Mendocino County residents showed up in high numbers for Tuesday's election, navigating an evolving voting process that currently combines mail-in ballots with traditional polling places. Despite the generally smooth transition, some voters were unaware they needed to bring the ballots they received in the mail if they planned to vote in person, causing a slight bottleneck.
Eric Hart, an election judge at the Willits Community Center, reported steady turnout, noting that while there were occasional slow periods, the volume of voters was double that of previous elections. “There’s been a lot of energy here. It’s busy, but manageable,” Hart said.
This election marked the first time every registered voter in Mendocino County received a mail-in ballot for a presidential election. The new system led to an increased use of provisional ballots for voters who arrived at polling places without their mail-in ballots. "When they don’t have their mail-in ballot, we issue a provisional one to ensure no one votes twice,” Hart explained.
Observers were present at various locations, monitoring the process calmly. “We’ve had a few people come in to observe, and it’s been peaceful,” said Hart, who added that observers generally stayed for short periods.
In contrast to the polling places, there was a long line at the office of the Registrar of Voters. One of the people waiting there was Anita Brazil, who came to the Registrar of Voters office in person after misplacing her mail-in ballot. “It’s lively here,” she remarked. “People are excited to cast their votes and make an impact.”
The energy extended to first-time voters celebrating the moment. One voter, accompanied by her small white dog named Feo, described her first voting experience as “a big step,” expressing pride in her participation.
Across Mendocino County, Democratic and Republican watch parties buzzed with optimism early in the eening. At the Mendocino County Republican Party event, Chair Deb Hughes expressed hope for a win by Donald Trump, praising his economic policies from his first term, including “low inflation, high employment, and tax cuts.” Hughes voiced concerns about foreign relations, especially regarding North Korea, China, and Russia, fearing these tensions could escalate into global conflict.
More than 24 hours after the polls have closed, Mendocino County continues to count ballots. Preliminary results are available on the KZYX.org website, with a full report to follow when the count is completed.
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