Kearny Mesa polls shut for three hours after briefcase found

Voters at the San Diego County Registrar of Voters office in Kearny Mesa faced a three-hour delay on Tuesday afternoon when staff discovered a suspicious briefcase in the lobby. The closure occurred on the last day of the general election, forcing people waiting to cast ballots to stand outside or seek alternative locations.

San Diego Police Department records indicate that San Diego County Sheriff's deputies located the suitcase at approximately 1:45 p.m. Officers initiated an evacuation of the building at 3:10 p.m. to ensure safety while the item was assessed. By 4:45 p.m., authorities cleared the facility, allowing operations to resume and voters to reenter the building.

Aiyana Moya, a County spokesperson, stated that the evacuation followed standard protocols for items left onsite. She explained that officials acted out of an abundance of caution to protect the integrity of election operations. Moya confirmed that voting and ballot processing remain secure despite the temporary shutdown.

Moya directed voters to one of the 221 vote centers currently operating in the county. She noted that all vote centers and official ballot drop boxes are open from 7 a.m. to 8 p.m. on this final day. Individuals can also return completed mail ballots at these designated drop locations.

The incident occurred in the lobby of the Kearny Mesa building, a hub for local election administration. The brief delay interrupted the final 24-hour window for in-person voting before the election concludes.