Elections officials expect record turnout for a mid-term as voters head to polls. Already, more than 234,000 voters have submitted ballots either through the mail or at early voting locations through Manatee and Sarasota counties.

“We have some competitive races on the ballot statewide, with U.S. Senate and the governor’s race,” says Ron Turner, Sarasota County Supervisor of Elections. “And in addition to that, we have a high-profile Congressional race and a lot of local races.”

Indeed, national interest seems high nationwide in a mid-term with control of the U.S. House and Senate at stake. In Florida, Democratic incumbent Sen. Bill Nelson faces a challenge from Republican Gov. Rick Scott in what shaped up to be one of the closest matches in the country. And the gubernatorial contest between Democrat Andrew Gillum and Republican Ron DeSantis, both picks that appeal to the bases of the parties, has garnered perhaps even more attention.

“You’ve got a far left candidate on one side and a pretty far right candidate on the other side, and in between no-party-affiliation voters scrambling and trying to make their voices heard,” says Mike Bennett, Manatee County Supervisor of Elections. “You’ve got two truly opposite candidates and philosophies competing. I don’t think we’ve ever seen two candidates so diametrically opposed as we have in those two.”

And as Turner notes, voters in this area also weigh in on one of the biggest House races in the state. U.S. Rep. Vern Buchanan R-Sarasota, faces maybe the most serious challenge since his first election to the House in Democrat David Shapiro. Nearly $8 million has been spent in the District 16 fight alone, and when you combine spending by Shapiro, the Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee and PAC money by groups like Floridians for a Fair Shake, totaling $4.13 million in spending, it marks the first time Democrats ever outspent Buchanan, who spent $3.78 million.

Turner says in Sarasota County, more than 43 percent of voters already turned out before Election Day. He expects to see greater than 60 percent turnout by the time polls close tonight. Four years ago, the governor's race spurred 58 percent turnout in the county.

Bennett says Manatee turnout sits around 50 percent and will only shoot up from there.

Bennett made special mention of polling workers in Lakewood Ranch, who have dealt with crowds of over 1,000 voters every day and kept lines moving at a steady clip despite a long ballot this year.

And Turner says voters seem to be taking every race seriously, down to 12 statewide constitutional amendments and six local ballot measures.

State records show in the two-county area, at least 107,959 Republicans and 80,173 Democrats cast their ballots by mail or at early voting locations. Now, all that remains are Election Day votes.

Polls open at 7am and close at 7pm.