California Voters Please Check-In.

[procon]

What part of the state are you in? How were things at your polling place? What was your overall experience... any crowds, long waits, or was it smooth and easy?

[CaliforniaPeggy]

1. Checking in!

The polls had been open for 2 hours when I voted at 9 a.m. I was voter #50. (I asked)

I am in SoCal....not far from LAX.

There were more than a few people voting when I was there, but there wasn't any line. I was in and out in less than 10 minutes, mostly because I stopped to talk to a couple of election officials.

I always premark my ballot and then just line it up with the ballot in the voting booth. Very easy. We use the inka-dot system and I always check to make sure the dot is good and black so there's no confusion about which candidate I voted for.

[nolabels]

2. There seemed to be a little more than usual

I always get there about 9:00 and it seemed like double the amount for a primary per normal and people sounded a little more pushy about getting to voting part.

Inland Empire Riverside area

[HughLefty1]

5. Also SoCal here..

We voted about an hour ago. A short line which is unusual at mid day but it moved quickly. Typically our location is empty in the middle of the day. The older couple ahead received R ballots. The younger folks were receiving Dem ballots and I'm assuming were Bernie voters. No ID was necessary to vote.

We used pens to vote. No machines.

[Dems to Win]

3. Smooth and easy

I'm in northern California and I vote in the village of Bodega. Never a line, friendly neighbors working the polls, it's a quick and pleasant experience. I never do mail-in ballots unless I'm going to be out of town. I enjoy voting in our volunteer fire hall.

[bbmykel]

4. Polling Place mostly empty

In Campbell--near San Jose. In and out in 5 minutes. This was around 9am so it may be that there was a rush earlier.

[SDJay]

6. North County San Diego

I just got back. Polling place was a bit more crowded than the last few elections. I've never had to wait in line, but I did for about 10 minutes today. When I got to the table they asked me, since I'm unaffiliated, which ballot I wanted. When I told them Democratic, I asked them how the crowds were today. Both lovely older ladies behind the table (and they really were lovely in every way) said that it had been quite busy but that the voters were pretty grumpy overall. I didn't ask why or any additional questions. I drew my conclusions - you can draw yours.

As I was leaving I heard someone who had been in line behind me really snap at one of the ladies for not finding her name on the voting list immediately. That really pissed me and a few others off. That voter got a lot of stink eye from folks. Unless a poll worker does something sleazy like ask inappropriate questions or for an ID, folks need to treat these people with respect. I'm sure most if not all here do just that.

I have to say that the reason I don't do mail-in is because I really do enjoy going out to vote. It's a small piece of participation that just feels more real than filling out a ballot and mailing it, despite all the shenanigans in this race on every level.

[Brother Buzz]

7. Sacramento Valley

I vote by mail but just visited my precinct down the street to have a look-see a while ago:

Confirmed 75% of the voters in my precinct are vote by mail.
87 total old school ballots cast by 11am
equal number of people actually voting and depositing their mail-in ballot

No lines, no hassles, but I did observe the independent voters are required to do one additional step to receive their Democratic primary ballot- easy peasy.

[JudyM]

8. Kick! Waiting to hear more.

[marlakay]

9. Going smooth in Humboldt area

Daughter and grandson voted in Santa Rosa no issues and i was afraid of issues as he is new voter that got nothing in mail and daughter NPP was a mail voter who didnt ask for democrat one in time so voted in person.

Mom in Sacramento no issues but she votes at her senior apt building.

[GummyBearz]

10. Voted in San Diego

Voted at 8:30am in down town San Diego. No lines, the people working the front desk were quick. Smooth sailing.

[Retrograde]

11. Palo Alto

I voted by mail a week after the ballots were sent out - no problems there!

Stopped by the local polling place at about 1 PM. No voters, but one of the workers said they had about 140 already, plus a lot of people dropping off their mail ballots, which they don't count.

Yard sign count: zilch, except for local races. Mostly State Assembly, but a couple for county supervisor.

The Santa Clara County Registrar's web page says 33% of the over 600,000 mail ballots that went out had been returned as of yesterday.

[Prism]

12. Contra Costa County

Just north of Berkeley.

I was 161st as of 2:30pm. 15 people were there with me. It's a small precinct, but 15 is the most I've ever seen all at once there. Very diverse crowd. Almost perfectly diverse, really. Split between male and female, and included Asians, Latinos, African-Americans and whites.

Fun fact: For a strange reason, polling was moved into the garage of the fire station. Amusing until a call came in, lol.

[zappaman]

13. Los Angeles easy as always around 9:30

And a better turnout than normal.