President Donald Trump voted in person in Florida alongside first lady Melania Trump on Saturday, Oct. 24, before heading to Georgia for a campaign rally as the midterm elections approach.
The couple arrived at the Palm Beach County Supervisor of Elections office at 3:58 p.m., according to pool reports. Trump told reporters “everything is good” as he walked inside. Asked whether he voted along party lines, Trump replied, “Very much so,” according to The Associated Press. Trump wore an “I Voted” sticker after casting his ballot.
The president's motorcade left the polling location at 4:36 p.m. and arrived at the airport three minutes later, according to reports. Trump was visiting South Florida, including Palm Beach County, where his Mar-a-Lago
residence is located.
Trump's in-person vote comes after he used a mail-in ballots in the Florida elections earlier this year, despite repeatedly criticizing the voting method and pushing for restrictions on its use.
Trump has voted by mail despite criticizing the practice
Trump voted by mail in Florida's March special election for a state House seat and in the state's Republican primary in August.
The president has repeatedly attacked mail-in voting, making unsubstantiated claims about widespread fraud. He has also pushed for restrictions on the practice, even as he has used mail ballots himself.
Trump's position on mail-in voting has drawn scrutiny because he has continued to use the method while criticizing its broader availability.
Early voting in Palm Beach County for the Nov. 3 general election began Oct. 19 and is scheduled to continue through Nov. 1, according to the county's Supervisor of Elections office.
Trump heads to Georgia for campaign rally
Trump was expected to travel to Perry, Georgia, on Saturday to speak at a rally supporting Republican candidates in the final stretch before Election Day.
The president arrived in Palm Beach on Oct. 23 after a campaign appearance in Fort Myers, Florida, where he praised Republican candidates seeking office in the midterms.
Among those attending the Fort Myers event were U.S. Sens. Rick Scott and Ashley Moody, gubernatorial candidate Byron Donalds, U.S. Rep. Brian Mast and Florida Attorney General James Uthmeier, The Palm Beach Post reported.
Trump also told reporters Saturday that he had spent about an hour hitting golf balls at Trump International Golf Club but had not played a full round.
The Nov. 3 elections will determine whether Republicans retain control of Congress during the final two years of Trump's presidency.
Contributing: Palm Beach Post reporter Antonio Fins
Reporter Anthony Thompson can be reached at ajthompson@usatodayco.com or on X @athompsonUSAT
This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Trump votes early and in person in Florida ahead of midterm elections
