The Duval County Canvassing Board, which had announced its Friday meeting would start at 9:30, actually started at 9 a.m., apparently without prior announcement.

Judge Gary Flower, who is the named chairman of the board, is sitting as chairman right now. Judge Dawn Hudson will take over later, and then later in the afternoon, Judge Eleni Derke will take over.

The board still isn't allowing photography. Judge Flower asked if they could just begin canvassing and then discuss it more during recess. Flower, before I arrived, said he's asked the secretary of state if they need to re-do the earlier ballots because of Shore's resignation.

City Councilwoman Joyce Morgan, the alternate for Michael Boylan, is sitting in for him.

Correction: Derke is serving tomorrow. Just Hudson and Flower today. Thank you to @wjxtjimpiggott who let me hear some of the audio he captured of the earlier part of the meeting.

Flower: "I’d like to restore the public confidence in this process. I’d like to proceed forward" with counting ballots.

Flower discussed how the board might have to redo ballots bc of Shore's resignation, but he didn't address the possibility they have to redo ballots due to Sunshine Law violations.

"One of the most important functions of the board is ensuring we are getting these ballots finished in a timely fashion so people in this state can get their results."

Chris Hand, lawyer for the Duval Dems: "I want to focus on the issue of transparency. This process has a cloud over it, and it’s had a cloud over it now for more than 20 days," when the board adopted rules banning photography and banning objections from observers.

Flower said he'd address issues of recording/photography and objections later. First, he wanted to count ballots, which they're now doing. You can follow the live-stream here, though that live-stream doesn't show the re-made ballots that will get counted. https://zoom.us/j/96676480440?pwd=WElDaVZsdG1haUtwdGRKMXJiTkF6QT09

Flower said it's normal for judges to regularly rotate in past elections. Flower wants the alternates present when they discuss potential rule changes later, and he asked if alternates can participate in discussions even if they can't vote. Rules say yes. https://twitter.com/NateMonroeTU/status/1322175676674416643

During canvassing, we've gotten to a ballot that was apparently improperly remade. Unfortunately, the public can't see that because the board refuses to live stream the remade ballots.

When mail ballots are rejected by machines, staff remake the ballots but leave questions of voter intent to the board. In this case, it appears staff changed someone's vote for Justice Muñiz's retention. You all can't see that due to the board's rules.

They've now restarted that ballot over with staff filling it out correctly. Fortunately, they caught that error.

Here's another ballot, very inappropriately filled out, but the rules say if you're consistent and you can determine voter intent, the board can count the votes. Remember to fill in the bubble, not the words.

They're asking if they can clearly tell that he intended to vote for Jimmy Midyette or not. Councilwoman Joyce Morgan says the vote looks consistent to the other votes. Hogan: "Since everyone is unsure, I think we need to just" count it an undervote.

Morgan would vote to count it as Midyette. Flower also votes to count it as Midyette. Only Hogan would rule it an undervote.

This is new. Past canvassing did not have split boards. With Morgan and Flower on here, we're seeing more discussion and debate.

A Jo Jorgensen voter in Duval.

Initially voted for Biden, then changed to the socialist candidate.

A straight-ticket Democrat in Riverside/Westside who voted against raising the minimum wage to $15 by 2026.

Someone who initially voted no on 1st DCA judge Clay Roberts, who led the Division of Elections during Bush v. Gore, but switched to yes.

Someone filled in the O in "no" instead of the bubble for Lewis. They rule it an undervote.

One thing that surprises me is just how many people will skip other races and still vote for the soil and water conservation. Folks have strong opinions about the volunteer non-taxing supervisory boards.

Don't use blue ink, folks.

You can't see it, but this was a Republican straight-ticket voter in Mandarin/San Marco/Lakewood area who voted to raise the minimum wage.

When someone says "error" are they saying the yes vote was the error or the no vote? It sounded like Flower thought this should be a yes vote on Makar, but Morgan and Hogan thought it should be a no vote.

Mickey Mouse is not a valid candidate.

Here is the board having a conversation while we are in recess. I can’t hear anything.

An OGC lawyer says this is a discussion of procedure and doesn't have to be public. I can hear snippets.
"My opinion is it's their responsibility" is one part

Assistant General Counsel Jason Teal: "You're not voting ..."

The group has stopped talking but Boylan and Hogan are talking with one another while we wait for the meeting to begin.

The Canvassing Board is now allowing photographs, which means my buddy Bob Self gets to be here. https://www.jacksonville.com/story/news/politics/elections/2020/10/30/live-duval-canvassing-board-meets-after-chair-resigns-over-controversy/6084698002/