California Primary: Nearly 1 Million Absentee Ballots Requested in San Diego County

SAN DIEGO, CA: Sorting and scanning of about 30 percent of nearly a million absentee ballots requested by San Diego County voters was under way Monday in advance of Tuesday's presidential primary election.

"So far, we have received 291,373 out of 970,109 mail ballots that were sent to voters," Registrar of Voters Michael Vu said Monday. "They’re being sorted and scanned now so they’ll be ready to count right when the polls close at 8 p.m. on Election Night Tuesday."

Of those turned in early, around 43 percent were Democratic, according to the San Diego-based National University System Institute for Policy Research.

"Early ballot returns reveal San Diego is in the midst of a high-turnout blue primary, which may impact down-ballot local races," said Vince Vasquez of the NUSIPR. 

"Local voter interest and participation have been buoyed by the numerous public presidential campaign events held here in recent weeks, as well as the tightening race between Bernie Sanders and Hillary Clinton," he said.  "As we approach Election Day, it will be critical for local campaigns to devote significant resources to Get-Out-The-Vote efforts to turn out voters and secure votes in a cycle dominated by presidential politics."

Vasquez projects the countywide turnout Tuesday will be around 50-53 percent, a relatively high figure fueled by interest in the presidential primary race — particularly on the Democratic side, where front- runner Hillary Clinton hasn't quite clinched the nomination.

Mail-ballot voters who have yet to turn theirs in may do so until 5 p.m. Monday at the Registrar's Office, 5600 Overland Ave. in San Diego, or between 7 a.m. and 8 p.m. Tuesday at the Registrar's Office or any of the county's 1,522 polling locations.

Those who plan to vote at the polls Tuesday were advised to double-check their polling location prior to heading out because neighborhood polling locations can change from election to election. Registered voters can find their assigned location on the back of the sample ballot and voter information packet mailed to them. Alternatively, voters can type their address into the online polling place locator or view their sample ballot online.

For voters who need language assistance, election materials are also available in Spanish, Filipino, Vietnamese and Chinese. 

Any other questions about voting in Tuesday's election can be directed to 858-565-5800. Information is also available online at visit Sdvote.com. 

—City News Service contributed to this report. 

(Image via Shutterstock)