Polls opened on Election Day and voting is underway across South Florida. Hundreds of thousands of ballots have already been cast, but many more remain to be cast before the end of the day.

With Tuesday being the final day of voting, 74,000 voters in Miami-Dade County cast their ballots.

“Today is your last day to vote, we had a smooth start today at 7 a.m.,” Miami-Dade elections director Christina White said.

7News spoke with several voters in Miami-Dade and Broward counties.

“Well, I'm curious to see if maybe there's going to be a change or if it's going to stay that way,” Jose Sanchez said.

Sanchez went to his polling place in North Miami before the polls opened so he could get in quickly before work.

“I tried on Sunday but the line was too long, so at least I was able to do it today,” he said.

In the 2020 general election, 74.5% of people in the district voted, compared to 72.4% in 2016.

In Miami-Dade County, 884,901 voters, or 58% of eligible voters, voted early and by mail. By party, 358,873 voters were registered Democrats, while 387,032 were registered Republicans. There were also around 300,000 independent voters. The returning officer hopes for a higher voter turnout by the end of the day.

“This is a very important election. Please make sure you get out and vote, approximately 59% of registered voters in Miami-Dade have already voted,” White said. “For a presidential election, this is a rather low value so far, so we shouldn’t sit this election out.”

And sitting out wasn't part of Nakia Bowling's vocabulary when it came to voting.

“I am a super voter, I vote in every election, local elections, primaries. This is important because my rights are at stake, my daughter's rights are at stake, our community's rights are at stake and this is a way to make my voice heard,” she said.

In Cooper City and North Miami, people were able to get in and board within minutes.

“Oh, it actually went pretty smoothly,” said Ainsley Bienami, a voter from Miami. “We got there; Literally I was in and out within 10 minutes.”

Ainsley went to the polls with her little sister Shawn, who was a first-time voter.

“They were very helpful,” she said. “You’ve been with me along the way, and honestly I would say go vote. It was perfect.”

Puerto Rican-born Roberto Gonzalez also cast his first ballot on the mainland.

“It was so fast. It was so easy,” he said. “I am a member of some minorities and now is the time to raise our voice and make it count.”

Voters said they had a lot at stake in the vote, including the economy, women's rights and immigration.

“Our lives are at stake,” Ainsley said. “It really makes sense to go out and vote now.”

“The economy, our rights and I really feel like that’s important. Our voice counts,” Shawn said.

For Paul Plack, the rainy day doesn't stop him from getting out and voting for what's important to him.

“The economy, the state our country is in, has respect around the world,” he said. “I am a traditionalist and military veteran. I think this day is important. I try to pass that on to my children. I think we have a right and a duty. Blood has been shed for our right to be here today and to do this, and it makes me proud to be an American and to be out here today.”

“You have to be in line no later than 7 p.m., even though it's a rainy day and you shouldn't risk that,” White said. “The sooner you get out today, the better it will be.”

Over in Broward County, the mood was the same.

An hour before polls opened, people lined up at the Sunset Lakes Community Center in Miramar and a steady stream of people made their way to the polls.

“It’s a civic duty,” Natalie Devarona said. “People died and sacrificed so we could vote.”

Even some wind and rain in South Florida didn't deter voters.

“I actually tried to vote in Weston on Sunday and there were about 300 people in line and it was raining, so my husband is already in line, he left home at 5 a.m. and got a spot “Backed up because I have to be at work at 8 a.m.,” Betty Lashley said.

Over at the Chapel Trail polling station in Pembroke Pines, the average wait was an hour and a half through noon.

“But it’s worth it,” said one voter. “We really have to do this.”

Broward election officials said 63% of registered voters cast their ballots during early voting and an estimated 300,000 voters were expected in one of more than 350 precincts. Almost 700,000 voters cast their votes before election day. In terms of party numbers, 394,924 voters were Democrats while 216,372 were Republicans.

For Melissa Robertson, the election was an opportunity to teach her young son.

“The most important lesson is that everyone has their own independent thoughts and their own feelings, but most of all kindness and respect,” Robertson said.

And Robertson's son thinks it's a lesson well learned.

“I think it would be really great because I would like to see who is the best and I have my own personal thoughts too,” he said.

Even though there are still a few hours left to vote, those who have already made their choice remain hopeful for a better world.

“I hope that we can move forward as a country and continue to be civil,” Robertson said.

“I think we forget that we, the people, call the shots, not the government that sets the tone, and we have to come together no matter what to help this country,” Devarona said.

“I hope we get a president who will bring both sides together,” Lashley said. “I don’t like the division, I don’t like the hatred.”

To vote on Election Day, you must go to your assigned voting precinct and present valid identification.

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