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"content": "\n\u003cp>In \u003ca href=\"https://www.kqed.org/educationnews\">school districts\u003c/a> across the Bay Area, years of declining enrollment are forcing major cuts and closures; students’ math and reading scores are in a \u003ca href=\"https://cepr.harvard.edu/news/2026/05/why-us-test-scores-are-generation-long-decline\">free fall\u003c/a>; and campuses are being confronted with many of our major political fights, from transgender rights to AI regulation. \u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>But in many cases, the people elected to navigate these challenges earn that significant power by a margin as small as a couple hundred votes. \u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>More than half of school board candidates across the U.S. run uncontested in an average election cycle, and voter turnout hovers between 5% and 10%. And school board races tend to be “low information,” meaning voters know little about who the candidates are or where they stand on key issues, many of which are similar across districts throughout the state.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>KQED asked \u003ca href=\"https://www.kqed.org/voterguide\">390 candidates vying for 109 school board seats\u003c/a> across the nine-county Bay Area in November for their stance on some of these topics, from potential school closures to cellphone use — information voters can use at a time that education experts say is pivotal to public schools’ success. \u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>“We have some unambiguously big problems for schools,” said Jon Valant, who directs the Brown Center on Education Policy at the Brookings Institution. “You can have a big impact, and you can have a big impact at a time when schools are facing a lot of important questions.”\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003ch2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">What do school boards actually do?\u003c/h2>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>School boards oversee large budgets, act as major employers and make policy and curriculum decisions that affect thousands of young people — and have rippling impacts on their wider communities.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>“[Public schools] are the primary institutions that we have for preparing people to be contributing members of our society, democracy and economy,” Valant said. “When you’re participating in a school board election, you’re really having a say in the structure of our society more broadly.”\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cfigure class=\"wp-block-image size-full\">\u003cimg loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"2000\" height=\"1333\" src=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/08/20260806_SFUSDNEWSCHOOL_GC-8-KQED.jpg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-12094191\" srcset=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/08/20260806_SFUSDNEWSCHOOL_GC-8-KQED.jpg 2000w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/08/20260806_SFUSDNEWSCHOOL_GC-8-KQED-160x107.jpg 160w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/08/20260806_SFUSDNEWSCHOOL_GC-8-KQED-1536x1024.jpg 1536w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 2000px) 100vw, 2000px\" />\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">A classroom at Mission Bay Elementary School in San Francisco on Aug. 6, 2026. Mission Bay School is the first new public SFUSD school to open in 20 years. (Gina Castro for KQED)\u003c/figcaption>\u003c/figure>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>The bodies have a few main functions: approving a school district’s budget — which for an urban district like San Francisco, tops $1.36 billion — and hiring and evaluating a superintendent, the person “who’s really responsible for running the system,” according to Julie Marsh, a faculty director at Policy Analysis for California Education.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>School boards set priorities, such as student outcome goals and community values, that are supposed to guide decision-making by the superintendent and district staff. They also approve curriculum and labor contracts and can steer high-level policy. \u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003ch2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Culture war battlegrounds\u003c/h2>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>Less officially, school boards have also become political arenas.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>“Schools and particularly school boards have really become some of the country’s main battlegrounds for its culture wars,” Valant said. \u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>He traces the trend back to the COVID-19 pandemic, when some groups of parents began organizing and rallying against masking and vaccine mandates.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cfigure class=\"wp-block-image size-full\">\u003cimg loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"2000\" height=\"1571\" src=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/10/MomsLibertyGetty-52a1d437.jpg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-12103881\" srcset=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/10/MomsLibertyGetty-52a1d437.jpg 2000w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/10/MomsLibertyGetty-52a1d437-160x126.jpg 160w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/10/MomsLibertyGetty-52a1d437-1536x1207.jpg 1536w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 2000px) 100vw, 2000px\" />\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">Martha Aguilera, left, with Karen Frost of Moms for Liberty, speaks at the California Policy Center and PERK (Protection of the Educational Rights of Kids) event, “A Line in the Sand, A Rally for Parental Rights,” at Rancho Madera Community Park in Simi Valley, California, on Sept. 26, 2023. (Myung J. Chun/Los Angeles Times via Getty Images)\u003c/figcaption>\u003c/figure>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>Around the same time, groups like \u003ca href=\"https://www.kqed.org/forum/2010101904708/conservative-mothers-as-a-political-force-in-california\">Moms for Liberty\u003c/a> were on the rise, advocating against curriculum that teaches about LGBTQ rights and race and ethnicity. They began running school board candidates and establishing a sustained presence at school board meetings, sowing fear that public schools are pushing “woke indoctrination.”\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>“We’ve seen far-right leaders who have been quite successful with this approach where they run well-funded groups, organize and run a candidate on an ideological platform,” Marsh said. \u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>She and other experts said the rise of candidates running for the nonpartisan roles backed by political interest groups became especially prominent in the early 2020s. \u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>While these groups’ influence on school board races seems to be dying down in California, Valant said a recent national Brookings survey found that school board members still feel their governance has become more political and partisan in recent years. \u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>Marsh said that conservative groups have also used the tactic to upend trust in school systems more broadly and “mobilize their base.” \u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>“There’s a whole strategy of creating a bench for potential candidates for higher office,” she said.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cfigure class=\"wp-block-image size-full\">\u003cimg loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"2000\" height=\"1372\" src=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/06/Sonja-Shaw-Getty-1.jpg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-12086196\" srcset=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/06/Sonja-Shaw-Getty-1.jpg 2000w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/06/Sonja-Shaw-Getty-1-160x110.jpg 160w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/06/Sonja-Shaw-Getty-1-1536x1054.jpg 1536w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 2000px) 100vw, 2000px\" />\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">Sonja Shaw, Chino Valley Unified School District Board President, speaks at the California Policy Center and PERK (Protection of the Educational Rights of Kids) event, “A Line in the Sand: A Rally for Parental Rights,” at Rancho Madera Community Park in Simi Valley, California, on Sept. 26, 2023. (Myung J. Chun/Los Angeles Times via Getty Images)\u003c/figcaption>\u003c/figure>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>Sonja Shaw, who is in the \u003ca href=\"https://www.kqed.org/news/12086044/conservative-activist-sonja-shaw-advances-in-state-superintendent-race\">runoff election for California state superintendent\u003c/a> this November, rose to notoriety as Chino Valley’s school board president in 2023, when she pushed for a policy that would require school staff to notify parents of any change in their children’s gender identity. Shaw made headlines after current state Superintendent Tony Thurmond was heckled and removed from her district’s board meeting after he expressed opposition to the policy. \u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>The policy was permanently halted in 2024, after a lawsuit from Attorney General Rob Bonta, along with similar campaigns to implement “forced outing” in Rocklin and counties in Southern California.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>President Donald Trump also harnessed fear surrounding schools’ policies around LGBTQ students in the final stretch of his 2024 reelection campaign, telling a crowd of about 20,000 at Madison Square Garden, “we will get … transgender insanity the hell out of our schools.”\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>He repeatedly told voters: “your kid goes to school and comes home a few days later with an operation,” changing their sex.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003ch2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">‘Big, big issues’\u003c/h2>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>While “culture war politics” draw attention and tend to spur single-issue candidates to run for school boards, Valant said, “we need really to be focused on some of the core issues in education.”\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>“[Artificial intelligence] has kind of landed on schools’ laps, and questions about how technology should be embedded into the school day,” he said. “We’ve seen achievement declines across the country and growing gaps between the highest- and lowest-scoring students. We’ve seen chronic absenteeism and enrollment declines.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>“And, we’ve seen a growing attack on public education across the country,” he said.