With the presidential election just five days away, voters across the nation are casting ballots through mail-in and early voting at historic levels. As of Thursday at 5 p.m., 63,000,657 Americans had already voted, a mix of mail-in and in-person early votes, with California accounting for 6,010,176 of those ballots. In Mendocino County, 18,000 residents have already voted, highlighting a turnout rate of one in every 2.85 registered voters — higher than the national rate of one in 3.25 voters.
In the last presidential election, Mendocino County saw a 57% turnout, compared to a national turnout of 66%. The high number of early and mail-in ballots is expected to minimize Election Day lines, with polling stations prepared to assist voters needing replacements or provisional ballots.
To ensure preparedness, the Mendocino County Registrar of Voters held a poll worker training in Fort Bragg on Thursday, covering common voter questions and state regulations. Tess Albin-Smith, a Fort Bragg City Council member and longtime poll inspector, shared some of the most frequent queries: “When will my vote be counted? How do I keep this private? Why do I need to vote provisionally when I’ve voted here for 20 years?”
Voters were reminded that certain attire, such as apparel displaying candidate names, is prohibited within 100 feet of polling entrances, as it constitutes electioneering. However, general slogans without candidate names, like “MAGA,” are permitted. Registrar Katrina Bartelme clarified, “The state is concerned about names, not slogans.”
For voters wanting ballot status updates, Mendocino County advises them to check BallotTrax, an online service that tracks mailed ballots. Voters can log in with their name, birthdate, and ZIP code to see if their ballot has reached the registrar’s office.
Meanwhile, the 2022 Electoral Count Reform Act aims to avoid a repeat of the 2020 election's uncertainties, making it harder for Congress members to contest the vote count. Jenna Peterson of CalMatters reports that only four of California’s 12 Republican representatives have pledged to certify election results. John Fleischman, former California GOP executive director, suggests it’s a strategic choice to maintain grassroots support.
Mendocino County’s mail-in ballots will start being counted over the weekend, with results reported on election night starting at 8 p.m. Updates will continue every two hours, although ballots mailed on Election Day may not be counted immediately. The U.S. Postal Service has pledged extraordinary measures to expedite ballot delivery within seven days.
As voter turnout continues to climb, Mendocino County appears ready for a smooth Election Day, backed by robust early participation and trained poll workers.
