What Brought You to the Primary Polls?

Dan Almarez voted at Imperial Beach Elementary School.

He was especially anxious to vote Tuesday against Prop 28, which would reduce the number of years a lawmaker can serve in the state Legislature from 14 years to 12, but allow them to serve in the Assembly or Senate for 12 years.

Currently, lawmakers can serve two four-year terms in the Senate or three two-year terms in the Assembly.

"I thought the term limit thing was kind of ridiculous," he said. "They're just trying to pad their bank accounts."

Bob Maupin drove more than 50 miles to be an observer for the first time at polling stations at the library and Marina Vista Community Center. The 73-year-old has been a Republican for half a century.

He has always followed politics, he said, but only became involved in the political process when he was energized by Nick Popaditch's run for Congress in 2010.

Though Maupin is now part of the 51st District, which includes IB, and not the 53rd District where Popaditch is running against Congresswoman Susan Davis, he continues to campaign for him and hang signs.

"I'm not really interested in the candidates this year," he said of the 51st Congressional District. Though he wasn't sure about her chances to win, he voted for Republican Xanthi Gionis.

Deb Stackiewicz wasn't passionate about any particular candidate or proposition. She was just excited to vote.

Stackiewicz immigrated to the United States 11 years ago from Scotland and recently became a citizen.

"I just wanted to be able to vote," she said. Stackiewicz brought her son with her to witness her exercise her right as a citizen for the first time.

Her husband, who declined to state his name, said he didn't always get a chance to vote when he was overseas serving in the U.S. military.

"So long as I'm stateside, I won't miss an opportunity to vote," he said.