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cfigure class=\"wp-block-image size-full\">\u003cimg loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"2000\" height=\"1333\" src=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/10/LAUSDScreenTimeGetty-d975feb9.jpg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-12103883\" srcset=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/10/LAUSDScreenTimeGetty-d975feb9.jpg 2000w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/10/LAUSDScreenTimeGetty-d975feb9-160x107.jpg 160w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/10/LAUSDScreenTimeGetty-d975feb9-1536x1024.jpg 1536w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 2000px) 100vw, 2000px\" />\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">Nick Melvoin, Member of the Los Angeles Unified School District, speaks during a board meeting at the LAUSD headquarters on April 21, 2026, in Los Angeles, California. The LAUSD met to discuss a resolution calling for development of a Screen Time Policy setting time limits by grade, including elimination of student digital devices for early education through first grade, prohibiting device use by elementary and middle school students during passing periods, lunch and recess. The board unanimously voted to approve Board Member Melvoin’s Resolution to limit student screen time. (Kayla Bartkowski/Los Angeles Times via Getty Images)\u003c/figcaption>\u003c/figure>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>Many of the boards elected this November will be tasked with deciding how their districts will weather shrinking student bodies, and whether to close schools as part of that process.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>The \u003ca href=\"https://www.kqed.org/news/tag/school-closures\">closure process\u003c/a> is almost always met with strong opposition from families and teachers, but how districts approach it can significantly change how it affects enrollment and trust.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>San Francisco’s former superintendent \u003ca href=\"https://www.kqed.org/news/12010008/sf-schools-crisis-is-spiraling-with-top-official-to-resign-heres-all-thats-happened\">resigned under pressure\u003c/a> in 2024 after a botched closure process that strained relationships with the district’s labor unions and many families. But earlier this year, the school board \u003ca href=\"https://www.kqed.org/news/12095382/as-sfusd-welcomes-back-students-officials-plan-to-revamp-enrollment-consider-closures\">reopened the question of school consolidations\u003c/a>, giving Superintendent Maria Su a strict deadline of 2030 to decide whether campuses should shutter. \u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>The board — including the three members who will be elected this fall — will have final approval over her plan.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>Campus closures can upend longstanding school communities, and National School Board Association president Verjeana McCotter-Jacobs said they have rippling effects on nearby businesses, property values and neighborhood populations if they spur families to move.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\u003cp>Of the 140 Bay Area school board candidates who responded to KQED’s question about school closures, 57% said they would consider supporting a proposal from their district to close schools, while 43% said they would oppose the practice.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>Boards are also setting the course for the future of technology in classrooms, as parent-led backlash expands across the country, blaming overreliance on screens and artificial intelligence for poor learning outcomes. According to a joint Education Scorecard project from researchers at Stanford, Harvard and Dartmouth universities, falling test scores reflect a \u003ca href=\"https://cepr.harvard.edu/news/2026/05/why-us-test-scores-are-generation-long-decline\">decadelong “learning recession.”\u003c/a>\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>In the spring, the Los Angeles Unified School District board passed a slate of historic tech-limiting policies, proposed by board member Nick Melvoin, with advocacy group Schools Beyond Screens. Districts across the country have moved quickly to \u003ca href=\"https://www.kqed.org/news/12096557/a-chromebook-in-the-hand-of-every-child-did-schools-go-too-far\">replicate their model\u003c/a>, including in the Bay Area, from San José to Marin.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>Last week, the Oakland school board approved new technology restrictions, proposed by board member Rachel Latta, that prohibit students from using individual devices during lunch and passing periods, and mandate training for teachers to reduce 1:1 device use by the fall of 2027. \u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>Other districts in San Francisco, San Mateo and Palo Alto have formed ad hoc committees or working groups to consider stricter tech policies, which will be presented to their new boards in the spring.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>San Francisco’s public school district is relatively behind on limiting tech use — the current board allowed administrators to punt on a stricter cellphone policy last spring, and it uses a controversial AI-assisted reading assessment and tutoring tool with kindergarteners.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003ch2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Combatting federal attacks\u003c/h2>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>Voters aren’t just choosing who will make major instructional decisions at their local school districts; Valant said voting in school board elections this November will send an important message amid what he calls a “federal attack” on public schools.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>“Staying engaged with school boards, with education, with your local public school, is just really important in communicating that public schools are institutions that mean a lot to this country,” he said. \u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>Since taking office last year, Trump has signed an executive order directing the dismantling of the Department of Education and created a federal \u003ca href=\"https://www.ed.gov/media/document/education-freedom-tax-credit-fact-sheet-113147.pdf\">Education Freedom Scholarship Program\u003c/a>, which aims to expand parents’ school choice by allowing them to receive tax credits up to $1,700 that can be used to pay for private school tuition, home-schooling costs, and other educational support.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cfigure class=\"wp-block-image size-full\">\u003cimg loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"2000\" height=\"1334\" src=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/07/GettyImages-2285787606-scaled-e1791586238561.jpg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-12091600\"/>\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">U.S. President Donald Trump addresses the nation from the East Room of the White House on July 16, 2026, in Washington, D.C. (Saul Loeb/Pool via Getty Images)\u003c/figcaption>\u003c/figure>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>“Those together are the biggest change in school policy since at least the early 1990s,” said professor Doug Harris, the director of the National Center for Research on Education Access and Choice at Tulane University. “The idea of open access or universal access to schools is upended. Public education has always involved some public governance, and this eliminates [that].”\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>Valant called the universal private school choice policies, adopted by more than half of U.S. states, not including California, “intentionally hostile to public schools.”\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>While the federal government has suggested that school choice increases competition and will improve public schools, Valant and others worry it will siphon funds away from the public system and toward schools that are able to select which students they serve — and often teach religious material.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>The Trump administration has also threatened to withhold federal dollars from school districts that teach about diversity, equity and inclusion, or promote policies that protect transgender students. \u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>In June, the Department of Education launched compliance reviews into SFUSD and three Monterey County school districts over their policies and materials related to gender identity and sexual orientation.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cfigure class=\"wp-block-image size-full\">\u003cimg loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"2000\" height=\"1333\" src=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/06/MariaSuAP2.jpg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-12086920\" srcset=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/06/MariaSuAP2.jpg 2000w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/06/MariaSuAP2-160x107.jpg 160w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/06/MariaSuAP2-1536x1024.jpg 1536w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 2000px) 100vw, 2000px\" />\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">San Francisco Unified School District Superintendent Dr. Maria Su testifies during a House Education and Workforce Committee hearing on parental rights and school content policies, on June 10, 2026, in Washington. (Kevin Wolf/AP Photo)\u003c/figcaption>\u003c/figure>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>Later that month, San Francisco Superintendent Su was \u003ca href=\"https://www.kqed.org/news/12086522/congress-to-grill-san-francisco-schools-chief-maria-su-about-gender-ethnic-studies\">called to testify\u003c/a> before Congress about parental rights and “inappropriate” course curriculum.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>All of that adds up to a current moment that Marsh described as an attack on public education and democracy at large, adding that voting is essential to maintain those institutions.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>“A democracy that focuses on the common good … actually requires people to look out for other kids, not just their own families,” she said.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>“School boards are one of our few local institutions that are both defending democracy and public education,” she said. “The federal government can’t do anything about our boards — the school board system is well established, and I think we need to defend that.”\u003c/p>\n",
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"\n\u003cp>In \u003ca href=\"https://www.kqed.org/educationnews\">school districts\u003c/a> across the Bay Area, years of declining enrollment are forcing major cuts and closures; students’ math and reading scores are in a \u003ca href=\"https://cepr.harvard.edu/news/2026/05/why-us-test-scores-are-generation-long-decline\">free fall\u003c/a>; and campuses are being confronted with many of our major political fights, from transgender rights to AI regulation. \u003c/p>\n"
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>But in many cases, the people elected to navigate these challenges earn that significant power by a margin as small as a couple hundred votes. \u003c/p>\n",
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>More than half of school board candidates across the U.S. run uncontested in an average election cycle, and voter turnout hovers between 5% and 10%. And school board races tend to be “low information,” meaning voters know little about who the candidates are or where they stand on key issues, many of which are similar across districts throughout the state.\u003c/p>\n",
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"\n\u003cp>More than half of school board candidates across the U.S. run uncontested in an average election cycle, and voter turnout hovers between 5% and 10%. And school board races tend to be “low information,” meaning voters know little about who the candidates are or where they stand on key issues, many of which are similar across districts throughout the state.\u003c/p>\n"
