Turnout steady at Modesto-area polls, with many first-time voters, workers report

Poll workers across the Modesto area were kept busy Tuesday by veterans of voting and a flood of first-timers.

At the Modesto Airport, worker Matthew Mason noted that traffic was steady all day. "We have had a lot of first-time voters, many people dropping off ballots and voting in-person," he said.

Fellow poll worker Barry Courtney agreed and added, "People have been excited to vote today, especially those for the first time. They have been taking selfies and photos of the experience."

One first-time voter is Cecil Johnson, 20. "I found the process easy to understand and appreciated the explanations on the ballot so I could learn more about things and how to best vote. I just think it is important to vote, to share my opinion," he said.

Downtown at the Stanislaus County Clerk-Recorder's office, motorists were bumper to bumper to place their ballots in the drop box, while a stream of voters lined up to cast their votes in person.

Clerk-Recorder and Registrar of Voters Donna Linder said, "It has been a crazy day, steady and busy all day." She noted that while she could not yet gauge the turnout, enthusiasm and traffic have been high and she thinks the final numbers may reflect that. Linder said she has heard the same from the many poll centers around the county.

She also offered this assurance about ballots. "We are very thorough and will be counting ballots over the coming days and weeks, so don't be discouraged if you do not see your ballot update right away. We have to verify all signatures and so the process will take some time."

Mitzy Collantes, a second-time voter, said certain propositions are important to her. "I went to school in Ceres, and had a very good education and I want to ensure that future generations have the same opportunity," the 21-year-old said. "I don't mind paying some taxes that will help fund important things like education and the environment."

Collantes had some advice for people on the fence about voting, "Sometimes voting is uncomfortable and can divide people, but I think it is very important."

At the Salida Library, April Machado reported being a regular voter, but "I felt this election was significantly important because we are at a crucial crossroad where our daily lives are significantly impacted from one party to the other.

"I found Prop. 36 interesting. Increased sentences for repeat drug and theft offenders. Increased sentences for fentanyl. Most importantly to me was that they can now charge a felony for smash-and-grab offenders under $950.

Salida Library voting station lead Danica Gantney has been working at county polling stations since 2020.

The library has a drop box outside, but the majority of people have come inside to vote, Gantney said.

The library had so many voters turn out that she needed to add more tables because there were so many people standing up with no space to fill out their ballots. "We've been nonstop since 7 a.m."

Though the in-person voting center has been open 11 days, Gantney said, "today's been our biggest turnout."

Kristin Jabs-Ellenburg "always" votes, but "especially this time because the future of our country and the rights of so many people are at stake."

Asked if there are any local or state races that were of particular interest, Jabs-Ellenburg said, "Not really. I feel like we're voting for the same things over and over again but in a different language."

Also at the Salida site was voter Ashlyn Slinkard, who said, "I have voted every election since I turned 18. I think it's very important to vote for what you believe in. This election especially. This could be life or death for America as we know it, the land of the free. Will we continue down a path where our paychecks are gone before they even hit our account, or will we be able to afford life outside of basic necessities like groceries and gasoline?

"Democrats have taken the House 12 years of the last 16 and the only break we have seen are the four years Trump took office."

Roman Scanlon, director of CalPride Stanislaus, told The Bee, "I think a lot of our peers and staff" are experiencing heightened anxiety because of the elections. "When certain people are on ballots, it makes a little bit nerve-racking, especially our trans groups are really worried about the outcome, just because of what effects it will have on them. So we're being very, very mindful of everybody's feelings."

And at the Petersen Event Center in downtown Modesto, voter John Mogda said he was impressed by poll workers' performance. "Everyone knew what they were doing, they seemed to be on the right page about everything."