Poll: Voter turnout expected to hit new low

The Field Poll is projecting a new low in California voter turnout for a general election, while the percentage casting vote-by-mail ballots could hit a new high.

The report released Tuesday predicted a 46.1 percent turnout, meaning only 8.2 million of the state’s 17.8 million registered voters will cast ballots in the statewide general election.

That means just one out of every three eligible adults will vote.

In 2012, more than 70 percent of registered voters cast a ballot, and nearly 60 percent participated in 2010.

Of those who will vote, 60 percent will cast vote-by-mail ballots. The portion of adults voting by mail has been increasing each year since 1980.

In 2012, about half of voters went to the polls while the other half voted by mail.