What happened to thousands of voters? Registrations suddenly drop in Broward, Palm Beach counties

Broward, the state’s second largest county, had a robust roll of active registered voters at the beginning of December: 1.28 million. By the start of 2024, the number suddenly had plunged — to 1.09 million.

A few months earlier, records show, Palm Beach County saw a large downward bump as well.

The county went from 946,189 active registered voters at the end of September to 847,617 a month later.

The drop-offs in South Florida and elsewhere in the state have generated questions, concerns — and even a conspiracy theory — at the beginning of what already promises to be an enormously contentious election year in which people will decide on the presidency and, possibly, referendums on highly charged questions of recreational marijuana and abortion rights.