Orange County Early In-Person Voting: Voting Hints for 2016 Election

MISSION VIEJO, CA — The polling places across Orange County were declared open Tuesday morning by the OC Registrar of Voters.

Already working since the weekend with early collection sites, the numbers are in that Orange County residents care about getting their ballots in. Early, in person voting set records across Orange County on Nov. 7 as voters lined up to cast their ballots.

"In the last three days of early in-person voting we saw gains of 9% over 2012," Orange County Registrar of Voters, Neal Kelley said.

As of 8 p.m. on Monday night, early voting sites reported all was well which ended well at the end of the night.

"We had brisk business until we closed, which was 8 p.m.last night," Kelley said in email. "Scores of people showed up to cast their ballot ahead of Election Day."

According to the OC Registrar of Voters, Irvine led the pack with 1,003 votes cast in a single day, followed by Mission Viejo with 852 and Anaheim with 548 votes.

"Sunday was actually the busiest day overall," Kelley said.

The OC Registrar's office does not have figures on how congested voting day polling places will be on Election Day, Tuesday, November 8, 2016.

"We have mailed a record nearly 1 million vote-by-mail ballots to Orange County voters, so the polling place turnout is likely to be busy but with fewer in-person voters when compared with 2012," Kelley said. "Nevertheless, polling place voters should prepare for congestion during peak voting times and plan ahead prior to voting (peak voting times include 7 a.m. to 9 a.m. and 5 p.m. to 8 p.m.)."

Parking will be limited at some locations, and turnout stronger at certain polling places.

According to Kelley, it is critical to "be prepared prior to going to the polling place."

"This includes anticipating wait times, pre-marking sample ballots, and going to the assigned polling place," he said.

The average time for each person to vote a blank ballot form is approximately 8 minutes.

"We appreciate voters' patience and those who arrive at their polling place prior to 8 p.m. will be allowed to vote," he said.

The early in-person voting, city by city breakdown of the last three days:

• Irvine 11/5/16 = 680
• Irvine 11/6/16 = 976
• Irvine 11/7/16 = 1,003
• Total early in-person voting in Irvine = 2,656

• Mission Viejo 11/5/16 = 852
• Mission Viejo 11/5/16 =894
• Mission Viejo 11/5/16 =749
• Total early in-person in Mission Viejo = 2,495

• Anaheim 11/5/16 = 548
• Anaheim 11/6/16 = 603
• Anaheim = 11/7/16 = 741
• Total early in-person voting in Anaheim = 1,892

• Westminster 11/5/16 = 462
• Westminster 11/6/16 = 510
• Westminster 11/7/16 = 682
• Total early in-person voting in Westminster = 1,654

• Costa Mesa 11/5/16 = 402
• Costa Mesa 11/6/16 = 436
• Costa Mesa 11/7/16 = 668
• Total early in-person voting in Costa Mesa = 838

• Total early in-person in Santa Ana = 8,698

OC Registrar of Voters, Photo