High voter turnout at hand

Election officials expected a high turnout at the polls today in Newport Beach.

“Turnout is certainly higher every time there is a presidential primary,” said Neal Kelley, of Orange County Registrar of Voters.

Based on Newport Beach’s roughly 20,000 permanent mail-in voters, Kelley estimates turnout at about 50-55%.

Election officials are advising voters in Newport Beach there could be a 30-minute or more wait at some local polling places during peak voting hours.

Voters are advised to avoid the polls during the busiest hours of 7 a.m. to 9 a.m. and 5 p.m. to 8 p.m.

The county has received more than 12,400 mail-in ballots from Newport Beach residents, Kelley said. Local voters have been able to cast their ballots by mail since Jan. 7.

Newport voters will cast their ballots for or against Measure B, a ballot measure that would amend the city charter to require the next city hall to be built on a 12.8-acre parcel of city-owned land next to the central library.

Turnout typically hovers about 40% locally for things like municipal ballot measure, such as Measure B, but poll numbers are expected to get an extra boost from the presidential primary. California is one of 24 states that will head to the polls as part of “Super Tuesday” today.

Final election results for Newport’s 80 precincts are expected to roll in about midnight or 1 a.m. Wednesday, Kelley said.

The polls will be open 7 a.m. to 8 p.m today. Voters can find their polling place at www.ocvote.com.