San Diego County opens all 221 vote centers this weekend ahead of Election Day

The San Diego County Registrar of Voters opened an additional 180 of its vote centers, Saturday, ahead of the November 3 election. There are now 221 locations across the county where people can cast their ballots early and in person.

The centers provide on site voting; as well as curbside voting and easy drop off for completed ballots from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. through Tuesday. A complete list of locations is available at SDVote.com.

Election workers at the Registrar’s office in Kearny Mesa have already processed more than 600,000 mail-in ballots, while more than 9,000 people have cast their ballots at vote centers that opened since last weekend.

Among those preparing to vote is 85-year-old Lorenzo Preciado, who started his day walking his Chihuahua around Kimball Park in National City.

He planned to return later to the nearby public library to cast his ballot in an election for the first time.

Preciado, who became a U.S. citizen years ago, said he feels compelled to participate in the election.

“The way the world is going, we need to vote and change things. A lot of people are not really happy with the way the United States is going to the left or to the right,” he said.

A welcoming place to vote in Hillcrest

The San Diego LGBT Community Center in Hillcrest is among the county’s voting locations, offering an inclusive environment.

Gus Hernandez, the Center’s senior director of communications, said that everyone is welcome to their safe space.

“We see you for who you are regardless of how you identify.”

With Halloween festivities underway, the center is also encouraging voters to embrace the holiday spirit.

“It’s Halloween. It’s the spirit of the season. So, folks are invited to come while in costume or however they (want to) come vote,” said Hernandez.

Mail-in ballot deadlines and Election Day

For voters who haven’t yet returned their mail-in ballots, there is still time.

Ballots can be dropped off or mailed, but those sent through the mail must be postmarked on or before Election Day on Tuesday.

Meanwhile, voters such as Wade Martin have already studied the candidates and propositions and are ready to have their voices heard.

“I’m just happy I can vote without being harassed, and I’m looking forward to the outcome,” he said.

Election results will begin coming in after polls close Tuesday at 8 p.m. Mail in ballots are the first counted.

This story was originally reported for broadcast by NBC San Diego. AI tools helped convert the story to a digital article, and an NBC San Diego journalist edited the article for publication.