More in-person vote centers open up in Citrus Heights. How’s the turnout?

Date: November 2, 2024

Elections 2024 — The Citrus Heights Community Center is open for in person voting, at 6300 Fountain Square Drive. // SB Williams

By Sara Beth Williams–
As Election Day approaches, more voting center locations in Citrus Heights opened for in-person voting on Saturday, in addition to a voting center at the Citrus Heights Community Center that has been open since Oct. 26.

Election inspectors Larry and Margie Miramontes are in charge of managing the community center location, and the two have been working together at polling places in Citrus Heights since 2001, Margie Miramontes said Saturday. Miramontes said she’s seen a noticeable uptick in voter turnout this election compared to past elections. Other staff present said voters have been coming in steadily since the center opened, and Miramontes estimates she has seen at least 100 people per day, except for a slowdown last Sunday, where she said roughly 60 voters came in person.

“In past elections, seeing 20 people come in [per day] was a good day,” Miramontes said, referring to the days in which center was open prior to Election Day. Miramontes is expecting a larger turn out for this election on Nov. 5.

Election inspectors for both the Sylvan Oaks Library and the Citrus Heights Community Center said they’ve yet to see more than five voters stand in line prior to opening. Staff at the community center said because of the dreary weather on Saturday morning, voter turnout appeared much lower in the morning, but Miramontes added that afternoons have consistently seen a higher number of voters coming in person.

The Election Inspector for the Sylvan Oaks Library voting center, which opened Nov. 2 at 9 a.m., said the voting center will remain open Sunday and Monday, even when the library is closed, as the voting center has been set up in the library’s community room, which has an outside door where residents enter through.

All polling locations in Citrus Heights open for in-person voting are listed below. All polling locations also accept mail-in ballot drop offs. All mail-in and in-person ballots are kept in locked bags, and at least one person is required to always stand or sit next to the bags while voting centers are open, Miramontes said.

Citrus Heights Community Center