Duval County election updates: Donald Trump wins GOP presidential primary

Gary T. Mills, Jacksonville Florida Times-Union
Updated ·10 min read
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A week after President Joe Biden and former President Donald Trump secured enough delegates to become their respective party’s nominee in the 2024 presidential race, Floridians headed to the polls today for the state’s presidential preference primary.

In Florida, Tuesday’s vote was a closed-primary election, meaning that only voters registered with a party could cast a vote to determine their party’s presidential nominee. Biden was the Democratic party’s sole nominee, so only registered Republicans were eligible to vote in the presidential preference primary. (In counties where other offices or ballot measures are being contested, all voters could vote in those races.)

In Duval County and across the state, registered Republicans chose from seven presidential candidates even though six of the candidates have withdrawn from the race. Those names remain on the ballot and will be counted. (See sample ballot.)

Who won Florida’s primary election?

With more than 81 percent of the vote, former President Donald Trump won the primary, defeating Nikki Haley, Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis and others, all of whom had dropped their bids for the Republican party's presidential nominee.

Polls close in Northeast Florida

Across Northeast Florida and in most parts of the state, polls have closed. (Polls in parts of Florida's Panhandle, which is in the Central Time Zone, will close at 7 p.m. local time.)

Updated voter turnout numbers

As of 4:30 p.m., the supervisors of elections in Northeast Florida reported the following voter turnout data:

Duval County

  • Vote-by-mail: 14,695

  • Early voting: 12,478

  • Election day: 13,847

  • Turnout: 17.81 percent

St. Johns County

  • Vote-by-mail: 5,349

  • Early voting: 8,332

  • Election day: 8,638

  • Turnout: 17.78 percent

Clay County

  • Vote-by-mail: 4,898

  • Early voting: 3,909

  • Election day: 3,983

  • Turnout: 15.41 percent

Nassau County

  • Vote-by-mail: 3,503

  • Early voting: 3,570

  • Election day: 2,435

  • Turnout: 21.51 percent

A battleground no more? Florida's growing GOP dominance dims presidential fight in state

With another presidential election year taking shape, Florida’s reputation as the nation’s biggest battleground state has faded: Republicans now hold the biggest advantage in voter registration either major party has held in almost four decades.

State elections data through last month shows the GOP has just surpassed a major milestone. The party's 851,417-voter lead marks the biggest gap between the parties in Florida since Democrats dominated by more than 854,000 votes in 1988.

The gulf could make Florida an afterthought in this year’s presidential contest. The state’s presidential primary on Tuesday also is mostly meaningless, with the rematch of President Joe Biden versus former President Donald Trump already set for November.

Instead, more competitive states are where the contenders in coming months will likely steer their TV advertising, campaign staff and barnstorming visits, both sides said.

“From a presidential standpoint, I think we’ll win pretty big here,” Florida Republican Party chair Evan Power said, looking ahead to the fall. “Obviously, we’re going to continue to work hard on the U.S. Senate race and down ballot contests. But I think it’s clear we’re a firmly red state now.” (Read more.) — John Kennedy

Secretary of State gives Election Day update

Cord Byrd, Florida's secretary of state and chief elections officer, gave an update Tuesday in which he said he'd been in contact with all 67 counties by midday and there were no "major issues" and no voters unable to cast a ballot.

He also said that as of Monday night 807,782 people had voted either early or by mail, according to local elections supervisors across the state.

Even though only Republicans can vote and Trump is the last GOP candidate still pursuing the White House, "we want to show a good turnout because it's good for the republic. It's good to show that democracy is working," Byrd said.

Go here to see a playback of his remarks on The Florida Channel.

— Jim Rosica

Voter turnout low on election day across Northeast Florida

As of noon Tuesday, 5,638 voters had cast ballots on election day in Duval County, the supervisor of elections office reported. Combined with early vote (12,478) and vote-by-mail (14,669) ballots cast, turnout is estimated at 14.24 percent.

St. Johns County

  • Vote-by-mail: 5,312

  • Early voting: 8,332

  • Election day (Noon): 4,559

  • Turnout (Noon): 14.50 percent

Clay County

  • Vote-by-mail: 4,878

  • Early voting: 3,909

  • Election day (Noon): 2,051

  • Turnout (Noon): 13.06 percent

Nassau County

  • Vote-by-mail: 3,456

  • Early voting: 3,570

  • Election day (Noon): 1,242

  • Turnout (Noon): 18.70 percent

— Gary T. Mills

Few voters turn out to polls on Jacksonville's Westside

There were no lines at the Whitehouse Baptist Church polling location around 9:45 a.m. Tuesday. Polling location workers greeted voters as they trickled in. There were no campaign signs, but a neighboring property raised a flag supporting former President Donald Trump. — Hanna Holthaus

March 19 primary vote has just one candidate for most of Florida. Here's why it may matter

In Clay County, which has supported the Republican candidate for president by at least 67 percent in every election since 2000, polling places were very quiet Tuesday morning.

