Almost a thousand Florida A & M students, faculty, and administrators voted early Monday, the first day of early voting. The show of support has eclipsed any previous first day of early voting.

The students, almost a thousand strong, left the Florida A & M campus led by their president, Dr. James Ammons.

“We’re going to make our mark today, the rattlers of Florida A&M.”

Along the march route the band played, and the sense these students were making history hung in the air.

Robert Jones of Orlando was one of those making the trek to the polls.

“I feel today is a very important day in history. Hope to elect the first black president of the United States.”

Zahir Roberts. A Live Oak student, has high hopes.

“It’s the day we start initiating change.”

45 minutes later the courthouse lawn in Tallahassee resembled a revival. And there was encouragement from F-A-M-U Trustee Rev. R. B. Holmes.

“Young people, you have literally changed this country.”

By all accounts this effort set a record for the first day of early voting.”

By early afternoon, Leon County Supervisor of Elections Ion Sancho said just over 1,000 votes had been cast.

“Early voting is really going to set all-time records here in Leon County. I would probably say across the state, they’re going to set records as well.”

It wasn’t just students who were caught up in the excitement. 86 year old Jewell Teston waited patiently to cast her early vote.

“I always vote, and I’m 86. And I always voted, all my life.”

And before the day was out a second wave of students, this time from Florida State, headed en mass for the early voting site, confirming that student interest may be at an all time high.

In fact, interest across the state is high for the first day of early voting.