Florida, while not a significant swing state in the presidential election, remains focused on the race and several key ballot measures, including one concerning abortion. Early voting is ongoing, and NPR’s Ashley Lopez has been speaking with voters in Florida to understand their motivations.
In previous election cycles, Florida’s I-4 corridor has been closely observed due to its political diversity. This area extends from Orlando to Tampa and includes Haines City, where Marisol Lopez cast her vote during the early in-person voting period. Lopez already had her decisions made regarding the presidential election and two significant ballot measures.
Lopez expressed her opposition to former President Trump and stated her support for pro-choice policies and the legalization of marijuana. Florida currently has one of the strictest abortion bans in the country, limiting the procedure to six weeks. Lopez supports a proposed ballot measure that would allow abortions until fetal viability, typically around 24 weeks, emphasizing the importance of choice due to her concerns for her two daughters.
Another voter, Cristela Bradley from Lake Alfred, also supports abortion rights and backs Vice President Harris. However, she is against the legalization of recreational marijuana, citing her dislike of its odor in public places.
In contrast, Teresa Ford, who also voted early in Lake Alfred, showed support for Trump. She didn’t back the ballot measure enshrining abortion rights in the state’s constitution, but she did vote in favor of legalizing recreational marijuana, despite having reservations. Her decision was influenced by the potential for increased tax revenue for the state.
Ballot measures are unpredictable elements in elections as they often transcend party lines, making voter turnout hard to forecast. Many voters in Florida, as in the rest of the country, are primarily motivated by issues such as the economy and democracy. Hector Caban, a voter in Orlando, expressed concerns about the national debt and high living costs, as he supports Trump.
Andre Agrand, another voter in Orlando and formerly an independent, is supporting Harris this year. Agrand, who is of Haitian descent, disagrees with Trump’s rhetoric about immigrants, particularly comments directed at the Haitian community in Ohio. He made his decision based on which candidate he believes will best uphold the country’s values in the long run.
While Trump is widely anticipated to win the presidential vote in Florida, the outcomes of the state’s ballot measures remain uncertain. NPR’s Ashley Lopez reports that these measures could significantly impact Florida’s political landscape.
