Tuesday is the last day to register to vote in Florida’s presidential primary. The race will help choose the presidential candidates for the November ballot. Because it is a closed primary, only the state’s registered Republicans and Democrats will be able to cast their ballots. With Florida having a winner-take-all policy for its Republican primary, the Republican candidate with the most votes will win the state's GOP delegates.
Florida is home to a growing number of independent voters, with the largest concentration in Osceola County.
“We have seen more activity than normal of people either switching party or changing from no party affiliation so they can vote," said elections supervisor Mary Jane Arrington. "I think people are either voting for or against someone this time.”
Arrington and other elections officials are urging unaffiliated voters to register with a major party in order to participate in the primary.
“I just sent an email to a gentlemen [telling him], you know, you can change to a party to vote, then you can change back if you need to," Arrington said. "There’s nothing stopping you from changing.”
The state’s presidential preference primary will take place on March 15th.
Editor's note: This story has been changed to clarify that Florida’s winner-take-all policy applies only to GOP candidates.