Democrats are expected to dominate early voting as polls open in Leon and 49 other Florida counties. But the latest figures show Republicans are holding on to their traditional lead in absentee ballots.
According to the Florida Division of Elections, nearly 504,000 Republicans returned mail-in ballots compared with a little more than 483,000 Democrats.
Nearly 189,000 ballots were mailed in by voters with no party affiliation.
Overall, more than 1.2 million Floridians have already voted by mail.
Democrat Hillary Clinton leads Republican Donald Trump in a Florida, 46 percent to 42 percent, in the latest Florida Chamber of Commerce poll.
