Live Updates: Stanislaus Election Day went smoothly, even with high voter turnout
9:10 p.m.: The first round of results, showing 38% of the ballots were posted shortly after 8:00 p.m. when polls closed. Even with high voter turnout, the day went smoothly for county election officials.
“Today was busy, “ said, Donna Linder, Stanislaus County Clerk Recorder, Registrar of Voters, “We were very excited that so many voters were showing up and using our drop boxes and going to our satellite offices.”
Stanislaus County had more than three-quarters of voting by mail, prior to the all vote-by-mail for this election.
“A lot of our voters voted early, which is unusual,” Linder said, “We had 140,000 ballots, and when we looked at 2016, we had 72,000 at the same time that year. So, we’re running about double of what we usually have.”
Linder said there weren’t any problems at the 27 locations for dropping off ballots. The county completed three pick-ups of ballots from the drop boxes before they were locked at 8:00 p.m..
The county has 30 days to certify the election, so much of the clerk’s office work is just beginning.
Betty Welch was the last voter to place her ballot in the drop box outside the county clerk’s office on I Street just shy of 8:00.
“I’ve been ill, I have breathing problems, so I’m avoiding the crowds,” said Welch, a Modesto resident.
She said she voted for Biden because he has experience as the vice president and she doesn’t like Trump’s behavior.
“I voted Biden, straight up, and I’m a Republican, because he makes sense,” said Welch, “Trump’s out of his mind. Fire Dr. Fauci, are you kidding me?”
Although Welch was the last voter at the drop-off box, a handful of voters were still finishing up inside the county clerk’s office. The place had emptied of voters by 8:30 p.m.
8 p.m.: Polls close in Stanislaus County, California
The polls have closed in Stanislaus County, where Donna Linder, the Registrar of Voters, is expected to release three sets of results beginning just after 8 p.m.
We’ll have all the results, and stories about the local races, throughout the night.
6:30 p.m.: Lines forming as voters cast ballots
As the sun was setting, voters were staying in lines at polling places across the county.
Ethan Walsh was in line with his mother Ciara Walsh at Davis High School to vote in a presidential election for the first time.
“I wanted to come vote because I feel like there is not enough representation for people with disabilities like myself,” said Ethan, who uses a wheelchair.
He added that he is worried about the ACA, the Affordable Care Act, being taken away and that people with pre-existing conditions won’t have health insurance.
“As you can see Ethan risked a lot to come out here to cast his vote because we want to make sure that we’re heard, “ said Ciara.
The Walshes did not name their candidate of choice, because they were still waiting in line to turn in their ballot.
At the Stanislaus Veterans Center on Coffee Avenue, veterans and other citizens were waiting in long but quickly moving lines to turn in their ballots.
Kathryn Holland, a post-Vietnam era Navy veteran from Modesto, called Modesto Dial-A-Ride to get a free ride to the veterans center.
“It’s my civic duty and it’s part of the ethics of my life, as I’ve voted in nearly 90% of the elections in my life,” said Holland.
She was eager to share that Donald Trump was her choice.
“I’m voting for President Trump once again for a second term, “ Holland said, “He’s my candidate because of all the presidents in my lifetime...he ranks with John F. Kennedy and Ronald Reagan because, they were most invested in America’s people, us.”
Like many people with whom The Bee talked, the Walshes and Holland said they voted on Election Day to make sure their vote counts.
At the Gene Bianchi Community Center in downtown Oakdale, the line was extending around outside the building, but many voters declined to talk to The Bee.
The Flores brothers, Ricardo and Isaul, are adults, but they were voting for the first time. They both said that’s why they wanted to vote in-person on Election Day.
None of the voters mentioned local candidates or propositions.
12:05 p.m.: Voters discuss casting ballots on Election Day
Some wanted to drop their ballots off by hand rather than mail them off.
Others were hopeful for a peaceful transfer or continuation of power in the presidential race.
As for local races, they weren’t top of mind for a few.
Those were among the thoughts voters expressed on Tuesday’s Election Day outside the polling places at the Stanislaus Veterans Center on Coffee Road and the Sylvan Improvement Club on Sylvan Avenue.
Megan Thomas really wanted to take her time to research the state propositions on the ballot, she said at the Veterans Center, explaining why she waited until Election Day to vote. Some of the propositions are pretty complex and both sides make good arguments, she said.
As for candidates she’s pulling for, Thomas said she hopes Ted Howze and Heath Flora win. “I really like those two.” As far as the outcome of the presidential race, she said she feels only slightly uneasy. “I think there will be some uproar” no matter whether Donald Trump or Joe Biden is victorious, she said. “There will be protests, but I don’t think it will be as bad as people are predicting.”
In local races, Thomas said she didn’t have many strong feelings, but mayoral candidate Sue Zwahlen “won my heart. When I researched her, she did a good job on the school board.”
Theresa Pererra said she couldn’t recall off the top of her head most of her votes in local races, but she did remember that Rick Countryman got her vote for Modesto mayor. Like others, she’s spent much more time focused on the Trump-Biden race.
“I’ve seen people that hate him, and he is rather crude, but he’s accomplished a lot for our country, I think,” Pererra said. “That along with a lot of other things, I voted for him.”
Pedro Rios also said “the national realm has pulled me more than the local races.” And he, too, cast his vote for Trump. Asked about what he anticipates happening as election results become clear, Rios said he doesn’t believe conservatives will “cause chaos” if the president loses.
