Election offices expecting record turnout

It all comes down to today. Thousands of Mid-Valley voters will cast ballots to decide several tight political elections locally and nationally as well as a dozen state propositions, bringing months of campaigning to an end.

From the presidential race to Proposition 8 that would ban same-sex marriage in California to proposed sales tax increases in Marysville and Colusa, registrars in Yuba, Sutter and Colusa counties have said this election could bring voters out in droves.

Election officials on Monday reported increases in vote-by-mail ballots.

In Yuba County, more than 7,700 ballots were turned in by mail. Sutter County reported nearly 10,000 mail ballots and Colusa County received nearly 2,000 vote-by-mail ballot requests.

The total number of registered voters has increased in Yuba County, according to County Clerk Terry Hansen. More than 3,000 new voters registered for a total of about 32,000.

Sutter County estimated 4,400 new voters registered for this election. A total of roughly 42,000 are registered.

Colusa County reported 570 newly registered voters in this election for at total of about 8,000.

County clerks said about half the number of ballots sent out in the mail were returned as of Monday. They must be received by 8 p.m. today.

Colusa County Clerk Kathleen Moran said, though there are large number of issues on the ballot, the presidential election is the largest draw.

"People are excited," she said recently. "They want to be more involved."

In addition to the presidential race, Yuba City's City Council race with three candidates seeking two seats and the District 1 Sutter County supervisor race pitting incumbent Larry Montna against Rick Libby could bring voters to the polls. Live Oak and Wheatland also have city council races.

Special and school districts also have numerous positions up for grabs in the Mid-Valley, along with the District 2 Congressional race and two state assembly seats.

Marysville Joint Unified, Plumas Lake and Wheatland High School school districts each have bond measures on the ballot.

Rains and wind that visited the Mid-Valley over the weekend were expected to clear overnight Monday making way for sunny skies for voters ready to cast their election day ballots.

Yuba County registrar Terry Hansen has estimated as many as 80 percent of registered voters could show up to the polls.

"I can't believe I'm saying that," she said of the estimate. "We've never seen it that high."

Hansen said Yuba County's highest turnout percentage has been the 67 percent turnout for the 2004 presidential election.

The high number of voters could delay final results on some close races, Hansen said. But, she said, all votes will be counted.

Results do not become official until the completion of the canvass and the results are certified by each county's board of supervisors 28 days after the election.

Polls will be open from 7 a.m. to 8 p.m. today. Hansen recommends that in order to avoid the anticipated long lines, voters should bring their sample ballots with them because ballots are long this year.

"Two pages is a lot to read through at the polls," she said. "If you don't know how you're voting (until Election Day) you could contribute to long lines."

Voting Info

Mid-Valley polling places are open from 7 a.m. to 8 p.m. Voters with questions or needing to report problems can call the election office in their county.

• Colusa County: 458-0500 or go to colusacountyclerk.com

• Sutter County: 822-7122 or go to www.suttercounty.org

• Yuba County: 749-7855 or go to www.yuba.org

The Appeal-Democrat's Robert LaHue contributed to this report.