From Staff Reports
In Summary:
A total of 5,800 ballots have been cast through vote-by-mail and early voting in Apopka’s mayoral runoff, surpassing the 5,107 ballots recorded at the same point in the March 10 general election. The final day of early voting added 515 in-person votes, continuing a trend of late momentum. Voter participation spans party lines, with Democrats and Republicans nearly tied and more than 1,000 ballots cast by voters with no party affiliation.
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Runoffs aren’t supposed to look like this.
By the time a race narrows to two candidates, turnout typically fades. But as early voting closed Sunday in Apopka’s mayoral runoff, the numbers tell a different story—one that now clearly outpaces the general election.
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A total of 5,800 ballots have already been cast through a combination of vote-by-mail and early voting, according to data from the Orange County Supervisor of Elections. That total surpasses the 5,107 ballots cast at the same stage ahead of the March 10 general election.
The breakdown shows 2,217 vote-by-mail ballots returned and 3,583 in-person early votes, reflecting strong participation across both voting methods.
Sunday, the final day of early voting, played a pivotal role again. A total of 515 voters cast ballots in person, continuing a pattern seen in the general election where late momentum drives turnout heading into Election Day.
The partisan split is nearly even. Registered Democrats account for 2,317 ballots, while Republicans are close behind with 2,315. Another 1,057 ballots have been cast by voters with no party affiliation (NPA), along with 111 ballots cast by voters registered with minor parties.
While the balance between Democrats and Republicans has tightened compared to March, the broader takeaway is participation. Runoff elections—particularly at the municipal level—typically see a drop-off after the initial round. Instead, Apopka’s turnout has grown.
Even with nearly 5,800 ballots already cast, a significant number of voters are still expected to head to the polls on Election Day. In the March 10 election, total turnout reached 8,118 voters, meaning thousands waited until the final day to make their decision.
Now, it all comes down to Election Day.
There are polling locations:
1. Apopka Community Center
519 S. Central Ave., Apopka, FL
2. Northwest Recreation Complex
3710 Jason Dwelley Parkway, Apopka, FL
Polls at both locations are open 7 am to 7 pm, and voters must go to the polling place assigned to their precinct.
Key Points:
- 5,800 ballots cast through early voting and mail-in ballots
- Total exceeds the 5,107 ballots cast at the same stage in March
- 2,217 vote-by-mail ballots and 3,583 early in-person votes were recorded
- Final day of early voting added 515 ballots
- Democrats (2,317) and Republicans (2,315) are nearly tied, with 1,057 NPA voters and 111 others
