Democrats apparently waiting to cast vote by mail ballots

SANTA BARBARA COUNTY, Calif. - The return of vote by mail ballots is starting to show a clue to voters' moods so far in the March Primary election.

The Santa Barbara County Elections Office said only 12 percent of the ballots have arrived. They were sent out in early February.

A trend shows more ballots were received from Republicans than Democrats.

Political analysts believe the Presidential contest, with a large field of Democratic candidates still actively debating and making their case to the public, has voters mulling over their final decision.

Santa Barbara County Clerk-Recorder, Assessor Joe Holland heads elections as well and said, "we are at about 12 percent turnout right now. It is a little hard to tell how it is going to work out. I think there are a lot of voters that are still undecided on the Presidential contest, so that might be holding some people up. They might want to wait until a few more of these debates are through."

Many voters are waiting longer before making a final decision because of the pros and cons they are seeing in each candidate.

"On certain people I am finding out I don't want him, I don't want her," said voter Donald Jahadhmy.

Elections officials expect the pace to pick up with the next wave of mail now that we are just over a week out.

Anyone with a vote by mail ballot can cast it now and mail it, or bring it in to a polling place on election day.

Under the California elections code, a vote by mail ballot will be accepted if it is received up to three days after the election.

If you're voting by mail you can still submit it up to and including the day of the election. 

"I actually like to bring it in, then it's off my mind," said Jahadamy.

Barbara Wishingrad is a voter who is ready but has not cast her ballot yet.  "It just feels like an affirmation of my citizenship and something that I do.  People are there and I see other people voting and I get my little (I voted) sticker."

If you still need to register, check your party status, re-register, or have other questions, the elections office says now is the time to ask and act because there may be a crowd on election day.

"If they are vote by mail and no party preference and they haven't requested their crossover ballot yet they should do so. If  you are not vote by mail, if they are going to to go to the polls on election day, they might want to request a vote by mail ballot now so they can avoid the long lines on election day," said Holland.

For voters who have already made up their minds, they will not miss out. Wishingrad said, "I feel really strongly about it."