Fort Myers Beach, Florida

Iran has begun a partial recount of votes cast in the June 12 presidential election.

On Jan. 7th, 1789, the first U.S. presidential election was held.

Is it forward thinking, or simply jumping the gun? With some gun buyers fearing a return to 1990s Clinton-era firearm regulations, several gun shops in Lee and Collier counties are reporting increased sales in the wake of Barack Obama’s election as the 44th president of the United States.

The numbers might indicate that Collier County voters care less than Lee County voters about their privilege to choose their laws and leaders. Collier’s turnout during the 2000 presidential election was 77 percent. For the 2004 presidential election it was, again, 77 percent. But this year, it was about 70 percent. Lee County, on the other hand, had an 85 percent turnout when this Election Day cycle ended Tuesday evening.

The Daily News has invited teachers from Collier County Public Schools and Florida Gulf Coast University to report what they are telling their students today about the presidential election results. If any other teachers wanto to join in, be our guest by adding comments below or emailing Editorial Page Editor Jeff Lytle at jlytle@naplesnews.com. Here are educators’ initial responses …

Shorter lines expected at early voting sites didn’t necessarily translate to short lines at sites in both Collier and Lee counties on Saturday. With a record turnout expected for Tuesday’s presidential election, more than 46,000 Collier County voters already had cast their ballots via early voting before Saturday’s numbers were tabulated.

When the talk at Mel’s Barbershop in Bonita Springs turned to the presidential election late Wednesday morning, candidate Barack Obama found little favor here. “It’s called Communism!” barber Lana Lustik said of the Democrat’s policies. Enter 86-year-old Clif Kroon, a World War II veteran and longtime Mel’s customer. As Kroon shuffled to a chair, his brown leisure suit pants tucked into his white socks, owner Maria Strawder asked him if he had voted. Of course, Kroon replied — for Obama.

What Lee County elections officials consider a necessary precaution against voter fraud has left a Bonita Springs woman worried about whether her vote will be counted. Marilyn Fielding has never in her adult life missed voting in a presidential election, and this year, she went to cast a ballot on the first day of early voting in Florida. She got in line with her husband Monday afternoon at the elections center across from Bell Tower in Fort Myers but she wasn’t allowed to go in with him.

With the presidential election just 22 days away, campaign signs are a common sight outside homes across southwest Florida. While Florida may be a battleground state, one Charlotte County community is facing a campaign war of a different kind.

Alaska: It’s unclear what impact the so-called Troopergate investigation in Alaska may have on the presidential election.

FORT MYERS: If there was any doubt about the importance of Southwest Florida in the upcoming presidential election, it was erased this week.

If there was any doubt about the importance of Southwest Florida in the upcoming presidential election, it was erased this week. By the end of the week, running mates from both political parties will have held public events in Lee County.

About 1,200 people signed up to vote in Collier County Monday, the final day to register before the Nov. 4 General Election. The last-minute rush is not unusual, said Collier County Chief Deputy Supervisor of Elections Gary Beauchamp. Beauchamp said the county tends to get about 1,000 new voters on the last day of registration before a presidential election. It’s difficult to track the source of the surge.

About 1,200 people signed up to vote in Collier County Monday, the final day to register before the Nov. 4 General Election. The last-minute rush is not unusual, said Collier County Chief Deputy Supervisor of Elections Gary Beauchamp. Beauchamp said the county tends to get about 1,000 new voters on the last day of registration before a presidential election. It’s difficult to track the source of the surge.

Collier County residents planning to vote in the Nov. 4 general election must be registered by midnight tonight (Monday, Oct. 6). To better serve residents and provide one last opportunity to register, the Supervisor of Elections Office will be open today until midnight.