For the first time in 2020, a major, reputable public opinion poll finds President Donald Trump leading Democrat Joe Biden in Florida. The released Wednesday shows likely Florida voters favoring Trump over Biden 51% to 47%. Advertisement Statistically, with the poll’s margin of error at plus or minus 5 percentage points, the two candidates are tied. . Polling from different pollsters on different days produce different results. For months, highly rated independent polls have had varying, generally small, leads for Biden. A CNBC/Change Research survey released Wednesday showed Biden ahead by...…For the first time in 2020, a major, reputable public opinion poll finds President Donald Trump leading Democrat Joe Biden in Florida. The released Wednesday shows likely Florida voters favoring Trump over Biden 51% to 47%. Advertisement Statistically, with the poll’s margin of error at plus or minus 5 percentage points, the two candidates are tied. . Polling from different pollsters on different days produce different results. For months, highly rated independent polls have had varying, generally small, leads for Biden. A CNBC/Change Research survey released Wednesday showed Biden ahead by...WW…

A shows 67% of Florida voters plan to support the November referendum that would gradually increase the state’s minimum wage to $15 an hour. If the findings hold through the election, that’s more than enough than the 60% required for passage. Advertisement The proposal has the support of 67% of registered voters, with 26% opposed, according to the Monmouth poll released on Tuesday. It has broad support, with more than 60% from Democrats, independents, liberals, moderates, conservatives, men, women and in all regions of the state. Among Democrats, 87% support the idea. Advertisement It falls...…A shows 67% of Florida voters plan to support the November referendum that would gradually increase the state’s minimum wage to $15 an hour. If the findings hold through the election, that’s more than enough than the 60% required for passage. Advertisement The proposal has the support of 67% of registered voters, with 26% opposed, according to the Monmouth poll released on Tuesday. It has broad support, with more than 60% from Democrats, independents, liberals, moderates, conservatives, men, women and in all regions of the state. Among Democrats, 87% support the idea. Advertisement It falls...WW…

After 20 months as the state’s top elected official and six months into the coronavirus pandemic, some of the luster has worn off Gov. Ron DeSantis in the minds of Florida voters. A released Tuesday found he was slightly underwater, with 43% of Florida voters approving of his performance, and 44% disapproving. Advertisement Statistically that’s a tie, within the polls margin of error of plus or minus 4 percentage points. But it is a huge fall from the stratospheric levels of approval he enjoyed during his first year in office. Approval for the governor has dipped, and disapproval has...…After 20 months as the state’s top elected official and six months into the coronavirus pandemic, some of the luster has worn off Gov. Ron DeSantis in the minds of Florida voters. A released Tuesday found he was slightly underwater, with 43% of Florida voters approving of his performance, and 44% disapproving. Advertisement Statistically that’s a tie, within the polls margin of error of plus or minus 4 percentage points. But it is a huge fall from the stratospheric levels of approval he enjoyed during his first year in office. Approval for the governor has dipped, and disapproval has...WW…

One result was clear long before the polls closed in Tuesday’s primaries and nonpartisan elections in South Florida: In an era of COVID-19, Broward and Palm Beach county voters overwhelmingly prefer voting by mail and were far less likely than usual to vote in person. For much of the day, until polls closed at 7 p.m., the pandemic primary meant someone could walk in to a neighborhood polling place and find no one there but poll workers. The absence of voters contributed to a 2020 apocalyptic feel, with masks, social distancing, and lots of sanitizer. Advertisement “Every place we have heard...…One result was clear long before the polls closed in Tuesday’s primaries and nonpartisan elections in South Florida: In an era of COVID-19, Broward and Palm Beach county voters overwhelmingly prefer voting by mail and were far less likely than usual to vote in person. For much of the day, until polls closed at 7 p.m., the pandemic primary meant someone could walk in to a neighborhood polling place and find no one there but poll workers. The absence of voters contributed to a 2020 apocalyptic feel, with masks, social distancing, and lots of sanitizer. Advertisement “Every place we have heard...WW…

