Voter turnout around San Diego County was light early today, even though city voters are choosing a mayor.

"It's quiet," Registrar Deborah Seiler said, referring to precinct
reports she has been getting.

Turnout is generally lighter when no presidential or gubernatorial race
is at stake, Seiler said.

"We really only anticipate a 30- to 40-percent turnout in this
election,'' she said.

Mayor Jerry Sanders is running for reelection against Steve Francis, who
ran unsuccessfully against Sanders in 2005. Four of five City Council seats
are up for grabs due to term limits, and City Attorney Michael Aguirre is
facing four challengers in his bid for a second term.

A majority of the vote is needed to avoid a runoff in November.

Seiler said it was too early to tell if turnout would be higher in the
city as compared to the county. Of more than 200,000 absentee ballots already
turned in, there's ``not a significantly higher'' amount from city residents,
she said.

Polling places opened on time with "totally minimal" problems, the
registrar said, including a confusing sign pointing to now-unused polling place
from a previous election and one independent voter who was handed a Republican
ballot.

Mail-in ballots are being counted now, she said, and some results are
expected shortly after polls close at 8 p.m.