Voter turnout in prominent swing state already surpasses 2000 election total

By Nathan Rousseau Smith, Buzz60

The big day is finally here.

The candidates and their superstar supporters are pleading with voters to head to the polls.

SEE MORE: In-depth coverage of the 2016 election

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But one crucial state has already surpassed their voter turnout from the 2000 election, Florida.

Already, nearly 6.5 million Floridians have cast their votes, either by absentee ballot or through early voting.

That's about a half million votes more than the total votes cast in the contentious 2000 race between George W. Bush and Al Gore.

16 years later, the Sunshine State's population has risen by about 3 million people, reaching nearly 20 million.

Florida has become a crucial state for this year's presidential race. With both Hillary Clinton and Donald Trump campaigning heavily in the state as the two are in a dead heat.

But with a large Hispanic turnout recorded during early voting, Clinton could surpass Trump's edge in the swing state.

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