President Donald Trump, the nation’s most , has returned his mail ballot for Tuesday’s to the Palm Beach County elections office. The ballots for Trump and First Lady Melania Trump were returned Monday. Advertisement Also Monday, Trump continued his assault on the way mail voting operates. In a tweet, he criticized the use of drop boxes for mail ballots. That practice was expanded in Florida under changes signed into law by Gov. Ron DeSantis. Just two weeks ago, Trump praised Florida’s system of early voting, and DeSantis’ leadership. Advertisement On Monday, he tweeted that his complaint...…President Donald Trump, the nation’s most , has returned his mail ballot for Tuesday’s to the Palm Beach County elections office. The ballots for Trump and First Lady Melania Trump were returned Monday. Advertisement Also Monday, Trump continued his assault on the way mail voting operates. In a tweet, he criticized the use of drop boxes for mail ballots. That practice was expanded in Florida under changes signed into law by Gov. Ron DeSantis. Just two weeks ago, Trump praised Florida’s system of early voting, and DeSantis’ leadership. Advertisement On Monday, he tweeted that his complaint...WW…

The look of the precincts may have that 2020 apocalyptic feel to them, with masks, social distancing, and lots of sanitizer. But today is Florida’s primary, and neighborhood polling places are open from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. Early morning and late afternoon typically draw the largest number of voters, since many people go to their polling place before or after work. Advertisement Steve Vancore, spokesman for Broward Elections Supervisor Peter Antonacci, said Tuesday morning that all the county’s precincts were open and ready for voters. But not many voters have shown up. Vancore said things were...…The look of the precincts may have that 2020 apocalyptic feel to them, with masks, social distancing, and lots of sanitizer. But today is Florida’s primary, and neighborhood polling places are open from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. Early morning and late afternoon typically draw the largest number of voters, since many people go to their polling place before or after work. Advertisement Steve Vancore, spokesman for Broward Elections Supervisor Peter Antonacci, said Tuesday morning that all the county’s precincts were open and ready for voters. But not many voters have shown up. Vancore said things were...WW…

South Florida voters have turned out in droves in advance of the August election, crushing records for people casting their ballots before Election Day. The vast majority have voted from home, casting mail ballots in advance of . Advertisement Mail voting: As the coronavirus pandemic continues, voters have turned heavily to mail voting. Mail ballots tallied through Sunday have more than doubled the mail voting totals in August 2018 in Broward, Miami-Dade and Palm Beach counties. Statewide mail voting is also up. Early voting: Overall in-person early voting at regional voting centers is...…South Florida voters have turned out in droves in advance of the August election, crushing records for people casting their ballots before Election Day. The vast majority have voted from home, casting mail ballots in advance of . Advertisement Mail voting: As the coronavirus pandemic continues, voters have turned heavily to mail voting. Mail ballots tallied through Sunday have more than doubled the mail voting totals in August 2018 in Broward, Miami-Dade and Palm Beach counties. Statewide mail voting is also up. Early voting: Overall in-person early voting at regional voting centers is...WW…

South Florida voters are making their intentions clear about casting their ballots during the coronavirus pandemic. They’re voting by mail — in droves. Broward, Miami-Dade and Palm Beach counties have each passed the 100,000 mark in mail ballots cast for the Aug. 18 Democratic and Republican primaries and non-partisan elections for various offices including School Board and judgeships. Advertisement What’s remarkable about this year’s numbers is Broward and Palm Beach counties have already well exceeded the total number of vote-by-mail ballots cast in the August elections in both 2016 and...…South Florida voters are making their intentions clear about casting their ballots during the coronavirus pandemic. They’re voting by mail — in droves. Broward, Miami-Dade and Palm Beach counties have each passed the 100,000 mark in mail ballots cast for the Aug. 18 Democratic and Republican primaries and non-partisan elections for various offices including School Board and judgeships. Advertisement What’s remarkable about this year’s numbers is Broward and Palm Beach counties have already well exceeded the total number of vote-by-mail ballots cast in the August elections in both 2016 and...WW…

