No major upsets, pending runoffs in SWFL primaries

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FORT MYERS, Fla. (AP) – More than 12,000 people have made their way to polling locations throughout Lee County, adding to the more than 96,000 people who have cast their vote by mail or early voting.

Casting ballots has been simple, voters said Tuesday. There have been no significant lines nor have there been machine issues. The Lee County Supervisor of Elections, Sharon Harrington, says they have made huge strides in improving the process of voting.

Back in 2012 voters waited in long lines for as long as six hours due to jammed machines and other equipment problems.

Florida has a closed primary, which means votes can only be cast for with a person’s registered political party. The races for school board and hospital board, however, are open to non-partisan voters.

Polls closed at 7 p.m.

Nearly 24 percent of the 408,457 registered voters cast ballots by either turning out to the polls, mailing in their ballots or participating in early voting, according to Lee County Elections. In Collier County, the turnout was a little higher at 32 percent with 61,930 of 191,352 voters participating in primary elections.

Republican Sen. Marco Rubio and Democratic Congressman Patrick Murphy took big early leads in Florida’s Senate primaries, ultimately winning their party nominations for office.

Rep. Murphy expressed his gratitude on Twitter before quickly switching gears to the November election.

Sen. Rubio tweeted also tweeted his thanks to supporters.

In local races, the vote for Lee County Supervisor of Elections is set to head to a contentious runoff after leading candidates current Lee County Supervisor of Elections Sharon Harrington and Tommy Doyle failed to garner enough votes for a majority win. Arguably the most controversial candidate, Dan Sinclair, received only 10 percent of votes.

Sheriff Mike Scott beat out his competition, Stephanie Eller, by a landslide, winning his bid at re-election for the Lee County Sheriff’s Office.

Dwight Brock was re-elected to the Collier County Clerk of Courts by voters and Francis Rooney claimed the GOP nomination to face a Democratic opponent for District 19 for the U.S. Congress.

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