The Altamonte Springs City Commission signaled their intention Tuesday evening to offer early voting to city residents in this year's municipal elections.

The commissioners first voted, as a legal formality, to opt out of state-prescribed guidelines for early voting. 

They then voted unanimously in favor of Commissioner Sarah Reece's motion that an ordinance be drafted that will allow the city to offer early voting for the five day period that starts on the Friday preceding Election Day.

Altamonte Mayor Russel Hauck attributed the commission's action to the presence of nearly 20 members of the Seminole County Democratic Party who were in attendance. 

The Democrats spoke passionately during the public hearing portion of the meeting, convincing the commission to retain early voting within the city for this year's municipal elections.

Hauck said that he had thought entering the meeting that the issue was going to be "cut and dry", and that the commission would simply vote to opt out of the early voting process. 

The presence and passion of the Democrats, however, convinced Hauck and the other commissioners to retain the early voting process.  Hauck expressed appreciation for their attendance at the meeting and their interest in the issue, contrasting it with the apathy usually seen during Commission proceedings.

The Democrats scored their second victory in two nights with the vote.  On Monday evening, they convinced the Longwood City Commission to reverse themselves and retain the early voting option within city limits for Longwood residents.