“Unfortunately, there’s other folks that may not accept” the results, he said. “Let’s say, for example, if Trump was to win, I don’t know how the left is going to take it. On my part, if he loses, hey, those are the results, that’s democracy.”
Fellow voter Brande Carney said that no matter who wins the Oval Office, he needs to “take care of business and restore order.”
And Ronald Molett said his hope is that no matter who wins, the loser’s supporters “move on and accept the next four years. But that’s probably too positive of me to say.”
After dropping off her ballot, Rosa Semien said she’s always liked going to the polls and still remembers going with her mother before she was old enough to vote herself.
She said she was heartened to hear Trump indicate Tuesday morning that he wouldn’t declare victory prematurely, but still has doubts because “our president seems to have some pretty erratic behavior sometimes.”
On what she expects in the way of unrest in the days ahead, Semien said, “As an African-American woman, I’ve seen more racism on the forefront lately, so I’m hoping that there isn’t anything that will come up. I’m praying so.”
At the Sylvan Improvement Club, Rohit Kumar wasn’t optimistic about a peaceful continuation or transfer of power in Washington. “Whoever the winner is, there’s definitely going to be people who are mad, and people in the streets looking for trouble,” he said. “On McHenry, there’s been people going back and forth, not being super nice to each other. And after the election, it’s going to get a lot worse, I can feel it.”
Yasmine Yassin shared that worry “100 percent,” she said. No matter who wins the White House, there will be conflict, she added. On local races, Yassin said she voted for Zwahlen for mayor. “I think it’s good to vote for women, get women in power.”
Eric Crisostomo and wife Rosa dropped off their ballots right after he got off work. After doing so, the couple stopped to take a selfie outside the Sylvan Club. Rosa said they felt it would be safer to drop off their ballots rather than mail them. “We heard a lot of things going on about the mail, so we weren’t really sure what would happen with our votes, and we want our votes to count.”
She said they were a little anxious about going to a polling place, though. They were anticipating crowds and perhaps rallies outside. So they were pleasantly surprised to find no lines and no drama. “This is a good experience for a first-time voter,” she said.
8:50 a.m.: ‘No known threats,’ but law enforcement ready
Sheriff Jeff Dirkse reassured Stanislaus County supervisors this morning that his deputies and all police departments are on moderate alert regarding election security.
“Should something happen, we will respond accordingly,” Dirkse said.
He added, “There are no known threats in Stanislaus County.”
Law agencies support First Amendment rights, the sheriff said.
“Protesting is a freedom of speech, and we’re fine with that,” he said. “What we don’t support is illegal activity. You break the law, you’re going to jail.”
There have been concerns about possible reaction to the presidential election results. There have been scenes around the nation of store owners boarding up windows as America gets set to learn the outcome of the race between President Donald Trump and Joe Biden.
Chief Galen Carroll of the Modesto Police Department told The Bee’s Erin Tracy last week that he will have extra officers staffed tonight and Wednesday and, along with the Sheriff’s Department, will have specialty units trained in crowd control on standby.
7 a.m.: Voters get early start in downtown Modesto
The 7 a.m. hour this Election Day saw a steady flow of voters dropping off their ballots at the Stanislaus County Elections Office and at the drive-up station across the street at the Gallo Center for the Arts.
A representative of the Elections Office urged voters to go to the Gallo Center, which also has drop-off in its spacious lobby, to reduce anticipated crowding in the county office.
A lot of people were voting on their way to work. But those who paused to talk with The Bee shared various reasons for waiting until Election Day to cast their ballots, from simple procrastination to being out of town to keeping with tradition. None indicated that indecisiveness about candidates or propositions was a factor.
“I was never undecided,” Chad McDonald said. “I just let life take hold, been working hard, but I was determined to get here. I woke up early, I’ll get to work on time.”
Raquel Ferreira, with her baby boy in tow, was keeping tradition. “I always vote on Election Day. I’m 41 years old and I’ve been doing this since I was 18. It’s just what I do.”
Beyond the race for the White House, she said the ones she’s most concerned about are keeping Rep. Josh Harder in office and electing Susan Talamantes Eggman to the state Senate.
Nicholas Gomes said he’d been unable to vote prior to Tuesday because he’s been working out of town. But to make sure his voice was heard, he told his employer he’d be in late so he could drop off his ballot.
Like others, Gomes said he’s “a bit worried” about the outcome of the Biden-Trump race. “It could be chaotic,” he said, noting that businesses in bigger cities have been on the news because they’ve boarded up in anticipation of rioting. “With either outcome in the presidential election, there’s going to be a large, angry group.”
McDonald said it’s natural to be on edge in this current environment, but he’s not worried. “People are going to be people and we’ve gotta look out for each other regardless of the situation.”
She’s trying not to worry, Ferreira said. “ I believe in the people. I’m hoping he (Trump) gets booted out and I hope he leaves nicely.”
Michael Carrillo, of Hughson, said he was dropping off his ballot at the elections office, along with his elderly mom’s.
“It’s a vote for democracy,” he said.
And Joshua Ashby said he, too, hopes the period ahead will be peaceful. But “it’s hard to say what triggers people. I honestly pray that doesn’t happen, but I don’t know. And I don’t know which side will do it, because this is a very emotional election and it could be either side.”
Regarding local elections, he said he has no real concerns. He said he voted conservative down the line, but “I’m not going to be upset if a local thing doesn’t go the way I want.”
Check back for updates throughout the day. And, stay with The Bee and modbee.com for results and updates throughout the evening.
This story was originally published November 3, 2020 at 8:51 AM.
