JACKSONVILLE, Fla. — Early voting took off in a handful of local counties Monday.
Dozens of voters in Duval County camped outside the Pablo Creek Regional Library for early voting.
Many waited in line for hours and some even brought lawn chairs.
Our Action News Jax Sky Vision drone flew over the library and around 7:30 a.m., you could see the line making its way all the way down to the end of the building.
“Normally I’m in 15 to 20 minutes and then we’re right back out. So I was a little shocked this morning when I came in and it was wrapped around the building,” Spryte Kimmey said.
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“It took me about an hour and half to get to there and then maybe five to 10 minutes to fill out everything,” said Kelton Rahusen, another voter.
This year poll workers are required to wear face masks because of the COVID-19 pandemic.
Kimmey told Action News Jax when she went inside to vote, she did notice that all the voting booths were wiped down and that the poll workers were practicing social distancing.
STORY: How to check wait times at early voting locations in Duval County
“When I had to get my sticker, it was already placed somewhere. They kept their distance. They pointed to certain areas for me to go,” Kimmey said.
But not everyone wanted to brave the long lines and wait it out. Masood Kola took one look at the line and turned around.
“It’s a long line, I was thinking I will come back maybe later on today or tomorrow morning,” Kola said.
The Duval County Supervisor of Election Mike Hogan told me voters need to be patient and in order to try and speed up this process don’t forget your photo ID and your sample ballot so you’re already familiar with all the amendments.
Still, Kimmey said waiting almost two hours in line was important for her and her family.
“It was just something for me to show my children that our vote counts and everybody should take the time. It doesn’t matter what party you’re affiliated with. You should just go out and vote,” she said.
Early voting starts Oct. 19th until Nov. 1.
Polls are open at early voting sites from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m.