Final preparations were underway Monday night at the Santa Clara County Registrar of Voters ahead of Election Day, as election officials and volunteers worked late into the evening collecting and processing ballots from vote centers across the county. “We have this whole courier process, where all our couriers are visiting the vote centers and bringing the ballots to our office so we can prepare for counting,” said Michael Borja, associate communications officer for the Santa Clara County Registrar of Voters. That counting process is set to pick up speed Tuesday and continue for days. Across the country, election offices have been making final preparations as candidates make a final push in a pivotal midterm election that will determine control of Congress. President Trump delivered his closing argument in Washington on Monday, acknowledging historical trends facing the party in power. “For some reason the sitting president doesn’t win the midterms, but we gave this a very strong shot,” President Trump said. Early voting numbers are up nationwide. NBC Bay Area political contributor Guy Marzorati said that trend could reflect several factors, including strong voter enthusiasm. “What we can take away from these numbers, looking nationwide, Democratic enthusiasm… Democrats are voting early… Democrats appear more excited than Republicans,” Marzorati said. In Santa Clara County, voters still have multiple options to cast ballots. San Jose Mayor Matt Mahan spent part of Election Eve filling out his ballot at home with his family. “Because of how crazy our schedules are, we’re gonna finish tonight, we’re gonna vote, seal the ballot, and then drop them off at one of the drop boxes,” Mahan said. He added, “From an impact statement, thinking critically about who represents us at a local level, the tradeoffs they’re making, is really important.” Voters can cast ballots in person at a vote center or drop them off at an official county drop box before polls and drop boxes close at 8 p.m. Tuesday. ...read more read less