SLO County had 158,603 registered voters, with only 98,458 (62.08%) submitting ballots thus far, although that number is expected to end up in the high 70% range and maybe even top out at 80%, officials say.

In 2008, there were 161,256 voters, and 134,061 (83.14%) came out.

In Paso Robles, for example, which has had a city hall that’s been plagued by negative press over the past couple years, turnout is currently listed at around 61% for the various issues. In 2008, the city saw some 4,000 more total votes for the city council race than it has thus far in 2012.

Democratic Capps, of Santa Barbara, held off Republican Maldonado, of Santa Maria, in the race to represent the Central Coast in Congress by taking 54.8% of the vote t Maldonado’s 45.2% (119,344-98,391).

Maldonado reportedly conceded to Capps shortly before midnight.

“I spoke with Rep. Lois Capps, and offered her my congratulations on her victory,” he said in a statement.

As of 10 p.m. Pacific, more than 104 million Americans had voted for the top three presidential candidates.

In 2008, a record 131.3 million votes were cast, which was up from 122.3 million in 2004.

A look at the popular vote as of 10:20 p.m., according to Google’s General Election stats:

In the 24th Congressional District, for example, Lois Capps and Abel Maldonado are neck in neck after the first wave of elections results being made public by the SLO County Clerk-Recorder’s office.

With 11 percent reporting, it’s Maldonado has about a 500 vote lead over incumbent Capps:

UNITED STATES REPRESENTATIVE 24th District
Polling VBM Total
Number of Precincts 147 0 147
Precincts Reporting 11 0 11 7.5 %
Vote For 1 1 1
Ballots Cast (Reg. Voters 158603) 0 58600 58600 36.9 %
Total Votes 0 56484 56484
Times Blank Voted 0 2108 2108
Times Over Voted 0 8 8
Number Of Under Votes 0 0 0
ABEL MALDONADO (R) 28489 50.44%
LOIS CAPPS (D) 27995 49.56%

NBC reports Obama going up 274-203 over Mitt Romney.

ABC, however, has yet to call it as of 8:20 Pacific.

8:30 p.m. update: ABC has now called it, Obama over Romney for the U.S. Presidency.

SLO County Election results for 2012 will be available beginning at 8 p.m. on Tuesday.

Stay tuned at SLO News Day for complete election results from Tuesday Night’s election. Results will be available starting at 8 p.m.

GET THE LATEST RESULTS

Looking for your voting place in San Luis Obispo County for the 2012 election? Use our voter information tool to see where your polling location is.

Here are some of the key regional issues we’re voting on in Calif.:

Election results can be found here at SLONewsDay.com as well as at the County Clerk-Recorder website, starting after 8 p.m. on Tuesday.

Francisco Javier Solorio, Jr., 39, was killed Tuesday morning by what was believed to be a great white shark while surfing at Surf Beach in Lompoc around 11 a.m.

The Sheriff’s Office said the Orcutt man was killed after a severe bite wound to the upper torso area.

Access to the beach has been closed until Vandenberg and Santa Barbara County officials wrap up their investigation into the death.

This is not the first attack at Surf Beach. A couple years ago, a 19-year-old college student died after an attack at the same beach.

In 2008, another attack occurred at the beach, although that surfer was able to escape with only his board being injured.

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The quake, labeled a “moderate quake” by the USGS, occurred at about 11:55 p.m. and the rocking was felt as far as Nipomo.

The USGS reported the quake’s epicenter was outside of King City, California.

Following the quake, the USGS issued the following details and aftershock warning:

MAINSHOCK

 Magnitude   :   5.31 Mw  (A moderate quake)
 Time        :   20 Oct 2012   11:55:09 PM, PDT
             :   21 Oct 2012   06:55:09 UTC
 Coordinates :   36 deg. 18.67 min. N, 120 deg. 51.38 min. W
             :   36.3112 N, 120.8563 W
 Depth       :     5.8 miles (  9.4 km)
 Quality     :   Excellent
 Location    :    12 mi. ( 20 km) SW  of New Idria, CA
             :    16 mi. ( 26 km) ENE of King City, CA
 Event ID    :   NC 71863625

STRONG AFTERSHOCKS (Magnitude 5 and larger) -

At this time (immediately after the mainshock) the probability of a strong and possibly damaging aftershock IN THE NEXT 7 DAYS is approximately 18 PERCENT

Stay tuned to SLONewsDay.com for more on the quake.