JaxVotes – News4Jax’s Election Blog

The latest numbers show John McCain with a lead in Duval County, with 50% of the vote. Barack Obama is currently at 49%. That’s with at least 80% of precincts here reporting.

Is this a closer race than you thought it would be? If so, why? What other things have surprised you so far tonight?

We just heard more from where the Duval County Supervisor of Elections workers are counting the votes at the Gateway Mall location. According to the latest reports, Duval County has seen only a few minor issues and no complaints coming in. So far, about 80 percent of precincts in the county have reported. 

For an added perspective, be sure to watch our election coverage throughout the night to hear from local analysts on both sides.

Barack Obama is casting his ballot right now. Biden is expected to vote just after. On the Republican side, John McCain and Sarah Palin are slated to vote around 11 this morning.

We’ve received a few calls this morning from concerned family and friends of people who were unexpectedly hospitalized and cannot head to the polls today. They want to know how their friend or family member can still cast a ballot.

According to Duval County Supervisor of Elections Jerry Holland, a family member can head down to the elections office — either at Gateway on the northside or the main office downtown — and pick up an absentee ballot. The person in the hospital can fill out the ballot and the family member just needs to take it back to the elections office before 7 tonight.

Here are some addresses and numbers:

Main Duval Supervisor of Elections Office

105 E. Monroe Street (Downtown)

Gateway Location

5200 Norwood Ave. (Northside)

Office Number

630-1414 

Hope this helps.

A few updates this morning….

• Duval County Supervisor of Elections Jerry Holland is at the Gateway office on the Northside. That’s where the vote counting will happen tonight. Nikki Preede will be live with updates throughout the morning.
• Melanie Lawson will be live throughout the morning at a polling location with a history of voting problems — the Singleton Center in Springfield.
• Steve Douglas is covering St. Johns County.
• Karin Hirschey is in Clay County at Calvary United Methodist Church.
• Vickie Pierre is live Northwest Jacksonville.

Another tidbit — Governor Crist is scheduled to vote at 945am in St Petersburg.

While visiting my Alma Mater — the University of Florida — I decided to check out how early voting is going here. According to Supervisor of Elections Pam Carpenter, 2, 523 people voted today in Alachua County. Since early voting started Monday, 12,625 people have cast their ballots.

Carpenter says early voting is running smoothly, even after Michelle Obama’s Gainesville rally yesterday. As far as lines, Carpenter says the longest waits they’ve seen have been 10 or 15 minutes and they are constantly moving.

I just voted and I have to say it was quick and easy. Everyone inside was willing to help and it all seemed pretty efficient. I just wonder if it’s like this in other parts of town…

I’m headed with a friend and co-worker to go vote early. I think we’ll go to the neighborhood library. Will update there if I can. Hopefully the lines will be ok. It’s actually the first time I can vote in a presidential election. I was too young… So here we go!