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>KQED asked \u003ca href=\"https://www.kqed.org/voterguide\">390 candidates vying for 109 school board seats\u003c/a> across the nine-county Bay Area in November for their stance on some of these topics, from potential school closures to cellphone use — information voters can use at a time that education experts say is pivotal to public schools’ success. \u003c/p>\n",
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"\n\u003cp>KQED asked \u003ca href=\"https://www.kqed.org/voterguide\">390 candidates vying for 109 school board seats\u003c/a> across the nine-county Bay Area in November for their stance on some of these topics, from potential school closures to cellphone use — information voters can use at a time that education experts say is pivotal to public schools’ success. \u003c/p>\n"
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>“We have some unambiguously big problems for schools,” said Jon Valant, who directs the Brown Center on Education Policy at the Brookings Institution. “You can have a big impact, and you can have a big impact at a time when schools are facing a lot of important questions.”\u003c/p>\n",
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"\n\u003cp>“We have some unambiguously big problems for schools,” said Jon Valant, who directs the Brown Center on Education Policy at the Brookings Institution. “You can have a big impact, and you can have a big impact at a time when schools are facing a lot of important questions.”\u003c/p>\n"
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003ch2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">What do school boards actually do?\u003c/h2>\n",
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"\n\u003ch2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">What do school boards actually do?\u003c/h2>\n"
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>School boards oversee large budgets, act as major employers and make policy and curriculum decisions that affect thousands of young people — and have rippling impacts on their wider communities.\u003c/p>\n",
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"\n\u003cp>School boards oversee large budgets, act as major employers and make policy and curriculum decisions that affect thousands of young people — and have rippling impacts on their wider communities.\u003c/p>\n"
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>“[Public schools] are the primary institutions that we have for preparing people to be contributing members of our society, democracy and economy,” Valant said. “When you’re participating in a school board election, you’re really having a say in the structure of our society more broadly.”\u003c/p>\n",
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"\n\u003cp>“[Public schools] are the primary institutions that we have for preparing people to be contributing members of our society, democracy and economy,” Valant said. “When you’re participating in a school board election, you’re really having a say in the structure of our society more broadly.”\u003c/p>\n"
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cfigure class=\"wp-block-image size-full\">\u003cimg src=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/08/20260806_SFUSDNEWSCHOOL_GC-8-KQED.jpg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-12094191\" srcset=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/08/20260806_SFUSDNEWSCHOOL_GC-8-KQED.jpg 2000w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/08/20260806_SFUSDNEWSCHOOL_GC-8-KQED-160x107.jpg 160w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/08/20260806_SFUSDNEWSCHOOL_GC-8-KQED-1536x1024.jpg 1536w\" sizes=\"(min-width: 992px) min(100vw, 1536px), (min-width: 768px) min(100vw, 1280px), min(100vw, 1020px)\"/>\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">A classroom at Mission Bay Elementary School in San Francisco on Aug. 6, 2026. Mission Bay School is the first new public SFUSD school to open in 20 years.\u003ccite class=\"wp-inline-image-credit\"> (Gina Castro for KQED)\u003c/cite>\u003c/figcaption>\u003c/figure>\n",
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"\n\u003cfigure class=\"wp-block-image size-full\">\u003cimg src=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/08/20260806_SFUSDNEWSCHOOL_GC-8-KQED.jpg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-12094191\"/>\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">A classroom at Mission Bay Elementary School in San Francisco on Aug. 6, 2026. Mission Bay School is the first new public SFUSD school to open in 20 years.\u003ccite class=\"wp-inline-image-credit\"> (Gina Castro for KQED)\u003c/cite>\u003c/figcaption>\u003c/figure>\n"
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>The bodies have a few main functions: approving a school district’s budget — which for an urban district like San Francisco, tops $1.36 billion — and hiring and evaluating a superintendent, the person “who’s really responsible for running the system,” according to Julie Marsh, a faculty director at Policy Analysis for California Education.\u003c/p>\n",
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"\n\u003cp>The bodies have a few main functions: approving a school district’s budget — which for an urban district like San Francisco, tops $1.36 billion — and hiring and evaluating a superintendent, the person “who’s really responsible for running the system,” according to Julie Marsh, a faculty director at Policy Analysis for California Education.\u003c/p>\n"
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>School boards set priorities, such as student outcome goals and community values, that are supposed to guide decision-making by the superintendent and district staff. They also approve curriculum and labor contracts and can steer high-level policy. \u003c/p>\n",
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"\n\u003cp>School boards set priorities, such as student outcome goals and community values, that are supposed to guide decision-making by the superintendent and district staff. They also approve curriculum and labor contracts and can steer high-level policy. \u003c/p>\n"
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003ch2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Culture war battlegrounds\u003c/h2>\n",
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>Less officially, school boards have also become political arenas.\u003c/p>\n",
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>“Schools and particularly school boards have really become some of the country’s main battlegrounds for its culture wars,” Valant said. \u003c/p>\n",
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"\n\u003cp>“Schools and particularly school boards have really become some of the country’s main battlegrounds for its culture wars,” Valant said. \u003c/p>\n"
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>He traces the trend back to the COVID-19 pandemic, when some groups of parents began organizing and rallying against masking and vaccine mandates.\u003c/p>\n",
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"\n\u003cp>He traces the trend back to the COVID-19 pandemic, when some groups of parents began organizing and rallying against masking and vaccine mandates.\u003c/p>\n"
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cfigure class=\"wp-block-image size-full\">\u003cimg src=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/10/MomsLibertyGetty-52a1d437.jpg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-12103881\" srcset=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/10/MomsLibertyGetty-52a1d437.jpg 2000w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/10/MomsLibertyGetty-52a1d437-160x126.jpg 160w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/10/MomsLibertyGetty-52a1d437-1536x1207.jpg 1536w\" sizes=\"(min-width: 992px) min(100vw, 1536px), (min-width: 768px) min(100vw, 1280px), min(100vw, 1020px)\"/>\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">Martha Aguilera, left, with Karen Frost of Moms for Liberty, speaks at the California Policy Center and PERK (Protection of the Educational Rights of Kids) event, “A Line in the Sand, A Rally for Parental Rights,” at Rancho Madera Community Park in Simi Valley, California, on Sept. 26, 2023.\u003ccite class=\"wp-inline-image-credit\"> (Myung J. Chun/Los Angeles Times via Getty Images)\u003c/cite>\u003c/figcaption>\u003c/figure>\n",
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"\n\u003cfigure class=\"wp-block-image size-full\">\u003cimg src=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/10/MomsLibertyGetty-52a1d437.jpg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-12103881\"/>\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">Martha Aguilera, left, with Karen Frost of Moms for Liberty, speaks at the California Policy Center and PERK (Protection of the Educational Rights of Kids) event, “A Line in the Sand, A Rally for Parental Rights,” at Rancho Madera Community Park in Simi Valley, California, on Sept. 26, 2023.\u003ccite class=\"wp-inline-image-credit\"> (Myung J. Chun/Los Angeles Times via Getty Images)\u003c/cite>\u003c/figcaption>\u003c/figure>\n"
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>Around the same time, groups like \u003ca href=\"https://www.kqed.org/forum/2010101904708/conservative-mothers-as-a-political-force-in-california\">Moms for Liberty\u003c/a> were on the rise, advocating against curriculum that teaches about LGBTQ rights and race and ethnicity. They began running school board candidates and establishing a sustained presence at school board meetings, sowing fear that public schools are pushing “woke indoctrination.”\u003c/p>\n",
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"\n\u003cp>Around the same time, groups like \u003ca href=\"https://www.kqed.org/forum/2010101904708/conservative-mothers-as-a-political-force-in-california\">Moms for Liberty\u003c/a> were on the rise, advocating against curriculum that teaches about LGBTQ rights and race and ethnicity. They began running school board candidates and establishing a sustained presence at school board meetings, sowing fear that public schools are pushing “woke indoctrination.”\u003c/p>\n"
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>“We’ve seen far-right leaders who have been quite successful with this approach where they run well-funded groups, organize and run a candidate on an ideological platform,” Marsh said. \u003c/p>\n",
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>While these groups’ influence on school board races seems to be dying down in California, Valant said a recent national Brookings survey found that school board members still feel their governance has become more political and partisan in recent years. \u003c/p>\n",
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>Marsh said that conservative groups have also used the tactic to upend trust in school systems more broadly and “mobilize their base.” \u003c/p>\n",
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>“There’s a whole strategy of creating a bench for potential candidates for higher office,” she said.\u003c/p>\n",
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cfigure class=\"wp-block-image size-full\">\u003cimg src=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/06/Sonja-Shaw-Getty-1.jpg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-12086196\" srcset=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/06/Sonja-Shaw-Getty-1.jpg 2000w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/06/Sonja-Shaw-Getty-1-160x110.jpg 160w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/06/Sonja-Shaw-Getty-1-1536x1054.jpg 1536w\" sizes=\"(min-width: 992px) min(100vw, 1536px), (min-width: 768px) min(100vw, 1280px), min(100vw, 1020px)\"/>\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">Sonja Shaw, Chino Valley Unified School District Board President, speaks at the California Policy Center and PERK (Protection of the Educational Rights of Kids) event, “A Line in the Sand: A Rally for Parental Rights,” at Rancho Madera Community Park in Simi Valley, California, on Sept. 26, 2023.\u003ccite class=\"wp-inline-image-credit\"> (Myung J. Chun/Los Angeles Times via Getty Images)\u003c/cite>\u003c/figcaption>\u003c/figure>\n",
