In just a few short years, the voting patterns of Democrats and Republicans have become wildly different in recent years. That was on display in the Aug. 23 primary election, where you can see the different ways that ballots were cast by Republican voters and by Democratic ones. And differences in behavior have become so dramatic the phenomenon has challenged political observers and participants alike in even gauging the lay of the land.

For example, Primary Day has almost become a formality for Democrats in Florida. Few outcomes will be decided by those who wait until the last day to cast votes in a race, which not so long ago was when almost everybody waited to vote. But in Sarasota County, 34,610 Democrats voted by mail and another 3,912 participated in early voting. By comparison, only 8,903 waited to vote on Aug. 23 at the polls.

I don’t mean to overstate things. Those mail ballots can be cast at any point until polls close, including by voters who walk their ballots in right up until the last second. But those Democratic candidates flagging down voters outside the precinct will be lucky find voters who can even cast a ballot in their election. Less than 19% of voters still do so. And not that many are using the ability to vote in-person early.  Almost 73% of Democrats in Sarasota cast their ballots in August at a tabletop instead of a polling station.

By comparison, more than 45% of Republicans did not cast their ballot until polls opened on Aug. 23. That 12-hour span was the frame of time when the outcomes of a number of critical races were decided (I discussed a couple weeks ago how the School Board races completed flipped based on Primary Day turnout alone).

We saw 28,319 registered Republicans in the county come out to vote at the polls, compared to 24,388 who voted by mail. A total of 6,654 took advantage of early voting. A decade ago, Republicans could be relied upon to vote be mail in numbers. Many attribute former President Trump’s disparagement of mail voting as a reason for the shift. That said, it should be noted that more than 39% of GOP voters still cast their ballot in an postage-paid envelope so it’s not like all voters abandoned this message.

Still, in-person voting on the day ballots are counted is the preference of Republicans alone. About 57% of voters without any party voted by mail if they voted at all. Less than 10% chose early voting. Similar trends could be found with third-party voters.

For people like me who spend election day trying to figure the right moment to say an election is settled, this has created a strange new dynamic, one that will be much worse in a General Election where all voters participate. Early returns, which in Florida include only mail-in and early votes, inevitably make it look like Democrats are doing better than the final results will show. And sometimes you can’t tell how well Republicans are doing until well into the evening. 

But this isn’t just a frustration for reporters. Political consultants budget get-out-the-vote efforts, and with party lines now dictating even how each of us votes, it makes targeting more difficult.

I don’t know if this benefits one side or the other. I have wondered if Democrats felt smug in August about their out-sized success in rallying vote-by-mail, and I knew Republicans who felt absolutely sunk about how bad turnout appeared until the morning of Aug. 23. Those feelings all turned out to be unfounded. And when votes shift so much in the day, it inevitably breeds conspiracy theories, though trends prove those unwarranted.

But this does appear to be the new normal, one that didn’t disappear over the last two years and likely won’t let up soon.

Jacob Ogles is a contributing senior editor for SRQ MEDIA who has been covering business, politics and community issues for SRQ Magazine and SRQ DAILY since 2008. He also contributes the Under The Hood column which appears in the Saturday Perspectives edition of SRQ DAILY offering a twice-monthly analysis of the driving forces behind Sarasota-Manatee politics.  

Sarasota Art Museum of Ringling College is the College’s contemporary and teaching art museum. As the only museum in the region dedicated exclusively to showcasing living artists and contemporary art, Sarasota Art Museum presents engaging and fresh perspectives through art with new and innovative exhibits opening throughout the year. 

The mission and vision of the Sarasota Art Museum states that it “is a catalyst for appreciation and understanding of the art of our time. As a platform for education, exposure, and experimentation, the Museum inspires new ideas and new ways of being through an endless rotation of transformative, relevant, and pioneering exhibitions and programs designed to elevate and empower all by cultivating discerning visual thinkers and ethical citizens.”

That all sounds great. But some of you may ask, “Ok, but why does this place really exist?” “Why did Ringling College and its supporters feel this museum was so important to create and champion?” There are so many reasons, but I believe the concise answer to that important question was built on two foundational pillars: preeminence and community.

If you are at all familiar with Ringling College or my 23-year tenure as president, you know that my vision and highest priority has always been to elevate the College and set the institution on a path to becoming the preeminent art and design college in the world. To me, this means achieving the pinnacle of distinction and excellence as an educational institution and being the art and design college people think of first. To accomplish that, we must be able to provide the absolute best faculty, staff, technology and facilities to ensure our students receive the world-class art and design education so they can go on to thrive in their chosen careers. Sarasota Art Museum provides one of these key, state-of-the-art facilities for our students to utilize.

Located on many other distinguished college and university campuses across the country – the likes of Princeton, Yale, Harvard, Dartmouth, Williams College and Rhode Island School of Design to name a few – are some of the very best and most prestigious museum art collections in the country. These museums are often labeled as the institutions’ ‘hidden gems’ and provide the perfect spaces for self-discovery, cultural reflection, contemplation and personal growth. 

While many of those museums house older, permanent and often culturally-specific collections, our Sarasota Art Museum is a kunsthalle. That means we have the freedom and the space to provide endless new perspectives and inspiring encounters, free from the responsibility to keep, store and maintain pieces of art. This decision was purposeful and strategic. It allows us to be a living, dynamic laboratory and also presents myriad opportunities to experience contemporary works by living artists in a variety of diverse mediums. As a ‘teaching museum’ we can use art to ignite creativity, imagination and critical thinking in different ways that complement a student’s other forms of study. 

Contemporary art, as it is loosely defined, refers to artwork produced in the second half of the 20^th century or in our current age of the 21^st. Contemporary artists work in a globally influenced, culturally diverse and technologically advancing world. At Ringling College, we, too, are home to the next generation of creative visionaries. In this ever-evolving world, we encourage our students to take risks, think differently, disrupt, embrace their failures and thereby manifest their creativity. The Museum serves as a powerhouse where they can see other fellow artists, disruptors and creators whose risks and creativity have led to something significant and impactful through their work. “Education, exposure, and experimentation,” as the mission states, are just some of the opportunities the Museum can provide to Ringling College’s students, as well as other college/university students, families, children, visitors and each and every member of our community. 

And that gets me to my second point – community. Ringling College is committed to being an integral part of this community. The historic Sarasota High School has been a landmark in this community since it was built in 1927. When the building was in danger of being lost forever, the College stepped up and committed to raise the money for a beautiful rehabilitation to reuse it for another purpose. The architectural gem that was Sarasota High School – stands as a symbol of Ringling College’s commitment to and investment in the community. Saving this remarkable Sarasota landmark and providing a space to nurture human connection demonstrates convincingly this commitment to the community while also serving as good stewards and promoters of the arts here in Sarasota and beyond. 

Thomas Merton, a well-known writer and philosopher said, “Art enables us to find ourselves and lose ourselves at the same time.” So I invite you to come and experience our Museum. Delight in an unexpected exhibition; take a ceramics class; enjoy lunch at the Bistro; attend Jazz Thursdays. Find yourself; lose yourself. Explore what Sarasota Art Museum has to offer. 

Dr. Larry Thompson is president of Ringling College of Art & Design.