Light Early Turnout as San Diegans Begin Voting for Mayor

San Diegans began voting Tuesday for a new mayor in the special election to replace Bob Filner, who resigned in disgrace in August.

Turnout appeared light, and many votes had already been cast by mail. At one location, poll workers were standing outside, with no voters in sight.

Registrar of Voters Michael Vu said he expected 90,000 to 100,000 people to vote in person on Tuesday. That turnout combined with mail ballots would bring the total to 40 to 45 percent of eligible voters, he said.

Polls opened at 7 a.m. and will close at 8 p.m. There are more than 570 polling places around the city, but nearly 37 percent of the electorate has already voted, either by returning absentee ballots or going to the registrar's office, inewssource.org reported Monday.

With polls showing City Councilman Kevin Faulconer enjoying a lead, his colleague David Alvarez and former Assemblyman Nathan Fletcher are battling for second place and a likely runoff election. Former City Attorney Michael Aguirre is also running.
 
If a runoff election is necessary, it will take place early next year.
   
The first batch of results, from those ballots already cast, are expected shortly after the polls close. Patch will have continuous coverage through the evening.

The special election was brought about by Filner's resignation in August, when he was under fire for sexual harassment and being investigated for various transgressions, including alleged shakedowns of developers. He subsequently pleaded guilty to to one felony count of false imprisonment by violence and two misdemeanor counts of battery and placed on three years probation.

City News Service contributed to this story.