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"\n\u003cfigure class=\"wp-block-image size-full\">\u003cimg src=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/06/Sonja-Shaw-Getty-1.jpg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-12086196\"/>\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">Sonja Shaw, Chino Valley Unified School District Board President, speaks at the California Policy Center and PERK (Protection of the Educational Rights of Kids) event, “A Line in the Sand: A Rally for Parental Rights,” at Rancho Madera Community Park in Simi Valley, California, on Sept. 26, 2023.\u003ccite class=\"wp-inline-image-credit\"> (Myung J. Chun/Los Angeles Times via Getty Images)\u003c/cite>\u003c/figcaption>\u003c/figure>\n"
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>Sonja Shaw, who is in the \u003ca href=\"https://www.kqed.org/news/12086044/conservative-activist-sonja-shaw-advances-in-state-superintendent-race\">runoff election for California state superintendent\u003c/a> this November, rose to notoriety as Chino Valley’s school board president in 2023, when she pushed for a policy that would require school staff to notify parents of any change in their children’s gender identity. Shaw made headlines after current state Superintendent Tony Thurmond was heckled and removed from her district’s board meeting after he expressed opposition to the policy. \u003c/p>\n",
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>The policy was permanently halted in 2024, after a lawsuit from Attorney General Rob Bonta, along with similar campaigns to implement “forced outing” in Rocklin and counties in Southern California.\u003c/p>\n",
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>President Donald Trump also harnessed fear surrounding schools’ policies around LGBTQ students in the final stretch of his 2024 reelection campaign, telling a crowd of about 20,000 at Madison Square Garden, “we will get … transgender insanity the hell out of our schools.”\u003c/p>\n",
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"\n\u003cp>President Donald Trump also harnessed fear surrounding schools’ policies around LGBTQ students in the final stretch of his 2024 reelection campaign, telling a crowd of about 20,000 at Madison Square Garden, “we will get … transgender insanity the hell out of our schools.”\u003c/p>\n"
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>He repeatedly told voters: “your kid goes to school and comes home a few days later with an operation,” changing their sex.\u003c/p>\n",
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>While “culture war politics” draw attention and tend to spur single-issue candidates to run for school boards, Valant said, “we need really to be focused on some of the core issues in education.”\u003c/p>\n",
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>“[Artificial intelligence] has kind of landed on schools’ laps, and questions about how technology should be embedded into the school day,” he said. “We’ve seen achievement declines across the country and growing gaps between the highest- and lowest-scoring students. We’ve seen chronic absenteeism and enrollment declines.\u003c/p>\n",
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"\n\u003cp>“[Artificial intelligence] has kind of landed on schools’ laps, and questions about how technology should be embedded into the school day,” he said. “We’ve seen achievement declines across the country and growing gaps between the highest- and lowest-scoring students. We’ve seen chronic absenteeism and enrollment declines.\u003c/p>\n"
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>“And, we’ve seen a growing attack on public education across the country,” he said.\u003c/p>\n",
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cfigure class=\"wp-block-image size-full\">\u003cimg src=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/10/LAUSDScreenTimeGetty-d975feb9.jpg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-12103883\" srcset=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/10/LAUSDScreenTimeGetty-d975feb9.jpg 2000w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/10/LAUSDScreenTimeGetty-d975feb9-160x107.jpg 160w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/10/LAUSDScreenTimeGetty-d975feb9-1536x1024.jpg 1536w\" sizes=\"(min-width: 992px) min(100vw, 1536px), (min-width: 768px) min(100vw, 1280px), min(100vw, 1020px)\"/>\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">Nick Melvoin, Member of the Los Angeles Unified School District, speaks during a board meeting at the LAUSD headquarters on April 21, 2026, in Los Angeles, California. The LAUSD met to discuss a resolution calling for development of a Screen Time Policy setting time limits by grade, including elimination of student digital devices for early education through first grade, prohibiting device use by elementary and middle school students during passing periods, lunch and recess. The board unanimously voted to approve Board Member Melvoin’s Resolution to limit student screen time.\u003ccite class=\"wp-inline-image-credit\"> (Kayla Bartkowski/Los Angeles Times via Getty Images)\u003c/cite>\u003c/figcaption>\u003c/figure>\n",
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"\n\u003cfigure class=\"wp-block-image size-full\">\u003cimg src=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/10/LAUSDScreenTimeGetty-d975feb9.jpg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-12103883\"/>\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">Nick Melvoin, Member of the Los Angeles Unified School District, speaks during a board meeting at the LAUSD headquarters on April 21, 2026, in Los Angeles, California. The LAUSD met to discuss a resolution calling for development of a Screen Time Policy setting time limits by grade, including elimination of student digital devices for early education through first grade, prohibiting device use by elementary and middle school students during passing periods, lunch and recess. The board unanimously voted to approve Board Member Melvoin’s Resolution to limit student screen time.\u003ccite class=\"wp-inline-image-credit\"> (Kayla Bartkowski/Los Angeles Times via Getty Images)\u003c/cite>\u003c/figcaption>\u003c/figure>\n"
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>Many of the boards elected this November will be tasked with deciding how their districts will weather shrinking student bodies, and whether to close schools as part of that process.\u003c/p>\n",
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"\n\u003cp>Many of the boards elected this November will be tasked with deciding how their districts will weather shrinking student bodies, and whether to close schools as part of that process.\u003c/p>\n"
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>The \u003ca href=\"https://www.kqed.org/news/tag/school-closures\">closure process\u003c/a> is almost always met with strong opposition from families and teachers, but how districts approach it can significantly change how it affects enrollment and trust.\u003c/p>\n",
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"\n\u003cp>The \u003ca href=\"https://www.kqed.org/news/tag/school-closures\">closure process\u003c/a> is almost always met with strong opposition from families and teachers, but how districts approach it can significantly change how it affects enrollment and trust.\u003c/p>\n"
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>San Francisco’s former superintendent \u003ca href=\"https://www.kqed.org/news/12010008/sf-schools-crisis-is-spiraling-with-top-official-to-resign-heres-all-thats-happened\">resigned under pressure\u003c/a> in 2024 after a botched closure process that strained relationships with the district’s labor unions and many families. But earlier this year, the school board \u003ca href=\"https://www.kqed.org/news/12095382/as-sfusd-welcomes-back-students-officials-plan-to-revamp-enrollment-consider-closures\">reopened the question of school consolidations\u003c/a>, giving Superintendent Maria Su a strict deadline of 2030 to decide whether campuses should shutter. \u003c/p>\n",
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>The board — including the three members who will be elected this fall — will have final approval over her plan.\u003c/p>\n",
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>Campus closures can upend longstanding school communities, and National School Board Association president Verjeana McCotter-Jacobs said they have rippling effects on nearby businesses, property values and neighborhood populations if they spur families to move.\u003c/p>\n",
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"\n\u003cp>Campus closures can upend longstanding school communities, and National School Board Association president Verjeana McCotter-Jacobs said they have rippling effects on nearby businesses, property values and neighborhood populations if they spur families to move.\u003c/p>\n"
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>Of the 140 Bay Area school board candidates who responded to KQED’s question about school closures, 57% said they would consider supporting a proposal from their district to close schools, while 43% said they would oppose the practice.\u003c/p>\n",
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"\n\u003cp>Of the 140 Bay Area school board candidates who responded to KQED’s question about school closures, 57% said they would consider supporting a proposal from their district to close schools, while 43% said they would oppose the practice.\u003c/p>\n"
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>Boards are also setting the course for the future of technology in classrooms, as parent-led backlash expands across the country, blaming overreliance on screens and artificial intelligence for poor learning outcomes. According to a joint Education Scorecard project from researchers at Stanford, Harvard and Dartmouth universities, falling test scores reflect a \u003ca href=\"https://cepr.harvard.edu/news/2026/05/why-us-test-scores-are-generation-long-decline\">decadelong “learning recession.”\u003c/a>\u003c/p>\n",
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"\n\u003cp>Boards are also setting the course for the future of technology in classrooms, as parent-led backlash expands across the country, blaming overreliance on screens and artificial intelligence for poor learning outcomes. According to a joint Education Scorecard project from researchers at Stanford, Harvard and Dartmouth universities, falling test scores reflect a \u003ca href=\"https://cepr.harvard.edu/news/2026/05/why-us-test-scores-are-generation-long-decline\">decadelong “learning recession.”\u003c/a>\u003c/p>\n"
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>In the spring, the Los Angeles Unified School District board passed a slate of historic tech-limiting policies, proposed by board member Nick Melvoin, with advocacy group Schools Beyond Screens. Districts across the country have moved quickly to \u003ca href=\"https://www.kqed.org/news/12096557/a-chromebook-in-the-hand-of-every-child-did-schools-go-too-far\">replicate their model\u003c/a>, including in the Bay Area, from San José to Marin.\u003c/p>\n",
