Election turnout and the staff behind the scenes of polling places on the Central Coast

In June’s direct primary about 800 volunteers showed up and strapped their work boots on to help ease residents through the voting process as well as count ballots.

This time around you could say the same, if not more, showed up–or at least that’s how it seemed as the big November election day came and went.

“We’re treating the ballots like the golden tickets they are,” says Monterey County Elections staff member, Esther Lopez.

Lopez says her shift began around 10 in the morning on election day and it ended just around midnight or so.

She says it’s nota job she would have ever expected to do and for such a long shift,but she understands its importance.

“Every vote counts and I’m sure the ballots we’re counting are important to just about everyone who dropped them off,” Lopez says.

More than 141,000 ballots were cast on election night. This according to the Monterey County Election’s Office report issued on 2 am, Wednesday.

High voter turnout was a big possibility as election day entered its last day.

That number is still to be determined as some ballots are still out there waiting to be counted.

Elections staff and volunteers said they were likely to be back up and counting the following morning as the most hectic day of the election process was just about wrapping up.