Campaign over, it's decision time in Stanislaus County

Races mark a first for Modesto voters

Bee Staff Reports

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Local government is up for grabs today as Stanislaus County voters head to the polls to select their choices for a mix of school boards, city councils and irrigation districts.

The polls opened this morning at 7 o'clock, and there was a relatively light turnout reported at some polling places.

At the polling station at the Oak Valley Veterinarian Hospital on Oakdale Road, which serves some Village I residents, just four voters had cast ballots by 8 a.m. There were other reports of light turnout elsewhere.

Modesto Bee - A sign points the way for voters to the polling place at the Turlock School District, Tuesday, November 4, 2008 (Debbie Noda/The Modesto Bee)

Get Information Online

On Election Day, there will be no better place to be than modbee.com. On our Web site, you'll find in-depth coverage of the region's key races, along with video interviews featuring Bee reporters at the end of the night. The Web site features links to the location of polling places, a list of candidates in most races and biographic material about them. The first results will be posted at modbee.com after 8:15 p.m.

WHERE TO GO

To find your polling place, check the back of your sample ballot book, call your registrar of voters office or check its Web site. Absentee ballots can be dropped off at the election office or any polling place.

ELECTION OFFICES

Stanislaus County: 525-5200, www.stanvote.com.

San Joaquin County: 468-2885, www.sjcrov.org.

Merced County: 385-7501, www.co.merced.ca.us/elections.

At the polling place at the Girl Scouts regional office in north Modesto, about 20 ballots had been cast by 8:15 a.m., half from walk-ins and half from people who had turned in absentee ballots.

In nonpresidential election years, turnout can be light.

Last year, 71 percent of registered voters in Stanislaus County went to the polls. In odd-numbered year elections, the last few have drawn from 21 to 45 percent.

Today marks the end of a hot campaign season in Modesto. Voters will select City Council members from geographic districts for the first time.

Modesto voters also will decide who will fill four seats on the Modesto City Schools Board of Education and three directorships at the Modesto Irrigation District.

Riverbank voters today will end a year of political turmoil by choosing one of six candidates running for mayor. Two mayors have stepped down from office since last year's election.

Elsewhere, voters from Salida to Turlock and Newman to Waterford face decisions on contested school board races.

The polls close at 8 p.m.