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"\n\u003cp>In the spring, the Los Angeles Unified School District board passed a slate of historic tech-limiting policies, proposed by board member Nick Melvoin, with advocacy group Schools Beyond Screens. Districts across the country have moved quickly to \u003ca href=\"https://www.kqed.org/news/12096557/a-chromebook-in-the-hand-of-every-child-did-schools-go-too-far\">replicate their model\u003c/a>, including in the Bay Area, from San José to Marin.\u003c/p>\n"
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>Last week, the Oakland school board approved new technology restrictions, proposed by board member Rachel Latta, that prohibit students from using individual devices during lunch and passing periods, and mandate training for teachers to reduce 1:1 device use by the fall of 2027. \u003c/p>\n",
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"\n\u003cp>Last week, the Oakland school board approved new technology restrictions, proposed by board member Rachel Latta, that prohibit students from using individual devices during lunch and passing periods, and mandate training for teachers to reduce 1:1 device use by the fall of 2027. \u003c/p>\n"
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>Other districts in San Francisco, San Mateo and Palo Alto have formed ad hoc committees or working groups to consider stricter tech policies, which will be presented to their new boards in the spring.\u003c/p>\n",
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>San Francisco’s public school district is relatively behind on limiting tech use — the current board allowed administrators to punt on a stricter cellphone policy last spring, and it uses a controversial AI-assisted reading assessment and tutoring tool with kindergarteners.\u003c/p>\n",
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"\n\u003cp>San Francisco’s public school district is relatively behind on limiting tech use — the current board allowed administrators to punt on a stricter cellphone policy last spring, and it uses a controversial AI-assisted reading assessment and tutoring tool with kindergarteners.\u003c/p>\n"
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>Voters aren’t just choosing who will make major instructional decisions at their local school districts; Valant said voting in school board elections this November will send an important message amid what he calls a “federal attack” on public schools.\u003c/p>\n",
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"\n\u003cp>Voters aren’t just choosing who will make major instructional decisions at their local school districts; Valant said voting in school board elections this November will send an important message amid what he calls a “federal attack” on public schools.\u003c/p>\n"
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>“Staying engaged with school boards, with education, with your local public school, is just really important in communicating that public schools are institutions that mean a lot to this country,” he said. \u003c/p>\n",
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"\n\u003cp>“Staying engaged with school boards, with education, with your local public school, is just really important in communicating that public schools are institutions that mean a lot to this country,” he said. \u003c/p>\n"
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>Since taking office last year, Trump has signed an executive order directing the dismantling of the Department of Education and created a federal \u003ca href=\"https://www.ed.gov/media/document/education-freedom-tax-credit-fact-sheet-113147.pdf\">Education Freedom Scholarship Program\u003c/a>, which aims to expand parents’ school choice by allowing them to receive tax credits up to $1,700 that can be used to pay for private school tuition, home-schooling costs, and other educational support.\u003c/p>\n",
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"\n\u003cp>Since taking office last year, Trump has signed an executive order directing the dismantling of the Department of Education and created a federal \u003ca href=\"https://www.ed.gov/media/document/education-freedom-tax-credit-fact-sheet-113147.pdf\">Education Freedom Scholarship Program\u003c/a>, which aims to expand parents’ school choice by allowing them to receive tax credits up to $1,700 that can be used to pay for private school tuition, home-schooling costs, and other educational support.\u003c/p>\n"
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cfigure class=\"wp-block-image size-full\">\u003cimg src=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/07/GettyImages-2285787606-scaled-e1791586238561.jpg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-12091600\"/>\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">U.S. President Donald Trump addresses the nation from the East Room of the White House on July 16, 2026, in Washington, D.C. \u003ccite class=\"wp-inline-image-credit\"> (Saul Loeb/Pool via Getty Images)\u003c/cite>\u003c/figcaption>\u003c/figure>\n",
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>“Those together are the biggest change in school policy since at least the early 1990s,” said professor Doug Harris, the director of the National Center for Research on Education Access and Choice at Tulane University. “The idea of open access or universal access to schools is upended. Public education has always involved some public governance, and this eliminates [that].”\u003c/p>\n",
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"\n\u003cp>“Those together are the biggest change in school policy since at least the early 1990s,” said professor Doug Harris, the director of the National Center for Research on Education Access and Choice at Tulane University. “The idea of open access or universal access to schools is upended. Public education has always involved some public governance, and this eliminates [that].”\u003c/p>\n"
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>Valant called the universal private school choice policies, adopted by more than half of U.S. states, not including California, “intentionally hostile to public schools.”\u003c/p>\n",
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>While the federal government has suggested that school choice increases competition and will improve public schools, Valant and others worry it will siphon funds away from the public system and toward schools that are able to select which students they serve — and often teach religious material.\u003c/p>\n",
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>The Trump administration has also threatened to withhold federal dollars from school districts that teach about diversity, equity and inclusion, or promote policies that protect transgender students. \u003c/p>\n",
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>In June, the Department of Education launched compliance reviews into SFUSD and three Monterey County school districts over their policies and materials related to gender identity and sexual orientation.\u003c/p>\n",
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>Later that month, San Francisco Superintendent Su was \u003ca href=\"https://www.kqed.org/news/12086522/congress-to-grill-san-francisco-schools-chief-maria-su-about-gender-ethnic-studies\">called to testify\u003c/a> before Congress about parental rights and “inappropriate” course curriculum.\u003c/p>\n",
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"\n\u003cp>Later that month, San Francisco Superintendent Su was \u003ca href=\"https://www.kqed.org/news/12086522/congress-to-grill-san-francisco-schools-chief-maria-su-about-gender-ethnic-studies\">called to testify\u003c/a> before Congress about parental rights and “inappropriate” course curriculum.\u003c/p>\n"
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>All of that adds up to a current moment that Marsh described as an attack on public education and democracy at large, adding that voting is essential to maintain those institutions.\u003c/p>\n",
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>“A democracy that focuses on the common good … actually requires people to look out for other kids, not just their own families,” she said.\u003c/p>\n",
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>“School boards are one of our few local institutions that are both defending democracy and public education,” she said. “The federal government can’t do anything about our boards — the school board system is well established, and I think we need to defend that.”\u003c/p>\n",
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"excerpt": "Public schools across the Bay Area are facing “some unambiguously big problems,” education experts say, but the elections for local school boards often fly under the radar.",
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"title": "Don’t Skip the School Board Races on Your Ballot. Here’s Why They Could Be Pivotal | KQED",
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"content": "\u003cdiv class=\"post-body\">\u003cp>\n\u003cp>In \u003ca href=\"https://www.kqed.org/educationnews\">school districts\u003c/a> across the Bay Area, years of declining enrollment are forcing major cuts and closures; students’ math and reading scores are in a \u003ca href=\"https://cepr.harvard.edu/news/2026/05/why-us-test-scores-are-generation-long-decline\">free fall\u003c/a>; and campuses are being confronted with many of our major political fights, from transgender rights to AI regulation. \u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>But in many cases, the people elected to navigate these challenges earn that significant power by a margin as small as a couple hundred votes. \u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>More than half of school board candidates across the U.S. run uncontested in an average election cycle, and voter turnout hovers between 5% and 10%. And school board races tend to be “low information,” meaning voters know little about who the candidates are or where they stand on key issues, many of which are similar across districts throughout the state.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>KQED asked \u003ca href=\"https://www.kqed.org/voterguide\">390 candidates vying for 109 school board seats\u003c/a> across the nine-county Bay Area in November for their stance on some of these topics, from potential school closures to cellphone use — information voters can use at a time that education experts say is pivotal to public schools’ success. \u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>“We have some unambiguously big problems for schools,” said Jon Valant, who directs the Brown Center on Education Policy at the Brookings Institution. “You can have a big impact, and you can have a big impact at a time when schools are facing a lot of important questions.”\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003ch2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">What do school boards actually do?\u003c/h2>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>School boards oversee large budgets, act as major employers and make policy and curriculum decisions that affect thousands of young people — and have rippling impacts on their wider communities.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>“[Public schools] are the primary institutions that we have for preparing people to be contributing members of our society, democracy and economy,” Valant said. “When you’re participating in a school board election, you’re really having a say in the structure of our society more broadly.”