Tuesday is election day in Florida but for 58 of the state’s 67 counties, including Duval County, there is really no contest.

Palm Beach Gardens, Delray Beach, Longboat Key and other cities will pick mayors, commissioners, and decide policy issues like whether to annex unincorporated neighborhoods on March 19.

But the presidential preference primary for voters everywhere else is more an exercise of civic duty and partisan loyalty than it is to choose a Democratic or Republican nominee for the fall campaign.

Support for President Joe Biden is solid enough for the Florida Democratic Party to decide not to even hold a primary. And all contenders but one, former President Donald Trump, have dropped out of the race for the Republican Party nomination.

Nonetheless, elections officials say there are still reasons to vote and they sent out mail-in ballots Feb. 8, opened early-voting sites, and will staff precinct polls for 12 hours Tuesday and spend another couple hours to tabulate the vote.

Election workers, party officials, and voters will participate in the exercise despite knowing that President Biden and former President Trump are the nominees because “Florida law demands it,” said former Leon County Supervisor of Elections Ion Sancho, an internationally recognized Florida elections expert. (Read more.) — James Call, Tallahassee Democrat

In Clay County, voter turnout light on primary election day

There were no lines and no campaign signs at half a dozen Clay County polling places in the morning. It was cool and breezy, so even the poll workers were sitting in cars or waiting inside for voters to arrive. There were more people cleaning up the grounds at Orange Park Town Hall on Tuesday morning than there were at the polls. A poll worker at the Fleming Island Plantation Splash Park polling place said she'd seen about 10 voters by a little after 9 a.m. — Tom Szaroleta

Polls open in Duval County and across Florida

Primary election voting is open 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. local time on March 19 across Florida.

The state is one of five across the United States holding presidential preference primaries today. Others include Arizona, Illinois, Kansas and Ohio. — Gary T. Mills

Where can I vote in Northeast Florida?

Who’s on the ballot in Florida’s presidential preference primary election?

Even though six candidates have dropped out of the Republican race for president, their names will still appear on the ballot with Donald Trump, who secured enough delegates last week to become the Republican party’s nominee. They include:

The deadline for candidates to withdraw from the state’s presidential preference primary election ballot was Dec. 12, 2023. The names of the six candidates who suspended their campaigns remain on the ballot and their votes will be counted and included with certified results to the state. — Gary T. Mills

How many delegates are at stake in Florida’s primary election?

In the Republican primary, 125 delegates are up for grabs on Tuesday. Donald Trump, though, secured enough delegates last week to become the Republican presidential nominee following primaries and caucuses in Georgia, Hawaii, Mississippi and Washington.

What time do polls open and close?

Polls will be open 7 a.m. to 7 p.m.

Where do I vote in Duval County?

Find your voting precinct using the elections office polling location finder.

Are results in for early voting and voting by mail?

Early voting in Duval County ended at 6 p.m. Saturday. As of noon Monday, Duval County Supervisor of Elections Jerry Holland reported that 26,730 voters had cast ballots, including 14,247 by mail and 12,478 by early voting. The turnout represents 11.6 percent of the county’s eligible voters. Those votes will be reported when polls close at 7 p.m.

Can I still return my vote by mail ballot?

Voters choosing to vote by mail can still return their ballot to the Supervisor of Elections office at 105 E. Monroe St. The office is open until 7 p.m. today.

Who is running for president? Get to know the Democratic, Republican candidates for 2024

When do we vote for president in 2024? Everything to know about next presidential election

How do I check my voter registration status?

Not sure if you are registered to vote? Check your status.

How do I register to vote?

The deadline to register for the 2024 General Election (Nov. ) is Oct. 7. You can register here.

What do I need to bring to the voting site to cast my ballot?

Voters should bring at least one form of valid and current identification that includes a photo and signature. Eligible photo ID includes:

  • Florida Driver License

  • Florida ID Card (issued by DHSMV)

  • U.S. Passport

  • Debit or credit card

  • Military ID

  • Student ID

  • Retirement center ID

  • Neighborhood association ID

  • Public assistance ID

  • Veteran Health ID (issued by the US Department of Veterans Affairs)

  • Concealed weapon license (issued pursuant to F.S. 790.06)

  • Employee ID card issued by any branch, department, agency, or entity of the Federal Government, the state, a county, or a municipality

Key dates for the elections on the horizon

Primary election (Aug. 20)

  • Initial ballot mail-out to military and overseas voters: July 6

  • Deadline to register to vote: July 22

  • Deadline to request vote-by-mail ballot: Aug. 8

  • Early voting period: Aug. 5–18

  • Election Day: Aug. 20

General election (Nov. 5)

  • Initial ballot mail-out to military and overseas voters: Sept. 21

  • Deadline to register to vote: Oct. 7

  • Deadline to request vote-by-mail ballot: Oct. 24

  • Early voting period: Oct. 21–Nov. 3

  • Election Day: Nov. 5

This article originally appeared on Florida Times-Union: Florida primary election 2024 updates: Polls close, results in