CORAL GABLES, FL. (WSVN) – The polls are officially open and it’s time for South Florida voters to cast their vote for the South as early voting began Monday in Miami-Dade, Broward and Monroe counties.

Early voting for the 2024 general election runs through November 3 in all three counties.

As South Floridians go to the polls, presidential candidates are trying to find a stronghold in key battleground states.

Former President Donald Trump began his Sunday at a McDonald’s Fries store in Pennsylvania, where he held a news conference and answered questions through the drive-thru window. Meanwhile, Vice President Harris visited two suburban Atlanta churches as part of her Souls to the Vote campaign.

In Coral Gables and Fort Lauderdale, residents gave no time and cast their votes.

“I love this country, I have to do what I have to do to keep our country safe,” said Leyla Nunez.

For Jake Solomon, it was his first time voting for president.

“I just wanted to vote really early before work and just do what we had to do to get the job done,” he said. “It was really exciting to have my voice heard, which I think is super important.”

With Election Day just 15 days away, Florida voters will decide on several important issues: ending the controversial and strict abortion ban after six weeks, legalizing recreational marijuana for adults 21 and older, and electing the first sheriff in decades for Miami-Dade County.

“The voting requests were very important for me to vote. Three and four, I think, get a lot of young people to vote because they affect us personally,” Solomon said.

“Abortion was a big issue and obviously for the president,” Rick Ruz said.

“Every American citizen should vote for our candidates regardless. This is the party of freedom in this country,” Nunez said.

Maria Korvick, a retired judge, hopes people speak out in every race and every election.

“Our justice system is terribly important, as are the tax collector and our state representatives. These are very, very important positions, not just the presidential election,” she said.

Miami-Dade Mayor Daniela Levine Cava went to the Coral Gables Library to cast her vote.

“So voting is both a sacred responsibility and a right. “So we really want to make sure that people vote regardless of their party or affiliation, and we have a lot of non-partisan elections, constitutional amendments and local referendums,” said Mayor Daniela Levine Cava.

During early voting, voters can go to any polling place to cast their vote. However, on election day, voters can only go to their assigned voting precinct.

In Miami-Dade and Broward, polls are open between 7 a.m. and 7 p.m.

And from 8:30 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. in Monroe.

Voters can also drop off their absentee ballots at early voting locations.

Click here for a list of early voting dates, hours and locations in Miami-Dade County. For general information click here.

Click here for a list of early voting dates, hours and locations in Broward County. For general information click here.

Click here for a list of early voting dates, hours and locations in Monroe County. For general information click here.

Copyright 2024 Sunbeam Television Corp. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.