After months warning that voting by mail is riddled with fraud and would be used to rig the election against him, President Donald Trump suddenly reversed himself on Tuesday — at least as far as Florida is concerned. Trump now says voting by mail in Florida is great. Advertisement “Whether you call it Vote by Mail or Absentee Voting, in Florida the election system is Safe and Secure, Tried and True,” he . “[I]n Florida I encourage all to request a Ballot & Vote by Mail! #MAGA.” Trump’s about-face likely stems from self interest. Florida’s 29 electoral votes, more than a tenth of the 270...…After months warning that voting by mail is riddled with fraud and would be used to rig the election against him, President Donald Trump suddenly reversed himself on Tuesday — at least as far as Florida is concerned. Trump now says voting by mail in Florida is great. Advertisement “Whether you call it Vote by Mail or Absentee Voting, in Florida the election system is Safe and Secure, Tried and True,” he . “[I]n Florida I encourage all to request a Ballot & Vote by Mail! #MAGA.” Trump’s about-face likely stems from self interest. Florida’s 29 electoral votes, more than a tenth of the 270...WW…

Endorsements from the Fraternal Order of Police and the Police Benevolent Association have long been coveted by politicians. After all, what could be a better way for a candidate to show support for first responders and law & order than recommendations from police groups? The answer isn’t as clear in 2020 as it once was. Instead of serving as a badge of honor, recommendations from the FOP and PBA could, for some voters, amount to a scarlet letter. Advertisement Since Memorial Day, when George Floyd, a Black man, was killed by a white police officer who pressed his knee into Floyd’s neck for...…Endorsements from the Fraternal Order of Police and the Police Benevolent Association have long been coveted by politicians. After all, what could be a better way for a candidate to show support for first responders and law & order than recommendations from police groups? The answer isn’t as clear in 2020 as it once was. Instead of serving as a badge of honor, recommendations from the FOP and PBA could, for some voters, amount to a scarlet letter. Advertisement Since Memorial Day, when George Floyd, a Black man, was killed by a white police officer who pressed his knee into Floyd’s neck for...WW…

Four Florida groups that focus on young people, Black and Hispanic citizens, and felons who’ve served their sentences will share more than $2 million in funding to who’ve traditionally been underrepresented at the polls. The money, announced Tuesday, comes from the . Advertisement The grants are aimed at furthering strategies to turn out low-propensity voters, counter practices that make it difficult for some to vote, and help overcome difficulties in organizing and turning out voters during the coronavirus pandemic. Even a relatively small increase in the potential pool of voters can have...…Four Florida groups that focus on young people, Black and Hispanic citizens, and felons who’ve served their sentences will share more than $2 million in funding to who’ve traditionally been underrepresented at the polls. The money, announced Tuesday, comes from the . Advertisement The grants are aimed at furthering strategies to turn out low-propensity voters, counter practices that make it difficult for some to vote, and help overcome difficulties in organizing and turning out voters during the coronavirus pandemic. Even a relatively small increase in the potential pool of voters can have...WW…

Brenda Forman, who is running for a second term as Broward Clerk of Courts, posted a lengthy quotation inaccurately attributed to Adolf Hitler to her Facebook page. A little more than 24 hours after she posted it, after community members and people in politics took to social media and email Tuesday night to spread word about the post, it was deleted from Forman’s Facebook page — after she had posted responses to critics in which she defended posting the quotation. Advertisement The quote — about how to take control away from people — has been erroneously attributed to Mein Kampf, the Nazi...…Brenda Forman, who is running for a second term as Broward Clerk of Courts, posted a lengthy quotation inaccurately attributed to Adolf Hitler to her Facebook page. A little more than 24 hours after she posted it, after community members and people in politics took to social media and email Tuesday night to spread word about the post, it was deleted from Forman’s Facebook page — after she had posted responses to critics in which she defended posting the quotation. Advertisement The quote — about how to take control away from people — has been erroneously attributed to Mein Kampf, the Nazi...WW…

Democrat Joe Biden has a 6-point lead over President Donald Trump in a new Florida poll released Thursday, the latest in a series of surveys that show the former vice president ahead in a state Trump won in 2016 and is vital to his for re-election. The shows Biden with 47% to Trump’s 41%. Advertisement Still, a greater share of Floridians favor Trump’s re-election than elsewhere. Biden had larger leads over Trump in five other Times/Siena battleground state polls. And Biden’s lead in Florida is within the poll’s margin of error, so the contest could be much closer. In the national version...…Democrat Joe Biden has a 6-point lead over President Donald Trump in a new Florida poll released Thursday, the latest in a series of surveys that show the former vice president ahead in a state Trump won in 2016 and is vital to his for re-election. The shows Biden with 47% to Trump’s 41%. Advertisement Still, a greater share of Floridians favor Trump’s re-election than elsewhere. Biden had larger leads over Trump in five other Times/Siena battleground state polls. And Biden’s lead in Florida is within the poll’s margin of error, so the contest could be much closer. In the national version...WW…

