By Norma Yuriar
Fresno County, Calif. (KMPH News) – In person and by mail, more than 88,000 people in Fresno County have already cast their ballot.
"I did it today because I know Tuesday is going to be chaos," Rosie Garcia said.
"I think that there is a lot of stuff going on in our country that people need to voice their opinion about and voting is the easiest way to do it," added Jim Christensen.
Rosanna Robertson also voted early. She said, "I know there is going to be a lot of people wanting to vote this time."
But, on Election Day not everyone in Fresno County will find a polling place near their home.
"We are at Lincoln Elementary School which was a polling place that was open in June for people to come vote in the primaries and Tuesday on Election Day it will be closed," Daniela Simunovic said. She represents Communities for a New California. "We are talking to voters in District 3 which has the highest concentration of poverty in the nation, who have multiple obstacles to get in to vote."
A budget shortage forced the Fresno County Clerk to reduce the number of polling sites for the November election by half – that's a decline of 200 locations.
"There's people in this neighborhood that don't have transportation who were able to come across the street and vote here at Lincoln Elementary School and now they will have to travel two miles to Chandler Airport where there is no bus line," Simunovic said.
Volunteer groups from across the valley say they will be posting signs directing voters to the correct polling locations.
"Clearly with some of the shut–down precincts, it's an issue we want to make sure voters know where to go," Georgine Trujillo said. "We will be up at 6:30 in the morning, taking these signs and posting them at closed locations, the information will be telling people were to go to vote, we will be posting them at all the closed locations."
If you don't know where to go, call (559) 600–VOTE. Polls will be open from 7:00 a.m. – 8:00 p.m.