\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cfigure class=\"wp-block-image size-full\">\u003cimg loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"2000\" height=\"1333\" src=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/08/20260806_SFUSDNEWSCHOOL_GC-8-KQED.jpg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-12094191\" srcset=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/08/20260806_SFUSDNEWSCHOOL_GC-8-KQED.jpg 2000w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/08/20260806_SFUSDNEWSCHOOL_GC-8-KQED-160x107.jpg 160w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/08/20260806_SFUSDNEWSCHOOL_GC-8-KQED-1536x1024.jpg 1536w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 2000px) 100vw, 2000px\" />\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">A classroom at Mission Bay Elementary School in San Francisco on Aug. 6, 2026. Mission Bay School is the first new public SFUSD school to open in 20 years. (Gina Castro for KQED)\u003c/figcaption>\u003c/figure>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>The bodies have a few main functions: approving a school district’s budget — which for an urban district like San Francisco, tops $1.36 billion — and hiring and evaluating a superintendent, the person “who’s really responsible for running the system,” according to Julie Marsh, a faculty director at Policy Analysis for California Education.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>School boards set priorities, such as student outcome goals and community values, that are supposed to guide decision-making by the superintendent and district staff. They also approve curriculum and labor contracts and can steer high-level policy. \u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003ch2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Culture war battlegrounds\u003c/h2>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>Less officially, school boards have also become political arenas.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>“Schools and particularly school boards have really become some of the country’s main battlegrounds for its culture wars,” Valant said. \u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>He traces the trend back to the COVID-19 pandemic, when some groups of parents began organizing and rallying against masking and vaccine mandates.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cfigure class=\"wp-block-image size-full\">\u003cimg loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"2000\" height=\"1571\" src=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/10/MomsLibertyGetty-52a1d437.jpg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-12103881\" srcset=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/10/MomsLibertyGetty-52a1d437.jpg 2000w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/10/MomsLibertyGetty-52a1d437-160x126.jpg 160w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/10/MomsLibertyGetty-52a1d437-1536x1207.jpg 1536w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 2000px) 100vw, 2000px\" />\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">Martha Aguilera, left, with Karen Frost of Moms for Liberty, speaks at the California Policy Center and PERK (Protection of the Educational Rights of Kids) event, “A Line in the Sand, A Rally for Parental Rights,” at Rancho Madera Community Park in Simi Valley, California, on Sept. 26, 2023. (Myung J. Chun/Los Angeles Times via Getty Images)\u003c/figcaption>\u003c/figure>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>Around the same time, groups like \u003ca href=\"https://www.kqed.org/forum/2010101904708/conservative-mothers-as-a-political-force-in-california\">Moms for Liberty\u003c/a> were on the rise, advocating against curriculum that teaches about LGBTQ rights and race and ethnicity. They began running school board candidates and establishing a sustained presence at school board meetings, sowing fear that public schools are pushing “woke indoctrination.”\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>“We’ve seen far-right leaders who have been quite successful with this approach where they run well-funded groups, organize and run a candidate on an ideological platform,” Marsh said. \u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>She and other experts said the rise of candidates running for the nonpartisan roles backed by political interest groups became especially prominent in the early 2020s. \u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>While these groups’ influence on school board races seems to be dying down in California, Valant said a recent national Brookings survey found that school board members still feel their governance has become more political and partisan in recent years. \u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>Marsh said that conservative groups have also used the tactic to upend trust in school systems more broadly and “mobilize their base.” \u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>“There’s a whole strategy of creating a bench for potential candidates for higher office,” she said.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cfigure class=\"wp-block-image size-full\">\u003cimg loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"2000\" height=\"1372\" src=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/06/Sonja-Shaw-Getty-1.jpg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-12086196\" srcset=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/06/Sonja-Shaw-Getty-1.jpg 2000w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/06/Sonja-Shaw-Getty-1-160x110.jpg 160w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/06/Sonja-Shaw-Getty-1-1536x1054.jpg 1536w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 2000px) 100vw, 2000px\" />\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">Sonja Shaw, Chino Valley Unified School District Board President, speaks at the California Policy Center and PERK (Protection of the Educational Rights of Kids) event, “A Line in the Sand: A Rally for Parental Rights,” at Rancho Madera Community Park in Simi Valley, California, on Sept. 26, 2023. (Myung J. Chun/Los Angeles Times via Getty Images)\u003c/figcaption>\u003c/figure>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>Sonja Shaw, who is in the \u003ca href=\"https://www.kqed.org/news/12086044/conservative-activist-sonja-shaw-advances-in-state-superintendent-race\">runoff election for California state superintendent\u003c/a> this November, rose to notoriety as Chino Valley’s school board president in 2023, when she pushed for a policy that would require school staff to notify parents of any change in their children’s gender identity. Shaw made headlines after current state Superintendent Tony Thurmond was heckled and removed from her district’s board meeting after he expressed opposition to the policy. \u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>The policy was permanently halted in 2024, after a lawsuit from Attorney General Rob Bonta, along with similar campaigns to implement “forced outing” in Rocklin and counties in Southern California.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>President Donald Trump also harnessed fear surrounding schools’ policies around LGBTQ students in the final stretch of his 2024 reelection campaign, telling a crowd of about 20,000 at Madison Square Garden, “we will get … transgender insanity the hell out of our schools.”\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>He repeatedly told voters: “your kid goes to school and comes home a few days later with an operation,” changing their sex.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003ch2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">‘Big, big issues’\u003c/h2>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>While “culture war politics” draw attention and tend to spur single-issue candidates to run for school boards, Valant said, “we need really to be focused on some of the core issues in education.”\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>“[Artificial intelligence] has kind of landed on schools’ laps, and questions about how technology should be embedded into the school day,” he said. “We’ve seen achievement declines across the country and growing gaps between the highest- and lowest-scoring students. We’ve seen chronic absenteeism and enrollment declines.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>“And, we’ve seen a growing attack on public education across the country,” he said.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cfigure class=\"wp-block-image size-full\">\u003cimg loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"2000\" height=\"1333\" src=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/10/LAUSDScreenTimeGetty-d975feb9.jpg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-12103883\" srcset=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/10/LAUSDScreenTimeGetty-d975feb9.jpg 2000w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/10/LAUSDScreenTimeGetty-d975feb9-160x107.jpg 160w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/10/LAUSDScreenTimeGetty-d975feb9-1536x1024.jpg 1536w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 2000px) 100vw, 2000px\" />\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">Nick Melvoin, Member of the Los Angeles Unified School District, speaks during a board meeting at the LAUSD headquarters on April 21, 2026, in Los Angeles, California. The LAUSD met to discuss a resolution calling for development of a Screen Time Policy setting time limits by grade, including elimination of student digital devices for early education through first grade, prohibiting device use by elementary and middle school students during passing periods, lunch and recess. The board unanimously voted to approve Board Member Melvoin’s Resolution to limit student screen time. (Kayla Bartkowski/Los Angeles Times via Getty Images)\u003c/figcaption>\u003c/figure>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>Many of the boards elected this November will be tasked with deciding how their districts will weather shrinking student bodies, and whether to close schools as part of that process.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>The \u003ca href=\"https://www.kqed.org/news/tag/school-closures\">closure process\u003c/a> is almost always met with strong opposition from families and teachers, but how districts approach it can significantly change how it affects enrollment and trust.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>San Francisco’s former superintendent \u003ca href=\"https://www.kqed.org/news/12010008/sf-schools-crisis-is-spiraling-with-top-official-to-resign-heres-all-thats-happened\">resigned under pressure\u003c/a> in 2024 after a botched closure process that strained relationships with the district’s labor unions and many families. But earlier this year, the school board \u003ca href=\"https://www.kqed.org/news/12095382/as-sfusd-welcomes-back-students-officials-plan-to-revamp-enrollment-consider-closures\">reopened the question of school consolidations\u003c/a>, giving Superintendent Maria Su a strict deadline of 2030 to decide whether campuses should shutter. \u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>The board — including the three members who will be elected this fall — will have final approval over her plan.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>Campus closures can upend longstanding school communities, and National School Board Association president Verjeana McCotter-Jacobs said they have rippling effects on nearby businesses, property values and neighborhood populations if they spur families to move.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\u003cp>Of the 140 Bay Area school board candidates who responded to KQED’s question about school closures, 57% said they would consider supporting a proposal from their district to close schools, while 43% said they would oppose the practice.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>Boards are also setting the course for the future of technology in classrooms, as parent-led backlash expands across the country, blaming overreliance on screens and artificial intelligence for poor learning outcomes. According to a joint Education Scorecard project from researchers at Stanford, Harvard and Dartmouth universities, falling test scores reflect a \u003ca href=\"https://cepr.harvard.edu/news/2026/05/why-us-test-scores-are-generation-long-decline\">decadelong “learning recession.”