whoโs running for Seminole County property appraiser
SEMINOLE COUNTY, Fla. โ This Seminole County office has been running since 1913, and the current property appraiser, David Johnson, was first elected in 2004. [2020 VOTER GUIDE: Everything you need to know ahead of the presidential election]According to the Seminole County Property Appraiser website, their duties include identifying, locating and fairly valuing all property within the county for tax purposes. Under his leadership, Seminole County was the second jurisdiction internationally to earn the Certificate of Excellence in Assessment Administration by the International Association of Assessing Officers. Jeff Triplett (NPA)Triplett has been the mayor of Sanford since 2011, and now heโs stepping down to run for county property appraiser. In a June Facebook post, Triplett said his decision to run for property appraiser has been years in the making.
Meet the candidates: Hereโs whoโs running to be Seminole Countyโs supervisor of elections
SEMINOLE COUNTY, Fla. โ Seminole County voters will be asked to choose between two candidates on the November ballot for the role of supervisor of elections. [LIVE RACE RESULTS: Scroll to bottom of story to see all race returns starting at 7 p.m. on Nov. 3]Currently, Republican Chris Anderson holds the position after replacing former Seminole County Supervisor of Elections Mike Ertel. Anderson is hoping to continue to serve the voters of Seminole County but will have to beat Democrat Deborah Poulalion in the general election to keep his title. According to the Seminole County Supervisor of Elections Office website, Seminole County currently has 335,183 registered voters. Ron DeSantis as Seminole Countyโs supervisor of elections in January of last year.
Hereโs what you need to know about Marion Countyโs 1% sales tax referendum
MARION COUNTY, Fla. โ Marion County voters will decide on the November ballot if they want a four-year extension of a 1% public safety and transportation infrastructure sales tax referendum. [2020 VOTER GUIDE: Everything you need to know ahead of the general election]County officials said $167 million was generated to fund various projects from 2017-2020 from the sales tax. If approved, county officials said $196 million will be generated in revenue. The county said the community is growing and roads will need to grow to accommodate additional traffic. Marion County officials also expect to build new facilities for safety departments and to add more safety vehicles.
Hereโs what you need to know about Brevard Countyโs School Board referendum
BREVARD COUNTY, Fla. โ Voters in Brevard County will have to decide whether to extend a half-cent surtax for a school board referendum on their November ballot. [LIVE RACE RESULTS: Scroll to bottom of story to see all race returns starting at 7 p.m. on Nov. 3]The half-cent surtax was approved by voters in 2014. The reason for the initial referendum was to upgrade aging schools, school security and technology, according to the district. [2020 VOTER GUIDE: Everything you need to know ahead of the general election]The surtax is shared with charter schools based on proportionate share or district enrollment, according to the countyโs board of elections. The district has 9,300 employees and 73,000 students across 83 schools and 12 charter schools.
Meet the candidates: Hereโs whoโs running for Orange County property appraiser
Orange County Property Appraiser View All CandidatesORANGE COUNTY, Fla. โ Amy Mercado is the only name on the November ballot for the Orange County property appraiser race, though she does face one write-in candidate. [2020 VOTER GUIDE: Everything you need to know ahead of the general election]The county property appraiser is responsible for identifying, locating and fairly valuing all property within the county for tax purposes. The property appraiser also tracks ownership changes, maintains maps of parcel boundaries, keeps descriptions of buildings and property characteristics up to date, accepts and approves applications from individuals eligible for exemptions and other forms of property tax relief and analyzes trends in sales prices, construction costs and rents to best estimate the value of all assessable property. She said if voted in, Mercado wants to improve the relationships and communication with property owners, the real estate community and the property appraiserโs office. Tim Loucks (WRI)Loucks is running as a write-in candidate in the race to become Orange Countyโs next property appraiser.
Polling locations active on last day of early voting
Lines were long at polling locations Sunday, the last day of early voting in Orange County. For Jessica Sayegh, she wanted to make sure she made it to vote early in order to avoid the crowds on Election Day come Tuesday. This comes as early voting in most Central Florida counties ended Sunday evening after what appears to be a record turnout this year in both early voting and voting by mail. Early voting totals in Orange County reached 506,243 in Orange County, 137,436 in Osceola County and 204,053 in Seminole County, according to the Florida Division of Elections. โOtherwise, you have to bring it all the way down to 119 West Kaley Street.โElection supervisors said the new early polling locations like at the Amway Center were pretty good, and they saw higher numbers for early voting this week compared to the first week of early voting.