Dozens flock to Fresno Election Office for early voting

FRESNO, Calif. (KFSN) -- Voter information packets have been sent out to voters around the state.

The presidential and local races will certainly draw plenty of interest but you'll also want to thumb through this thick information guide to figure out what is at stake this November.

The first day to cast a ballot brought dozens of voters to the Fresno County Elections Office downtown on Monday. Diane and George Powell make it a point to vote early every election. Both were tired of the presidential politics.

"It's sad," George said. "It's a race to the bottom."

Voters have been sent a thick information guide which includes 17 California propositions. They range from the legalization of marijuana to the repeal or speeding up of the death penalty.

"We studied them," Diane explained.

"Was it difficult to understand what you were voting for?" an Action News reporter asked.

"Some of them, yes, were double negatives and all of that."

Fresno County Clerk Brandi Orth said over 417,000 people are registered to vote with Democrats holding a 13,000 person edge over Republicans. About 52 percent of Fresno County voters have requested mail-in ballots and reading up on the state propositions may save you time at the polling place.

"You don't have to vote on every single race on the ballot," Orth explained. "You can pick and choose the issues that are really important to you or maybe that you've studied or have a real desire to have things go "Yes" or "No" on that measure."

In California, Merced and Tulare counties ranked among the top three counties where young voters between 17-and-a-half and 25 made up the highest percentage of voters. Merced had 17 percent while Tulare County 15.

October 24 is the last day to register to vote in the November election.