\u003c/a>\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>In the spring, the Los Angeles Unified School District board passed a slate of historic tech-limiting policies, proposed by board member Nick Melvoin, with advocacy group Schools Beyond Screens. Districts across the country have moved quickly to \u003ca href=\"https://www.kqed.org/news/12096557/a-chromebook-in-the-hand-of-every-child-did-schools-go-too-far\">replicate their model\u003c/a>, including in the Bay Area, from San José to Marin.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>Last week, the Oakland school board approved new technology restrictions, proposed by board member Rachel Latta, that prohibit students from using individual devices during lunch and passing periods, and mandate training for teachers to reduce 1:1 device use by the fall of 2027. \u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>Other districts in San Francisco, San Mateo and Palo Alto have formed ad hoc committees or working groups to consider stricter tech policies, which will be presented to their new boards in the spring.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>San Francisco’s public school district is relatively behind on limiting tech use — the current board allowed administrators to punt on a stricter cellphone policy last spring, and it uses a controversial AI-assisted reading assessment and tutoring tool with kindergarteners.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003ch2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Combatting federal attacks\u003c/h2>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>Voters aren’t just choosing who will make major instructional decisions at their local school districts; Valant said voting in school board elections this November will send an important message amid what he calls a “federal attack” on public schools.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>“Staying engaged with school boards, with education, with your local public school, is just really important in communicating that public schools are institutions that mean a lot to this country,” he said. \u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>Since taking office last year, Trump has signed an executive order directing the dismantling of the Department of Education and created a federal \u003ca href=\"https://www.ed.gov/media/document/education-freedom-tax-credit-fact-sheet-113147.pdf\">Education Freedom Scholarship Program\u003c/a>, which aims to expand parents’ school choice by allowing them to receive tax credits up to $1,700 that can be used to pay for private school tuition, home-schooling costs, and other educational support.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cfigure class=\"wp-block-image size-full\">\u003cimg loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"2000\" height=\"1334\" src=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/07/GettyImages-2285787606-scaled-e1791586238561.jpg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-12091600\"/>\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">U.S. President Donald Trump addresses the nation from the East Room of the White House on July 16, 2026, in Washington, D.C. (Saul Loeb/Pool via Getty Images)\u003c/figcaption>\u003c/figure>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>“Those together are the biggest change in school policy since at least the early 1990s,” said professor Doug Harris, the director of the National Center for Research on Education Access and Choice at Tulane University. “The idea of open access or universal access to schools is upended. Public education has always involved some public governance, and this eliminates [that].”\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>Valant called the universal private school choice policies, adopted by more than half of U.S. states, not including California, “intentionally hostile to public schools.”\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>While the federal government has suggested that school choice increases competition and will improve public schools, Valant and others worry it will siphon funds away from the public system and toward schools that are able to select which students they serve — and often teach religious material.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>The Trump administration has also threatened to withhold federal dollars from school districts that teach about diversity, equity and inclusion, or promote policies that protect transgender students. \u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>In June, the Department of Education launched compliance reviews into SFUSD and three Monterey County school districts over their policies and materials related to gender identity and sexual orientation.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cfigure class=\"wp-block-image size-full\">\u003cimg loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"2000\" height=\"1333\" src=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/06/MariaSuAP2.jpg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-12086920\" srcset=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/06/MariaSuAP2.jpg 2000w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/06/MariaSuAP2-160x107.jpg 160w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/06/MariaSuAP2-1536x1024.jpg 1536w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 2000px) 100vw, 2000px\" />\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">San Francisco Unified School District Superintendent Dr. Maria Su testifies during a House Education and Workforce Committee hearing on parental rights and school content policies, on June 10, 2026, in Washington. (Kevin Wolf/AP Photo)\u003c/figcaption>\u003c/figure>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>Later that month, San Francisco Superintendent Su was \u003ca href=\"https://www.kqed.org/news/12086522/congress-to-grill-san-francisco-schools-chief-maria-su-about-gender-ethnic-studies\">called to testify\u003c/a> before Congress about parental rights and “inappropriate” course curriculum.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>All of that adds up to a current moment that Marsh described as an attack on public education and democracy at large, adding that voting is essential to maintain those institutions.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>“A democracy that focuses on the common good … actually requires people to look out for other kids, not just their own families,” she said.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>“School boards are one of our few local institutions that are both defending democracy and public education,” she said. “The federal government can’t do anything about our boards — the school board system is well established, and I think we need to defend that.”\u003c/p>\n\u003c/div>\u003c/p>",
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"content": "\n\u003cp>\u003ca href=\"#transcript\">View full episode transcript\u003c/a>\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>A local politician once called San Francisco politics a “knife fight in a phone booth” where centrist Democrats and progressives duke it out in close proximity. Out of that phone booth emerged Nancy Pelosi. In our series finale, we reckon with what her legacy will be – the fundraiser, the mentor, the fighter. In a moment when the Democratic Party is at a crossroads, how did Pelosi shape the destiny of the Democratic Party?\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003ch2 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"transcript\">Episode Transcript\u003c/h2>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>\u003cem>This is a computer-generated transcript. While our team has reviewed it, there may be errors.\u003c/em>\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Scott Shafer: \u003c/strong>Our team started working on this project in the lead up to the 2026 midterm election. Polls show that nationwide voters are ready to reject President Trump’s agenda and support Democrats again. But for the Democratic Party, things are shifting. Are we ready to change the party? This May, I went to a rally in San Francisco. The theme was change the Party. It was promoted by Saikat Chakrabarti, AOC’s former chief of staff. And at that time, one of the top three challengers in the race for the congressional seat, Nancy Pelosi, will be vacating. The venue was an event space in the city’s south of Market neighborhood. The room was packed, lots of energy, party atmosphere, a disco ball hung from the ceiling. The crowd skewed young and racially diverse. I wanted to hear what these attendees thought about the Democratic Party.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Change the Party Vox: \u003c/strong>And the theme has changed the party. Like, what does that mean to you? \u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Change the Party Vox: \u003c/strong>Change the party.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Change the Party Vox: \u003c/strong>How so?\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Change the Party Vox: \u003c/strong>Because the Democratic establishment is just as corrupt as the Republican establishment. They’re donor Democrats.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Change the Party Vox: \u003c/strong>Democrats are currently very stagnant and uninspired and they’re fighting for the wrong thing.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Scott Shafer: \u003c/strong>I also wanted to hear what people thought about Pelosi’s role in everything. \u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Change the Party Vox: \u003c/strong>And how does Nancy Pelosi fit into that?\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Change the Party Vox: \u003c/strong>She was able to whip the votes for important issues, but at the end of the day, she was part of the problem and the corporate establishment Democratic Party. \u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Change the Party Vox: \u003c/strong>If we look at what happened in New York with Mayor Mamdani, he spoke to actual real life issues that people are really dealing with on a daily basis. And he used that as sort of his core. And I don’t think that’s what Pelosi and the establishment Democrats have historically done. They speak more to their corporate base, their donor base. \u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Scott Shafer: \u003c/strong>As a politics reporter, I take in a lot of different perspectives. One day I’ll go to a rally and ask voters what they think. And then another, I’ll interview the most powerful man in California. Governor Gavin Newsom. I asked him the same question. What’s Pelosi’s legacy?\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Gavin Newsom: \u003c/strong>People need to study effectiveness, and they need to celebrate it, and they to celebrate some pragmatism, not just idealism.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Scott Shafer: \u003c/strong>Newsom’s had a front row seat to Pelosi’s work over the years. What does California, what does the Democratic Party lose in her retirement? And how do you get it back? \u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Gavin Newsom: \u003c/strong>Well, you lose, obviously, the wisdom, the temperance, the courage. I’m sorry everybody out there hates the establishment and incumbents. It kind of worked for us. Be careful what you wish for.