Early voting opens for mayoral special election in San Diego

The polls have opened in San Diego to replace ousted mayor Bob Filner.

Early voting began at the Registrar of Voters office at 5201 Ruffin Road in Clairemont Mesa on 8 a.m. Monday, October 21, and will continue from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday through Friday through the official election date on November 19.

Mail ballots were also sent out on Monday. Permanent mail voters make up 52 percent of the county’s electorate and, as such, according to county registrar Michael Vu, are expected to account for the majority of votes that will be cast in the election.

Expect candidate ads, such as the Lincoln Club mailers demonizing candidate Nathan Fletcher and TV spots promoting Kevin Faulconer and David Alvarez to ratchet up their frequency and intensity over the next few weeks.

The registrar is still scrambling to fill all its slots for poll workers to staff 572 local polling places on election day. A stipend of between $75 and $175 is offered to those who technically serve as volunteers in facilitating the election process. Applications from interested parties are being gathered through the county’s website.