With more than one-third of precincts reporting results for several South Florida races, clues are emerging about potential winners, from those for Congress to state legislature to county, city and school board seats, while others are still up for grabs.
In a closely watched race to represent Florida's 25th Congressional District -- a battle largely played out in television attack ads -- Republican David Rivera is beating Democrat Joe Garcia by less than 10 percentage points, although one-third of precincts in the district -- stretching from West Miami-Dade into Collier County -- have not reported results.
In another close battle between for Florida's 22nd Congressional District, which includes parts of Broward and Palm Beach counties, Democrat incumbent Ron Klein and Republican Allen West are within 10 percentage points of each other, with a little less than half of precincts reporting.
In Florida's 17th Congressional District, Democrat Frederica S. Wilson is expected to win with an immense lead over independent candidate Roderick D. Vereen, and currently holds about 86 percent of the vote as almost half of precincts reporting results, In Florida's 18th Congressional District, incumbent Republican Ileana Ros-Lehtinen is also expected to easily beat Democrat Rolando Banciella, and current holds 70 percent of the vote with more than half of precincts reporting.
In Florida's 20th Congressional District, which includes parts of Broward and urban areas of Miami-Dade, incumbent Democrat Debbie Wasserman Schultz is leading Republican opponent Karen Harrington and two independent candidates.
Republican Pam Bondi defeated Democrat Dan Gelber of Miami Beach by about 15 percentage points in a hotly contested race for Florida attorney general. Republican Jeff Atwater defeated Democrat Loranne Ausley by 20 percentage points to become the state's chief financial officer.
Most polls closed at 7 p.m in Miami-Dade and Broward counties and at 8 p.m. in the Panhandle. Election Day proceeded without major glitches, though a few mishaps cropped up after polls opened at 7 a.m.
Shortly after 8 p.m., Broward Supervisor of Elections Brenda Snipes said there were still voters waiting in line at some precincts. At one polling site, Snipers said, a ballot-scanning machine failed to work and ballots were placed in an emergency bin to be counted later. Snipes said Broward would post the night's final unofficial results shortly before midnight.
Most voting in Miami-Dade also went smoothly, reported county spokeswoman Marie Bertot. In one glitch, voters at Aventura Community Recreation Center found themselves casting ballots in the dark late Tuesday morning after power at the center and surrounding neighborhood went down for about 45 minutes. Lights went back on about 11:15 a.m., eliciting a few cheers.
At the Country Walk Park Recreation Center in Southwest Miami-Dade, witnesses and an elections spokeswoman said one voter received an incorrect ballot. Bertot said the problem was caught before the ballot was cast.
Complaints were also lodged against logistical problems at precincts.
At Ferguson Senior High in Southwest Miami-Dade, voters complained that while their precinct was located on the school's second floor, the elevator granting access was locked, and security had to let people in to vote.
Congestion from the Fort Lauderdale International Boat Show caused parking problems outside the International Swimming Hall of Fame, and led elections representatives to move the hall's precinct to Virginia Shuman Young Elementary.
Long lines were also a problem outside some precincts in Hialeah and Miami.
Voters waited about 40 minutes to cast ballots at Jose Marti Gymnasium in east Little Havana, a wait exacerbated by a lengthy ballot.
Almost 3 million of the state's roughly 11 million registered voters cast absentee or early ballots, according to state spokeswoman Jennifer Krell Davis.
That's low compared to the 2008 presidential elections, but Davis said the turnout is considerable for a mid-term election.
Read more: http://www.miamiherald.com/2010/11/02/1904988/as-polls-close-south-floridians.html?asset_id=1904052&asset_type=gallery#ixzz14Bhp8DO4
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