Lodi sees a busy day at the polls

Nov. 6—The San Joaquin County Registrar of Voters said there were no hiccups or reports of fraud on Tuesday afternoon as residents cast ballots in the election.

"Nothing other than we are super busy and will continue to serve voters until 8 p.m.," ROV Olivia Hale said.

Polling places across Lodi said there was a steady flow of voters coming through the doors, either to fill out ballots in person or place completed ballots in drop boxes.

"It was very busy on opening," poll worker Julie Jensen said. "There were many people waiting for us to open the doors. It's been steady ever since."

Jensen was one of a handful of volunteers manning the polling location at Radiant Life Church on Crescent Avenue.

She worked during the March primary, and said it seemed like there were twice as many voters casting ballots in person on Tuesday.

"It's quite a lot," she said. "Including a lot of people who have to register to vote today. We had quite a few people who had to register or re-register."

Marlena Lano was voting for the first time at the church, and said it felt good to cast a ballot, adding it it felt she was performing her "due diligence."

"(Voting) is very important," she said. "I think it has a lot to do with our future and how our lives are going to be impacted afterwards."

Audrey Siria said voting was a way for citizens to ask for change.

"If you have a problem with how things are going or you want to see a change, then it's definitely super important to vote," she said. "You cant have change if you don't vote."

At the Grape Festival on Lockeford Street, poll worker Kristyn Gonzalez said there had been a steady stream of voters casting ballots.

"We've had small groups coming in," she said. "It might like one or two coming, and then it might be like 10 coming. It's always like a flow."

Lisely Felix-Mendoza and Wendy Pulido cast their ballots at the Grape Festival, and said this year's election was just as important as the 2020 election.

"I believe our voice is meant to be heard," Felix-Mendoza said. "And there a lot of people out there that are in between of certain beliefs, but we're all meant to be heard in America."

Pulido agreed.

"I think voting is a privilege," she said "As a resident of this country I have to do my duty to vote. It is not just for me, it's for the future of whatever kids I have, my family."

While Hale said no reports of suspicious activity had been reported to her staff, the San Joaquin County Sheriff's Office said the Department of Justice deployed federal observers to monitor polling places throughout the county, as well as 86 other jurisdictions nationwide to help ensure the accuracy of voting.