San Diego County Hits 64% Midterm Turnout as 13,000 Register on the Day
Registrar Shawn Brom reports record-breaking in-person participation and long lines at college campuses, with 765,000 ballots received as of November 4.
By Rebecca Foster ·
San Diego County experienced elevated voter participation during the midterm election, a trend that pushed turnout figures into the upper tier of recent history.
County Registrar of Voters Shawn Brom stated that the office processed ballots until approximately 3:30 a.m. on November 5 to ensure timely reporting. Initial results appeared on the registrar’s website just after 8 p.m. on Election Day. Brom noted that the team released data at 10 p.m., 11 p.m., midnight, 1 a.m., and again near 2:30 a.m. to keep the public informed while the count continued.
Approximately 90,000 individuals visited vote centers on November 3. Of that total, 13,000 people registered to vote and cast their ballots at the same location. Brom indicated that these in-person figures represented a notable increase compared to previous midterms, driven by a specific uptick in vote center activity rather than mail ballots alone. The combined figure of in-person voters and mail ballots received suggests a turnout rate of just over 64% among the 2 million registered voters in the county.
The registrar’s website listed over 765,000 received ballots as of November 4, with an estimated 540,000 still outstanding. This total places the current election among the highest midterm turnout rates in the county’s recent record, comparable to the elections of 1982, 2010, and 2018. Brom said the office is analyzing this year’s data to adjust future operations, including potential increases in staffing, equipment, or the number of voting sites in specific areas.
Long wait times occurred at various locations during the evening hours. The registrar’s website showed delays exceeding one or two hours at multiple centers in the late afternoon and early night. Brom identified college campuses as the primary sites for these extended lines. He confirmed that a couple of locations were still accepting votes two hours after the polls closed at 8 p.m. on November 3.
Voters at the central Registrar of Voters office described their experiences as efficient. Mercy Ebuetse, a recently naturalized citizen from Nigeria, said she and her husband voted in person as a civic duty. Her husband took time off work to accompany her to the polls. Ebuetse described the shared experience as special for new citizens. Julie Zulueta, who dropped off mail ballots with her family, said the household gathers for every election despite holding different political views. She identified the budget as her top priority when voting.
The certification process for San Diego County election results will continue for several days. County law requires the certification of local results by December 3. Statewide results will be certified and finalized on December 11.
