Live Lee County election updates: Voters cast ballots in GOP presidential primary

7:00 p.m. | Stick a fork in it

The clock has struck 7, and the polls are now closed on this beautiful, breezy Tuesday evening that we’d like to hang onto for the next eight months or so.

Let the counting begin.

All told, the combination of Lee and Collier counties had 361,238 folks eligible to vote today, mostly Republicans because Democrats didn’t have a presidential preference election, according to state records.

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That Southwest Florida combo is more than any one county in Florida except for Miami-Dade’s 438,931. Lee, by itself, shows nearly 224,000 while Collier has more than 137,000.

Other contingents with more than 200,000 include: Hillsborough, 279,772; Palm Beach, 271,209; Broward, 249,972; Pinellas, 235,309; Duval, 230,353; and Orange, 211,353.

Well, that's a wrap on today's blog. Go to news-press.com for results into the night and Wednesday morning. You'll also be able to track statewide and county-by-county Republican tallies at our election site.

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5:59 p.m. | The clock is ticking down

The clock is ticking down on Lee County's Republican elections, and there is no overtime, like with the NCAA's March Madness.

The buzzer sounds at 7 p.m., and if you happen to be in a rare line today at that point, you do get to cast your ballot.

But pretty much it's been a Dixie Chicks case of "Wide Open Spaces" at many precincts today.

The turnout percentage of eligible voters as of 5:50 p.m. was at 24.5%, and nearly all of that are from ballots that came in the mail, according to public records.

Keep checking back here for continuing updates.

4:33 p.m. | Sanibel has upcoming election

While no local elections are being held today, Sanibel does have one scheduled for May 21 to replace council member Scott Crater, who resigned after the state passed new financial disclosure laws.

The qualifying period begins at noon on March 25 and ends at noon on March 29.

Anyone interested in becoming a certified candidate must make an appointment with the City Clerk to begin the process, Sanibel officials said. The City Clerk may be contacted via email at scotty.kelly@mysanibel.com or by calling (239) 472-3700.

On May 21, there will also be a bond question regarding beach renourishment in the Captiva area.

Keep checking back here for continuing updates.

2:59 p.m. | 'Good for the republic'

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

He added 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 former President Trump is the last GOP candidate still actively 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.

Keep checking back here for continuing updates.

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1:57 p.m. | Voter turnout by community

As compared to the 4,710 in early voting, a total of 4,445 voters have come to polls today in Lee County as of 1:50 p.m., according to public records.

Here's a sampling of today's turnout so far at various spots around Lee County:

12:50 p.m. | By the numbers

As of 12:50 p.m. today., Lee County's voter turnout among those eligible is at 22.6% including mailed and early voting, according to county records.

Only Republicans are voting in Lee, and that totals 223,951. The unofficial voter turnout right now is 50,645. Of those, 42,170 were mail-in ballots.

So far, 3,746 have showed up at the polls today. The biggest day for early voting was a week ago, March 12, when 774 cast their ballot.

Keep checking back here for continuing updates.

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12:09 p.m. | Lee's new young voters

As the Lee elections office prepared for today, it also has been pushing for voter registration.

A couple of its programs just ended: The 2023-2024 High School Voter Registration Challenge and the first-ever Charter High School Voter Registration Challenge.

The agency registered and pre-registered 1,175 new voters ages 16 and older across all participating schools and assisted 470 students with voter registration updates.

The High School Voter Registration Challenge winners include Lehigh Senior High School in first place, East Lee County High School in second place and Island Coast High School in third place.

Oasis High School took first place in the Charter High School Voter Registration Challenge, followed by North Nicholas High School in second place.

“Studies show that voters who cast their vote for the first time when they’re eligible at age 18 are more likely to develop a lifelong voting habit," Supervisor of Elections Tommy Doyle said. "We’re proud to help contribute to this positive action by promoting the importance of voting among our future voters.”

This school year’s challenges began Aug. 28 and ended Feb. 16, Doyle said.

Keep checking back here for continuing updates.

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10:58 a.m. | 'Speedy Delivery' for your mail ballot

If you're casting your choice via a Vote-by-Mail ballot, your time is running out within a few hours, Lee County Supervisor of Elections Tommy Doyle said.

You have until 7 p.m. today to drop it off as a hand-delivered ballot at one of the Lee elections offices. They won't be accepted at Election Day polling places, Doyle said.

In the words of Mr. McFeely from Mister Rogers' Neighborhood, on the day before the late Fred Rogers' March 20 birthday, here's where you can make your "Speedy Delivery:"

MAIN OFFICE: Melvin Morgan Constitutional Complex, 2480 Thompson St., 3rd Floor, Fort Myers, FL 33901, (corner of Fowler St. and Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Blvd.)

CAPE CORAL BRANCH OFFICE: Lee County Government Center, 1039 SE 9th Ave., Cape Coral, FL 33990

BONITA SPRINGS BRANCH OFFICE: At Bonita Commons, 25987 S. Tamiami Trail, #105, Bonita Springs, FL 34134

LEE COUNTY ELECTIONS CENTER: South Fort Myers Branch Office, 13180 S. Cleveland Ave., Fort Myers, FL 33907, (across the street from the Bell Tower Shops)

Keep checking back here for continuing updates.

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9:14 a.m. | No more murky skies

The murky skies of earlier this morning have given way to more sunshine and less humid air as Lee County voters head to the polls on this first day of Spring.

The high temperature should only reach the mid-70s that helps remind us one reason we call this home. But before departing the house, don't forget your ID, Lee County Supervisor of Elections Tommy Doyle said.

Florida law requires voters to provide picture and signature identification when voting in person, Doyle said. The picture ID may not be expired. For a list of acceptable forms of identification, visit this page that Tommy Boy has set up for you on his lee.vote site.

Check back here for continuing updates.

8 a.m. | The first hour of voting complete

The first hour of voting is complete today in Lee County, with 11 more to go until the precincts close at 7 p.m. so keep checking back here as we follow the day's events.

While a few of us have been distracted by the start of NCAA basketball's March Madness and how Indiana State was unfairly left out, another competition is going on at the moment in Florida known as the Presidential Preference Primary.

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But not much madness is expected on this particular Tuesday in Lee. There's only one team competing because it's a closed primary election, meaning only Republicans get to vote, according to Lee County Supervisor of Elections Tommy Doyle.

Folks registered as a Democrat or with a minor political party or with no affiliation at all don't get to play this time around. Based on Florida's ballot certification, the only Democrat running is the incumbent, President Joe Biden. The Nov. 5 general election will give everyone a chance to choose the nation's top dog.

As for Republicans, several candidates have suspended their campaigns but didn't submit a formal withdrawal by mid-December, meaning they remain on today's ballot.

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Along with former President Trump, others still listed include Florida's Ron DeSantis and former governors Nikki R. Haley of South Carolina, Asa Hutchinson of Arkansas and Chris Christie of New Jersey. Only DeSantis among those candidates has endorsed Trump, who also has not received the backing of his former Vice President Mike Pence.

And yes, polls close at 7 p.m. However, Doyle said those already in line before that time ― if there is a line ― will be able to cast their ballot.

Just make sure you're in the right place, he said.

Residents must vote in their assigned precinct, which can be found on your voter information card, on the Lee elections site, or by calling the agency at (239) 533-8383.

Keep checking back today for more updates.

Based at the Naples Daily News, Columnist Phil Fernandez (pfernandez@gannett.com) grew up in Southwest Florida and has led Pulitzer Prize-winning efforts. He writes In the Know for USA TODAY Network, which supplemented this report. Support Democracy. Subscribe to a newspaper.