Monterey County takes advantage of weekend voting options

SALINAS, Calif. (KION)- As March 5th approaches people in Monterey county are choosing to take advantage of weekend voting options. 

Voters showed up to make their voices heard the weekend before the March 5th primary.  Some are choosing to use one of the county's many drop box locations. 

"I like doing it if i lag behind," said David as he dropped off his ballot. "I go up to the ballot place to drop it off but i always like doing the mail in ballots because i could go through it at home, make a decision and take my time.” 

The Monterey election office had a mixed group of people either going in person to vote or pulling up their car at the ballot drop box.

“We have about 210,000 registered voters across this county and we are looking at approximately a 13% turn out so far which is edging the statewide average a little bit," Gina Martinez Registrar of Voters said. "We are a little bit higher than the state."

This year, the county is also offering special weekend voting hours at 2 locations which is the county elections office in Salinas and at the Embassy Suites in Seaside. 

“We had a pretty consistent turn out with voters turning in their ballots and voting in person over the weekdays and now that we are open on the weekends we are seeing people taking advantage of that opportunity to drop off in person or vote in person," Martinez said.

For the people who still want to turn in their ballots before Tuesday, Monterey county also has 18 different 24-hour drop boxes. 

The registrar says if you plan to vote on March 5th, double check the election website to make sure your polling place hasn't changed.

People living in Gonzales and Scott Valley can drop them off at city hall.

Voters in Hollister can drop theirs off at fire station number 2.

The county elections office and Embassy suites will continue accepting ballots on Sunday from 9 am to 5pm.