Low voter turnout expected on Central Coast

The midterm election day is Tuesday, but the big question on the Central Coast and California is voter turnout.

The primary elections in California saw the lowest turnout in the state’s history, but the highest number of vote by mail ballots.

“A lot of people bringing their ballots last minute,” said Claudio Valenzuela, Monterey County’s registrar of voters.

“I can’t complain if I don’t vote,” said Judy Andreasian, a first-grade teacher in Salinas. “It’s important to me, a lot of these issues effect my school and what’s going on so I definitely want to vote.”

However, the numbers don’t support Andreasian’s enthusiasm.

According to the elections department, 68 percent vote by mail in Monterey County. They sent out 114,000 ballots and about 30,000 have come back so far.

In Santa Cruz County more than 50 percent vote by mail.

“Every election we have to prepare for 100 percent turnout,” Valenzuela said.

The Mo. Co. Election Department staff will be back at 5:30 in the morning Tuesday making sure their 800 poll workers are ready to go.

“I think we share a passion for what we do to make sure democracy is alive and well,” Valenzuela said.

Sherrie Payne shares a similar sentiment, she’s lived in Salinas for 63 years she said. She added she has no sympathy for those don’t vote.

They shouldn’t complain (about) issues (if they aren’t) voting, they need to come out and vote,” she said.

Polls open at 7 a.m. and voters can still turn in vote by mail ballots to the polling stations at any time.