JACKSONVILLE, Fla. — Duval County Supervisor of Elections Mike Hogan told Jacksonville’s Morning News that he expects a 33 percent total turnout from voters for the primary election.
So far 15 percent of registered voters in Duval County have turned out to vote. 55 percent of that were vote-by-mail ballots. For a breakdown of voter turnout in Northeast Florida, click here.
“Yes, the mail ballots were unusually large and strong this year. Of course, as a result of the COVID and the environment, early voting went very well. Our biggest day was Sunday, and we had no events as it relates to COVID,” Hogan said.
When it comes to keeping voters safe from COVID-19, Hogan says they have implemented extra hand sanitizing stations, all poll workers are wearing face coverings and they have hired an extra poll worker. While they can’t require masks to be worn by voters, they can highly recommend it.
“I can’t require that. That would be voter suppression. I can tell you this, as a result of a survey that we’ve basically done through, what, the last 14 days, the majority, the overwhelming majority, I would say less than one percent of the people are not wearing masks. They’re bringing in their own mask and they’re coming in with a mask. If they don’t. We offer them one. If they take it, that’s fine. If they don’t. That’s fine.”
When it comes to vote-by-mail ballots, Hogan says the best thing to do is to turn it in almost as quickly as you get the ballot.
“Turn it around and send it right back to us. A lot of folks will wait till the last moment. I’m not sure why, but maybe that’s just habit. But in this environment, the postal environment that we’re in right now, it’s going to be very important that you turn that around real quickly,” Hogan said.
Ballots for the General Election will be sent out on September 24, 40 days before the election.