Presidential primary live updates: How's Brevard voting? What to know about today's election

Donald Trump already has won enough convention delegates to clinch the Republican Party nomination for president, and his GOP primary challengers all have dropped out.

But Republican voters still are going to the polls in Florida today for the GOP presidential preference primary, either to show their support for the former president or to cast a protest vote for one of his one-time challengers.

FLORIDA TODAY will be keeping track of the election throughout the day, talking to voters and monitoring turnout and looking out for any of the hiccups that sometime arise on Election Day.

Check back throughout the day for updates.

When are the polls open on the presidential primary day?

Polls will be open from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. on Tuesday. On that day, voters must vote at their designated polling place, which is based on their residential address.

Prep for the polls: See who is running for president and compare where they stand on key issues in our Voter Guide

Because of redistricting this year for Brevard School Board districts, Brevard County Supervisor of Elections Tim Bobanic advises that voters should check their voter record to ensure there was not a change to their Election Day polling location.

For assistance, they can call 321-290-VOTE (8683), visit one of the four election offices, or use the “Registration Status” tab on VoteBrevard.gov.

No lines to make his mark

Shortly after 9 am, Matthew Haag, of Rockledge, walked from his house to his local voting precinct. He walked right into Precinct 219, just off Fiske Blvd. and easily voted without waiting in line. 

“I think a lot of people aren’t coming out because they are frustrated and they feel like their vote won’t count because the nominations are in. I still came out because I feel like it’s important to cast a ballot and have a tally mark on the record, but I’m not going to tell you how I voted.”

-- Michelle Spitzer

Few showing up at the polls

Voter turnout for the presidential primary in Brevard County inched above 15% by 10 a.m.

In all, 16,976 Republican voters have voted by mail; 7,993 voted during eight days of early in-person voting that ended Saturday; and 3,705 voted during the first three hours of in-person voting on Election Day.

In all, 190,859 Republicans are eligible to vote.

-- Dave Berman

Other states voting, too

Florida is one of five states holding presidential primaries today.

The others are Arizona, Illinois, Kansas and Ohio.

Even before Tuesday's voting, Joe Biden and Donald Trump amassed enough delegates to clinch their party's nomination.

Trump has 1,273, with 1,215 needed for the Republican nomination.

Biden has 2,107, with 1,968 needed for the Democratic nomination.

-- Dave Berman

'It's great to get out and vote'

Danielle Snyder, a 28-year-old from Merritt Island who is currently looking for employment was proud to announce she voted for Donald Trump as she excited the polling location at Brevard Veterans Memorial Center. 

“In an election year when you know who the nominee is I still think one, it’s great to get out and vote. Two, it is important to know that your vote counts especially given how things have gone in the past. 

Even though we know who the nominee is, for my generation it is important for us to get out and vote because it decides all of our futures, and I honestly feel like if you don’t get out and vote and you are just kind of sitting there and you are upset that who you wanted to be president in the future isn’t, well, that’s kind of on you.”

-- Michelle Spitzer

'You have to get off your butt and do something'

Constance White, of Melbourne, just happened to be outside the Wickham Park Community Center when she realized it was a polling location. She wasn’t aware Tuesday was the primary election, but once she found out she planned to vote. 

“We need other people to know, if they are as frustrated as I am with the candidates that there is an option. We can speak out, and they will hear us if we stand together. But if everyone just goes “oh well, this is all there is” then no. Change does not happen by sitting around complaining. You have to get off your butt and do something.”

'Donald Trump is going to be our nominee'

Connie Smith, of Cocoa, arrived at the precinct at Kiwanis Island Park on Merritt Island before polls opened. She waved at voters as she held American flags as well as flags and signs supporting Donald Trump. 

“I got here this morning at 6:45 and there were already people here. It was fantastic.”

“Donald Trump is going to be our nominee, and he’s going to save America. We love him. He may be a little rough around the edges but he gets the job done. We support his policies. His policies were so successful when he was in office. We’re concerned for America, but he will definitely close the border and he’ll drill baby drill, which will get our energy prices down, which affects the production of all products which brings inflation down.”

'Most important election in the history of the U.S."

Theresa Opitz, of West Melbourne, voted at Veterans Memorial Complex because she said she wanted to do “everything I can to get Mr. Trump back in office.”

“This is the most important election in the history of the U.S.”

“If we don’t get Donald Trump into office I might  have to move to Panama.”

“Look at what’s going on. That wasn’t going on when Trump was in office. That’s happening because of what Biden’s doing. The price of gas, he did that the first day in office. He hasn’t done any good for us. Sorry.”

GOP officials stumping for Trump

Brevard Republic Executive Committee Chair Rick Lacey says BREC members were deployed to various large polling places around the county, in support of the Trump campaign.

Among the locations are Indian Harbour Beach City Hall, Kiwanis Island Park on Merritt Island, Viera Community Center, Wickham Park in Melbourne.

-- Dave Berman

Elections yet to come

It should come as no surprise that the presidential contest is dominating election news.

But come November, voters will have more choices to make than simply Biden or Trump.

Other high profile offices such as sheriff, Congress and the County Commission will also be on the ballot.

Check out the races we are keeping a close eye on.

When will we know the results?

Brevard County election results should be coming in shortly after polls close at 7 p.m. from the Brevard County Supervisor of Elections Office

But the Florida Department of State's Division of Elections says it won't be releasing statewide results until after 8 p.m. Eastern Daylight Time. That will be after the polls close in the Florida Panhandle counties that are in the Central time zone.

-- Dave Berman

Trump wins big in Brevard

Trump — the former and, he hopes, future president — won 81.92% of the vote in Brevard County, with 143 of 162 precincts reporting, all early-voting in-person ballots counted, and most vote-by-mail ballots counted. Local voter turnout was about 23.63% of the 190,859 registered Republican eligible to vote.

This ends our live coverage for today. See out complete primary day wrap up here.