Thousands head to the polls for early voting

MIRAMAR, Fla. (WSVN) -- Thousands of voters lined up hoping to beat the crowds expected to turn out to voice their choice on election day, next Tuesday.

Voters headed to the polls across South Florida, Friday morning, to make their vote count. "The lines are longer because people are upset, they want their voices heard," said one early voter.

The wait time to vote at the Civic Center in Broward County was about an hour early in the day, but some voters are not complaining. "Come out," said Eddie Schiff. "It's worth it. It affects everybody in this country."

The average wait to vote in Miami-Dade County was said to be one to three hours, early in the day, but that did not stop even the elderly from showing up to vote. "I'm a Marine," said retired veteran, Hector Alvarez. "I fought in Vietnam and that kind of makes me feel good about what I did for the country, you know? To see that this is what I fought for."

Early voters also experienced long lines at Miami Beach City Hall and along US 1 in Southwest Miami-Dade. "I think that the longer lines are going to be as long-- more-- Tuesday than today," said Schiff.

As of Thursday night, 161,968 people in Miami-Dade have chosen to vote early and 174,337 in Broward County.

This year, the ballot is extensive so, one voter said she did her homework before venturing out to vote. "I actually got on-line to read exactly what the amendments are, so I know exactly what I'm going to do when I get in there," said Tamara Nazir.

The polls close at 7 p.m. tonight.

Early voting ends Saturday night across the state. Polls open Saturday at 7 a.m. and will close at 7 p.m.

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