A record early voter turnout has led Gov. Charlie Crist to declare a state of emergency extending poll hours statewide.
Polling places will be open from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. for the rest of the week, and for 12 hours total between 7 a.m. and 7 p.m. this weekend.
According to a press release from the governor's office, Crist issued the executive order to ensure a maximum number of registered voters have their voices heard.
Statewide, more than 1 million Floridians had voted as of 5 a.m. Tuesday, which is about 10 percent of Florida's registered voters, according to the Department of State Web site.
In Alachua County, about 30,000 people had voted early as of Tuesday evening, nearly double the early votes of the 2004 presidential election, Alachua County Supervisor of Elections Pam Carpenter said.
Added to 13,600 absentee ballots, county voting turnout has already surpassed totals from the Aug. 28 primary.
Although Carpenter said she is glad more people will be able to vote during extended hours, she said it was a bit problematic that Crist announced the order around 3 p.m.
"Poll workers didn't have a chance to prepare to stay later today," she said. "But they are anyway."
Tuesday had the highest turnout yet, with 4,215 ballots cast, Carpenter said. Within the first hour of poll openings, 341 voters had cast their ballot, she said.
Turnout has been steady since early voting began on Oct. 20, she said, and is hovering at about 4,000 votes a day.
"We're looking for an 80 percent turnout," Carpenter said. In 2004, Alachua County had a 78 percent turnout.
An energized and engaged electorate has been a factor for the high numbers, she said.
Students have also had an effect on the turnout, she said, and many are taking advantage of transportation being offered to the polls by UF groups including UF College Republicans and UF Students for Barack Obama.
While the most common complaint to the state office has been a long wait in line, Carpenter said the typical wait in Alachua County has been 10 minutes.
"The longest wait time we've had was about 30 minutes on Sunday," she said.
