SUMMARY: In Florida, early voter turnout reached 5.35 million, a 38.14% increase from 2016. Mail-in voting saw 2.83 million ballots cast, marking a 3.74% rise since the last presidential election. Elections officials mailed 3.53 million ballots, up from 3.35 million in 2016. However, mail-in ballots are down 26.9% compared to 2020’s pandemic peak. Among mail-in votes, 34.9% were by Republicans and 41.7% by Democrats. Early voting included 2.55 million Republicans and 1.51 million Democrats. Data is updated daily by the Florida Secretary of State‘s office, with early voting beginning on October 22.

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SUMMARY: In this tropical weather update, meteorologist Greg D discusses potential Tropical Cyclone 18, expected to become Hurricane Raphael later today or by early Tuesday. The storm is projected to pass near Jamaica, the Cayman Islands, and western Cuba, likely reaching category 1 status before entering the Gulf of Mexico. The storm’s track will determine the impact on Florida’s west coast, with minimal effects if it follows the western cone. However, if it shifts east, rain is expected Tuesday night through Thursday. Raphael may weaken to a tropical storm as it approaches the Gulf Coast due to adverse conditions. Another area of low pressure also shows potential for development.

ABC Action News tracks tropical developments in the Atlantic and Gulf of Mexico.

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SUMMARY: Republican lawmakers, led by U.S. Rep. Matt Gaetz, have proposed two bills aimed at enhancing election integrity amid concerns over illegal voting. The “JAIL for Alien Voters Act” seeks to impose stricter penalties, including five years in prison or a $10,000 fine for noncitizens who vote, aligning their consequences with those for U.S. citizens. Gaetz also introduced the “National Motor Voter Clarification Act,” aimed at empowering states to remove noncitizens from voter rolls without federal intervention. This follows legal disputes in Virginia about voter registration and parallels ongoing debates on immigration and election integrity amid a surge in border crossings under the Biden administration.

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