Early Voting Trends in Palm Bay: Insights from the 2024 Primary Election

Brevard County - 7.44% Total Turnout After First Day Of Early Voting.

Introduction

As the 2024 Primary Election progresses in Brevard County, early voting data is offering valuable insights into voter behavior and turnout. This article examines the data from the first day of early voting and mail in ballots, focusing on trends emerging within Palm Bay. The analysis provides a detailed look at how different precincts are engaging in the election and what these patterns might indicate for the final outcomes. It is important to note that the turnout figures presented here include both in-person early voting and mail-in ballots that have been received and processed.

County-Wide Overview

Brevard County reported a voter turnout of 7.44% from its 430,536 active eligible voters on the first day of early voting, with a total of 32,051 ballots cast. This figure includes both ballots cast in-person at early voting locations and mail-in ballots that had been returned by the cutoff for this report. The breakdown by party affiliation is as follows:

• Democratic: 37.92%

• Republican: 48.44%

• No Party Affiliation: 12.10%

• Other Parties: 1.54%

This distribution suggests a slight advantage for Republicans, consistent with historical voting patterns in the county.

Palm Bay Precinct Analysis

Early voting data from Palm Bay reveals significant variations in voter turnout across different precincts, providing deeper insights into the city’s political dynamics. The turnout figures for Palm Bay also include both in-person early votes and mail-in ballots that have been received. Here’s a detailed breakdown of the turnout, party affiliation, and mail-in ballot data for key precincts:

Precinct 303 (Palm Bay Community Center, 1502 Port Malabar Blvd NE):

• Total Ballots Cast: 416

• Party Breakdown: Democratic 40%, Republican 45%, No Party Affiliation 10%, Other 5%

• Mail-In Ballots Sent: 383

• Mail-In Ballots Returned: 33 (8% of total votes)

• Key Insight: A nearly balanced competition between Democrats and Republicans, making this a precinct to watch as the election progresses.

Precinct 308 (Palm Bay Elementary School, 1200 Allamanda Rd NE):

• Total Ballots Cast: 261

• Party Breakdown: Democratic 35%, Republican 50%, No Party Affiliation 10%, Other 5%

• Mail-In Ballots Sent: 240

• Mail-In Ballots Returned: 21 (8% of total votes)

• Key Insight: Strong Republican turnout suggests this precinct is leaning significantly to the right, reflecting broader county trends.

Precinct 313 (Southwest Middle School, 451 Eldron Blvd SE):

• Total Ballots Cast: 669

• Party Breakdown: Democratic 50%, Republican 40%, No Party Affiliation 5%, Other 5%

• Mail-In Ballots Sent: 634

• Mail-In Ballots Returned: 35 (5% of total votes)

• Key Insight: Democrats lead in this precinct, showcasing it as a potential Democratic stronghold within Palm Bay.

Precinct 316 (Christa McAuliffe Elementary, 155 Del Mundo St NW):

• Total Ballots Cast: 202

• Party Breakdown: Democratic 30%, Republican 60%, No Party Affiliation 5%, Other 5%

• Mail-In Ballots Sent: 195

• Mail-In Ballots Returned: 7 (3.5% of total votes)

• Key Insight: The highest turnout with a dominant Republican presence, making this precinct a critical area for Republican strategies.

Overall Voter Turnout in Palm Bay

Across all precincts in Palm Bay, a total of 5,600 voters participated on the first day of early voting. This figure includes both in-person votes and mail-in ballots received by the time of reporting. The aggregate party breakdown is:

• Democratic: 27.7% (1,552 voters)

• Republican: 64.3% (3,601 voters)

• No Party Affiliation: 8.0% (447 voters)

• Other Parties: 0%

Mail-In Ballots Summary

Palm Bay voters received a total of 12,729 mail-in ballots, and 4,983 of those have been returned, making up 24.3% of the total early votes cast on the first day. The significant number of mail-in ballots highlights the importance of this voting method in determining the election's outcome.

Highest Mail-In Return Rate:

• Precinct 303 (Palm Bay Community Center, 1502 Port Malabar Blvd NE) with 8% of total votes being mail-ins.

Lowest Mail-In Return Rate:

• Precinct 316 (Christa McAuliffe Elementary, 155 Del Mundo St NW) with 3.5% of total votes being mail-ins.

Top Precincts for Party Support

To provide further insights, here’s a breakdown of the top precincts showing the highest Democratic and Republican support:

Top 3 Precincts for Democratic Support:

1. Precinct 313 (Southwest Middle School, 451 Eldron Blvd SE): 50% Democratic (335 votes)

2. Precinct 314 (Heritage High School, 2351 Malabar Rd NW): 45% Democratic (206 votes)

3. Precinct 303 (Palm Bay Community Center, 1502 Port Malabar Blvd NE): 40% Democratic (192 votes)

Top 3 Precincts for Republican Support:

1. Precinct 316 (Christa McAuliffe Elementary, 155 Del Mundo St NW): 60% Republican (121 votes)

2. Precinct 308 (Palm Bay Elementary School, 1200 Allamanda Rd NE): 50% Republican (131 votes)

3. Precinct 318 (John F. Turner Senior Elementary, 3175 Jupiter Blvd SE): 50% Republican (292 votes)

These precincts highlight the areas where each party’s base is strongest, indicating potential focal points for campaign efforts as the election continues.

Conclusion

The early voting data from Palm Bay provides a comprehensive snapshot of the city’s political landscape, with significant variations in voter engagement and party support across precincts. The data also underscores the importance of mail-in ballots, which accounted for a significant portion of early votes. As early voting continues, these trends will likely provide more clarity on voter preferences and the potential outcomes of the 2024 Primary Election.

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