Duval County voters have cast more than 96,000 ballots through the first five days of early voting, according to the Supervisor of Elections' nightly update for Saturday, Oct. 24.

The official tally stood at 96,444 votes, a 14.72% turnout rate. That figure jumped from 62,926 on Thursday, Oct. 22, to 79,691 on Friday, Oct. 23, as daily totals ranged from roughly 12,700 to more than 14,000.

Supervisor of Elections Jerry Holland told News4Jax his office is optimistic turnout could surpass the 62% record set in 2018. Holland said election staff will work 12-hour days Monday through Friday as early voting enters its second week.

Extended hours take effect Monday, Oct. 26. Polls will be open 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. through Friday, Oct. 30. Weekend hours on Saturday, Oct. 31, and Sunday, Nov. 1, are 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Nov. 1 is the final day of early voting. Election Day is Tuesday, Nov. 3.

Mandarin-area residents can vote at two neighborhood libraries: the Mandarin Branch Library at 3330 Kori Road and the South Mandarin Branch Library at 12125 San Jose Blvd. Registered Duval County voters may cast ballots at any of the county's 24 early voting sites, regardless of their assigned Election Day precinct.

Across the county on Saturday, community groups turned out at polling locations. At the Legends Center at Lonnie C. Miller Regional Park on Jacksonville's Northside, local churches and nonpartisan organizations encouraged participation. Mt. Sinai Missionary Baptist Church Lead Pastor Reginald L. Gundy said the church distributed groceries to more than 200 families during a "pop-up party at the polls." The church offered groceries whether people voted or not, News4Jax reported.

The Jacksonville Branch NAACP (National Association for the Advancement of Colored People) also spoke with voters about ballot issues and amendments at the site. Sandra Thompson, the branch's secretary, said the group avoids telling voters which candidates to support.

"A lot of them are asking who to vote for. We don't tell them who to go vote for," Thompson told News4Jax. "We just say make sure that you vote, but we're telling them about the issues."

Secure ballot drop boxes are available inside each early voting location during voting hours for voters who prefer to return their vote-by-mail ballots in person. All mail ballots must reach the Supervisor of Elections office by 7 p.m. on Election Day to be counted.

As we reported Oct. 15, Duval County's 13-day early voting window runs through Nov. 1 at 24 locations countywide.