CLAY COUNTY — For years, Republicans have generally resisted voting by mail and early voting, while Democrats believe it has given them an edge in General Elections.

That’s changing.

Instead of claiming early votes cast before Election Day can be manipulated, especially in states that are counted after the polls close, Republican nominee Donald Trump has reversed his opinion to encourage other Republicans to vote early.

While that may affect who the next Commander in Chief will be in other states, it won’t affect the count in Florida. Clay County Supervisor of Elections Chris Chambless said most vote by mail and early voting ballots will be counted before the General Election on Nov. 5, but the results aren’t released until the polls close.

Unlike other states where results from election night are reversed days later when early votes are tallied, Florida can be confident when a winner is identified.

Vote-by-mail and early voting remain the largest platforms for registered voters to select their candidates. In the 2016 General Election, 74,799 of 107,861 – 69.3% — voters had already made their picks before election day. Those numbers increased in 2020 to 80.5% (100,633 of 125,055). We won’t know this year’s numbers until November, but according to the Florida Division of Elections, Clay County voters have already requested 1,443 vote-by-mail ballots.

Polls in critical swing states have Trump and Kamala Harris in a virtual statistical tie, which probably bodes well for Trump. Four years ago, Joe Biden had a 10% advantage in the polls a month before the General Election. He won, but his margin was .7% or less in four states.

Trump’s support for early voting accepts the importance of increasing voter participation and shaping outcomes.

After losing some recent elections, Republicans now recognize the value of early voting because it can increase voter turnout. Increased access may allow more registered voters to cast a ballot, which could affect the outcomes of races.

After all, you could have the flu, it could be rainy, or your car may not start on Nov. 5. If your vote is already at the Supervisor’s Office, your civic duty has been fulfilled.

The GOP has been slow to think outside the box. It took surprising losses, like the failed “Red Wave” in 2022, to make the party realize it’s time to embrace different voting methods.

Trump blamed his 2020 loss to Biden on election fraud – a claim that has been debunked. He said vote-by-mail ballots were compromised – again not proven – saying, “Anytime you have mail-in ballots, you’re going to have problems.”

Since voting by mail and early voting is here to stay, Trump now wants Republicans to get on board.

Chambless doesn’t care how you vote. He wants you to vote.

To cast a ballot in early voting, you must register on or before Oct. 7. For information on registering, go to clayelections.gov.

Early voting is from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m., starting on Oct. 22 and ending on Nov. 2.

The early voting sites will be at:

• Florida Department of Health Clay at 1845 Town Center Blvd., Fleming Island

• Middleburg Civic Center, 2102 Palmetto St.

• Supervisor of Elections Office, 500 N. Orange Ave., Green Cove Springs

• Keystone Heights City Hall, 555 S. Lawrence Blvd.

• Eagle Landing Residents Club, 3975 Eagle Landing Pkwy., Orange Park

• Thrasher-Horne Conference Center, 283 College Dr., Orange Park

• Orange Park Library, 2054 Plainfield Ave.