Government

As the voting day has progressed, we've seen some reports of irregularities.. Throughout the day, we'll be surveying our reporters and other news organizations and keep track of significant irregularities in this post.

So far, the big problem has been long lines. Some voters have had to wait hours in line to cast their ballot in battleground states like Florida and Virginia and those affected by Superstorm Sandy like New York.

We'll start with Florida:

For most of us, Election Day marks a welcome end to months of relentless political ads and partisan bickering. You show up at your polling place, run the gantlet of sign-wielding campaign volunteers, and join your fellow Americans in long lines that inch toward the voting booth.

For Republicans itching to regain control of the Senate, Tuesday's election presents a rare opportunity. Only 10 GOP incumbents are on the ballot, compared with nearly two dozen Democrats and independents who caucus with them.

That means the magic number for Republicans is low. They need only a net gain of three or four seats to take over the Senate — and, assuming they keep the U.S. House of Representatives, consolidate their influence on Capitol Hill. Democrats need to pick up 25 seats to seize the House, a goal that political analysts consider all but out of reach.

Congressman Charlie Gonzalez is reminding voters and election workers that picture IDs are not required to cast a ballot in Texas. He spoke to Texas Secretary of State Hope Andrade about reinforcing the message that Texas has no Voter ID law. 

Congressman Gonzalez was upset last week to read that a Dallas Morning News columnist was asked for a driver’s license when he presented a utility bill at the polling station.

San Antonians are heading to the polls to vote for candidates in a number of races and the Pre-K 4 SA proposal – to raise the sales tax one eighth of a cent to pay for a full day pre-kindergarten program that proponents say will help turn around the city’s dropout problem.

Mayor Julián Castro is the biggest supporter for Pre-K for SA and says it’s not a silver bullet, but a big step in the right direction.

Bexar County Commissioner Kevin Wolff opposes the proposal  because it raises taxes and he says there are too many unanswered questions.

Republican Francisco "Quico" Canseco is mounting his first defense of the seat he won two years ago from Ciro Rodriguez. The Democrats want to put this massive district back in the blue column, and State Representative Pete Gallego of Alpine is their nominee.

The 23rd Congressional District is seen as Republican-leaning and is massive – starting in San Antonio and reaching all the way west just shy of El Paso, stretching hundreds of miles along the Texas-Mexico border.

As the first five days of early voting came to a close, Texas Secretary of State Hope Andrade visited election sites across the state to praise the high turnout during early voting.  Andrade stopped in Bexar County on Friday as election monitors from Europe are being threatened by the state's attorney general.

The two election observers visiting the state are from the Organization for Security and Co-operation in Europe.

Following a transition to the new Public Safety Headquarters – the new home of the San Antonio Police Department – Police Chief William McManus is pushing for a change that will change the look of the department to the public.

Bexar County has inked a deal that will give residents a discount on prescription drugs and add funds to another county health program.

The Coast-2-Coast RX Card is free to anyone, and Martin Dettelbach of Financial Marketing Concepts Inc., said it's similar to other prescription discount cards. He said his company has worked out agreements with pharmaceutical companies based on volume.

Candidates don’t often miss the opportunity to deflect what another candidate might be saying, but Texas Senate District 25 candidate John Courage, a Democrat, has frequently had the chance to speak to voters by himself lately; even though his opponent, Republican Donna Campbell, has been invited to the same events.