Florida voters’ assessment of President Donald Trump’s handing of the has declined significantly with the visibly widespread effects of the pandemic now in their third month. A poll released Friday by Florida Atlantic University shows 45% of Florida voters approve of the job Trump is doing in handling the spread of the coronavirus in the United States and 45% disapprove. Advertisement That tie represents a significant decline over the past two months. of Trump’s handling of the coronavirus and 36% disapproved. That was a net positive of 15 percentage points — which has disappeared as people...…Florida voters’ assessment of President Donald Trump’s handing of the has declined significantly with the visibly widespread effects of the pandemic now in their third month. A poll released Friday by Florida Atlantic University shows 45% of Florida voters approve of the job Trump is doing in handling the spread of the coronavirus in the United States and 45% disapprove. Advertisement That tie represents a significant decline over the past two months. of Trump’s handling of the coronavirus and 36% disapproved. That was a net positive of 15 percentage points — which has disappeared as people...WW…

Broward Sheriff Gregory Tony’s general counsel is emphatically denying allegations from the county public defender that jail inmates are being mistreated and concerns about the coronavirus are being ignored. In a blistering letter, Broward Sheriff’s Office general counsel Terrence Lynch told Public Defender Howard Finkelstein and his chief assistant, Gordon Weekes, that their claims amounted to no more than “unsubstantiated, misleading, or outright false allegations which you apparently made no effort to investigate.” Advertisement Lynch’s response, dated Wednesday and released by the...…Broward Sheriff Gregory Tony’s general counsel is emphatically denying allegations from the county public defender that jail inmates are being mistreated and concerns about the coronavirus are being ignored. In a blistering letter, Broward Sheriff’s Office general counsel Terrence Lynch told Public Defender Howard Finkelstein and his chief assistant, Gordon Weekes, that their claims amounted to no more than “unsubstantiated, misleading, or outright false allegations which you apparently made no effort to investigate.” Advertisement Lynch’s response, dated Wednesday and released by the...WW…

Broward County is preparing for a dramatic increase in the number of people choosing to vote by mail in Florida’s August primary and in the November presidential election, as continued coronavirus concerns discourage in-person voting. Among the plans: running double shifts of employees for days on end to tabulate mail ballots, an effort to educate voters on how to make sure their ballots get counted, and stationing Elections Office staff at the Postal Service center in Opa-Locka to scoop up ballots that arrive right before the deadline. Advertisement “Clearly from the public’s point of...…Broward County is preparing for a dramatic increase in the number of people choosing to vote by mail in Florida’s August primary and in the November presidential election, as continued coronavirus concerns discourage in-person voting. Among the plans: running double shifts of employees for days on end to tabulate mail ballots, an effort to educate voters on how to make sure their ballots get counted, and stationing Elections Office staff at the Postal Service center in Opa-Locka to scoop up ballots that arrive right before the deadline. Advertisement “Clearly from the public’s point of...WW…

Broward County Jail inmates diagnosed with COVID-19 are reporting alarming conditions, according to the county Public Defender’s Office. Among the allegations: Advertisement The issues were raised in a letter dated Friday night to Sheriff Greg Tony from Public Defender Howard Finkelstein and his chief assistant, Gordon Weekes. “We are in receipt of very disturbing information regarding the treatment of persons in the Broward County Jail who have been diagnosed with COVID-19,” Finkelstein and Weekes said in the letter to Tony in which they listed the series of issues. Given that there is...…Broward County Jail inmates diagnosed with COVID-19 are reporting alarming conditions, according to the county Public Defender’s Office. Among the allegations: Advertisement The issues were raised in a letter dated Friday night to Sheriff Greg Tony from Public Defender Howard Finkelstein and his chief assistant, Gordon Weekes. “We are in receipt of very disturbing information regarding the treatment of persons in the Broward County Jail who have been diagnosed with COVID-19,” Finkelstein and Weekes said in the letter to Tony in which they listed the series of issues. Given that there is...WW…