Another Election on the Horizon

JACKSONVILLE, FL -- One special election is history, another is three weeks away as voters on the First Coast will vote to fill the state senate seat held by the late Jim King.

On Tuesday, Republican John Thrasher won the primary election closed to Democrats. Thrasher got nearly 40% of the vote in the District 8 senate race.

The general election is set for October 6, when Thrasher's name will appear on the ballot along with a blank line for the write-in candidates.

The write-in candidates, according the Division of Elections Office, are all from Jacksonville. Alden Bryanton, Robert Ratten and John Russo will oppose Thrasher.

The two elections locally for the senate seat will cost in the neighborhood of $750,000, says Supervisor of Elections Jerry Holland.

The state picks up the tab for special elections.

Holland says absentee ballots are being prepared for the October 6 election and should be in the mail in the next week or so.

Voter turnout for the senate election in Jacksonville was 21%, with Holland expecting a much lower turnout for the October election.

©2009 First Coast News. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, rewritten, or redistributed.