Fleming Island and Orange Park are leading Clay County's record-setting early voting surge ahead of the Nov. 3 election.

The Florida Health Department-Clay on Fleming Island drew the most early voters countywide, with 6,030 ballots cast through Thursday, Oct. 29. The Orange Park Library ranked second at 5,942, first reported by Clay Today. Five other sites, including the Thrasher-Horne Center in Orange Park, are also open through Saturday, Oct. 31, from 9 a.m. to 6 p.m.

Countywide, 40,693 voters had cast ballots as of Oct. 29. That is 26.06% of registered voters. Supervisor of Elections Chris Chambless told Clay Today the pace is "probably double what we normally see in a gubernatorial early voting election."

The turnout is real. With two days of early voting left, the county was only 12,809 ballots short of its entire 2022 mid-term total.

Among the races drawing voters: the District 2 seat on the Clay County Board of County Commissioners, where Lolita Mancheno-Smoak, a Republican, faces Leroy Edwards, a Democrat. Both candidates identified managing growth and infrastructure as the top issue facing the district in a Clay Today candidate forum. Amendment III, which would increase homestead exemptions, is also on the ballot. The Clay County Board of County Commissioners discussed potential cuts to election and public safety services if the amendment passes at an Oct. 27 meeting, Clay Today reported.

Registered voters can cast a ballot at any of the seven early voting sites through Oct. 31. On Election Day, voters must go to their assigned precinct. Precinct information is available at clayelections.gov.