Fewer Californians expected to vote

• Tweet

SACRAMENTO, Nov. 6 (UPI) -- Despite a record number of registered voters, 1 million fewer Californians will cast ballots in Tuesday's election than in 2008, a poll predicts.

A Field Poll released Tuesday indicated 69.9 percent of registered California voters are likely to turn out this year compared to 79.4 percent who voted in the last presidential election, The Sacramento Bee reported.

Field Poll Director Mark DiCamillo said there isn't as much enthusiasm this year.

"I believe the potential election of the United States' first African-American president, who had really captured Californians, led to a really unusual turnout," DiCamillo said. "This time there is just not as much excitement."

However, there is one "first" for California this year.

For the first time in the state's history, more votes are expected to be cast by mail than at a polling place.