Officials: Only 1 election day hiccup in Duval Co.

JACKSONVILLE, Fla. – One precinct in Duval County experienced computer problems Tuesday that forced a late-night recount, but officials said the glitch would not affect any of the outcomes already announced.

Duval County Supervisor of Elections Jerry Holland said a memory stick didn't allow ballots to feed properly in a machine at one precinct, so those ballots were re-fed Tuesday night at the Supervisor of Elections Office on the Northside.

"If the computer does not upload, the tabulator doesn't upload and the memory stick doesn't upload, then basically, we want accuracy that night, so we'll re-feed all the ballots and get an accurate count," Holland said. "It won't change any outcome here locally. It'll just add to numbers for the candidates statewide."

MORE: Complete results of Duval County races

Officials were also working to finish reviewing about 4,000 absentee ballots, and Holland said they would be uploaded by the end of the night.

Even with the glitch, Holland said Tuesday was a mostly hassle-free Election Day, although turnout was less than he had predicted.

Holland said before Election Day that he expected roughly 52 percent to 55 percent turnout in Duval County. At the end of the day, turnout was hovering around 49 percent with provisional and absentee ballots still being counted.

"We were very pleased overall with how the day went, and the poll workers," Holland said. "There are always some challenges along the way, but everything was met."

The Neptune Beach City Council race will have to be recounted. Richard Arthur and Rory Diamond were separated by just one vote -- 1,425 for Arthur and 1,424 for Diamond. A vote that close triggers an automatic recount.

In the District 2 School Board race, Scott Shine defeated Sam Hall 58 percent to 42 percent.


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Jim Piggott is the reporter to count on when it comes to city government and how it will affect the community.