Final Field Poll Estimates Voter Turnout Below 2008 Levels

A record number of Californians have registered to vote. But the latest Field Poll estimates there likely will be a million fewer voters today than in the Presidential election of 2008.

The poll predicts 12.75 million Californians or about 70 percent of registered voters will cast ballots.

And for the first time in a statewide election the majority, 51-percent, will vote by mail.

Mark DiCamillo is Director of the Field Poll.  He says many people wait until Election Day to drop their ballots at polling places. 

“Those probably don’t get counted for another couple of weeks, so the outcome of very close statewide ballot propositions could be hanging in the balance and that could include the Governor’s proposition 30 – that’s expected to be very close - and maybe even the death penalty repeal.  That might be an extremely close one as well.”

Voters are urged to drop ballots off at polling places or at their County Elections office if they have not yet been mailed.