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Scott Shafer: \u003c/strong>Like Pelosi, I’m also retiring this year. Now, just to be clear of the similarities and the there, there won’t be any buildings named after me, but we’re both leaving at a time of change for the Democratic Party, the institution Pelosi has devoted her life to.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Scott Shafer: \u003c/strong>What do you make of the rise? We’re seeing a lot of turmoil in the Democratic party in terms of candidates.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Nancy Pelosi: \u003c/strong>I disagree with your terminology. A lot of turmoil in the Democratic Party. There isn’t a lot of tumble in the party. There’s some people who’ve won their elections.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Scott Shafer: \u003c/strong>The way she sees it, there are places where more progressive candidates can win and others where they can’t. In the period of time I sat down with her the summer of 2026, she was laser focused on the midterm elections. How do you want people to remember your legacy? \u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Nancy Pelosi: \u003c/strong>Not so fast on the legacy. We have to win the house, which we will do. \u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Scott Shafer: \u003c/strong>As someone who watched Nancy Pelosi’s rise from that raucous first election in 1987 to the power broker that she is today, I wanted to really take this moment to examine Nancy Pelosi impact on the party she’s devoted her entire life to. Has her role as a fundraiser pushed the party away from its working class ideals? Or has Pelosi kicked down the doors for a more progressive crop of voices in Congress? I’m Scott Schaefer from KQED. This is The Speaker, today the question of Nancy Pelosi’s legacy in a moment of conflict.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Scott Shafer: \u003c/strong>Over the decades, Nancy Pelosi built tremendous influence in the Democratic party, leveraging trusting relationships and her history of success, political capital, as we sometimes call it. In 2024, something happened that would require her to spend some of that capital. President Biden took the stage that June to debate Republican candidate Donald Trump.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Joe Biden: \u003c/strong>Making sure that we’re able to make every single solitary person eligible for what I’ve been able to do with the COVID, excuse me, with dealing with everything we have to do with, look, if we finally beat Medicare. Thank you.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Scott Shafer: \u003c/strong>Biden’s performance in that debate caused a lot of Democrats to hit the panic button. Concerns about Biden’s cognitive ability and age inflamed already simmering tensions within the party around what its future should look like. And big donors were threatening to withhold their support as long as he was the nominee. And then Pelosi stepped in. She went on Morning Joe, the MSNBC show.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Morning Joe: \u003c/strong>Does he have your support to be the head of the Democratic second? \u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Morning Joe: \u003c/strong>As long as the president has the president, it’s up to the president to decide if he is going to run. We’re all encouraging him to make that decision because time is running short. \u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Scott Shafer: \u003c/strong>Biden had already decided he was running. This is basically Pelosi giving Biden a vote of no confidence. As close as she’d come to saying he should drop out of the race without saying so directly. The weeks dragged on. President Biden was still in the race. So behind the scenes, Pelosi knew she had to make a critical phone call.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Nancy Pelosi: \u003c/strong>I was not there to undo his decision, I just told him what I thought.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Scott Shafer: \u003c/strong>This would not be easy for her. They had been friends for decades. They’d worked hard with a narrow majority in the House to pass legislation.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Nancy Pelosi: \u003c/strong>Infrastructure Bill, CHIPS Act, CHIPs and Science Act, more for climate than any history of any country in the world, issues that related to our veterans, the PACT Act. He was really on roll.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Scott Shafer: \u003c/strong>But she knew the time had come to say something.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Nancy Pelosi: \u003c/strong>I never asked him not to run. All I said is, two things. One, presentation that is being made is not a winning one. The polls are not good on this. And you’ve accomplished so much. This is a winning agenda that you have. I don’t know. Let me talk to my polls, because they have the polls. I said, well, that’s interesting. But I’d like to have more pollsters around the table to compare. I don’t have any recommendations of who they should be. But just have some other points of view so that we can see where we are on this. Because too much is at stake. Donald Trump. Too much is a stake.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Scott Shafer: \u003c/strong>How hard was that conversation? I mean, you say you didn’t ask him not to run, but it was interpreted that way. And ultimately, there were others calling on him not to run. How hard is that given the relationship you’ve had with him?\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Nancy Pelosi: \u003c/strong>It was not a good thing. I mean, it was hard. I mean I’ve known him for decades. We’ve been friends a very long time. I love him. I think he was a great patriot. He was a Great President. All we wanted to do was to see the reality of when you take polls, it’s not about where you are. It’s about where the public is on issues and how your message is coming across. \u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Scott Shafer: \u003c/strong>On July 21st, 2024, President Biden dropped out of the race. Pelosi endorsed his replacement, Vice President Kamala Harris, who was the only person who could legally use Biden’s remaining campaign funds. Pelosi threw her weight into the race, raising more money for the Harris campaign. \u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Nancy Pelosi: \u003c/strong>I give Kamala Harris great credit for getting out the vote. She got out a big vote. \u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Scott Shafer: \u003c/strong>But even so.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Kamala Harris: \u003c/strong>The votes for President of the United States are as follows.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Scott Shafer: \u003c/strong>In her role as vice president, Harris oversaw the certification of the election results.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Kamala Harris: \u003c/strong>Donald J. Trump of the state of Florida has received 312 votes. Kamala D. Harris.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Hilary Braseth: \u003c/strong>Now, 2024 was a bit of an outlier in that, what we know on record, Kamala Harris far out-raised Donald Trump. She did not win.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Scott Shafer: \u003c/strong>Hilary Braseth is the executive director of Open Secrets. That’s a nonprofit dedicated to tracking money in U.S. Politics. She says 2024 was an outlier because \u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Hilary Braseth: \u003c/strong>If you raise more money than your opponent, the likelihood that you will win is roughly 80%. So it’s quite high.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Scott Shafer: \u003c/strong>And Nancy Pelosi, well, she’s famous for raising a lot of money for Democrats. \u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Hilary Braseth: \u003c/strong>She was the Speaker of the House for many years, and it’s no secret that she’s, with that title, also managed to raise a whole bunch of money.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Scott Shafer: \u003c/strong>Since 2000, she’s raised around $100 million directly and has helped the Democratic Party bring in around $1.25 billion total. To Brasif, Pelosi’s power comes in part from this fundraising ability. \u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Hilary Braseth: \u003c/strong>Members of Congress who are able to raise large sums of money is often seen as a proxy for how successful they may be in an election or how powerful they might be able to be once they are elected by virtue of having a war chest, we refer to it as, to transfer to other lower-ranking Democrats, which again fuels and reinforces the system of power. \u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Scott Shafer: \u003c/strong>Like in Nancy Pelosi’s case, she raises a ton of money, but she doesn’t need it for herself, right?\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Hilary Braseth: \u003c/strong>And then she can transfer it to lower ranking members. So it’s powerful, right? She gets to decide who gets to receive this money that then produces a system of currying favor from lower ranking Democrats. And you have the party machinery here.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Scott Shafer: \u003c/strong>Pelosi’s strength as a fundraiser is more important than ever. This is an extremely consequential midterm election at a time when voters aren’t particularly excited about Democrats. As of February, Pelosi had about $9 million in a personal war chest, ready to deploy for congressional races around the country. \u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Hilary Braseth: \u003c/strong>She’s built strong relationships with heavy hitters when it comes to political donors. It also means that she’s had largely the backing of her party as somebody who’s been able to bring in very large sums of money.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Scott Shafer: \u003c/strong>But that’s also contributed to image problems and the rise of what progressive critics call corporate Democrats. \u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Barack Obama: \u003c/strong>Last week, the Supreme Court reversed a century of law that I believe will open the floodgates for special interests.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Scott Shafer: \u003c/strong>Since the Supreme Court’s Citizens United decision in 2010, money has poured into our political system. It allowed corporations, interest groups, and wealthy individuals to spend an unlimited amount of money funding political ads and other campaign activities. They often do this through political action committees, or PACs, and their supercharged cousins, super PACs. And this happens on both sides of the aisle. One of Pelosi’s political mantras is just win. She used the phrase in an interview once. She was asked about Democrats criticizing her to score political points in more conservative districts. Her answer, basically, go ahead, do whatever it takes to win the election. Times have changed in terms of political giving. Today, some of the largest contributors to PACs and campaigns have ties to Silicon Valley. Even today. As data centers and AI attract bipartisan criticism, Pelosi doesn’t discourage Democrats from taking tech contributions, insisting that support does not have to compromise their values. \u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Nancy Pelosi: \u003c/strong>I mean, candidates call me and say, tech is coming in for me. I don’t want it, but they’re coming in for me because they don’t like the opponent, and I’m afraid that other tech will come in for them. But tech money is different from fossil fuel money, and it’s different from gun money, because there are differences of opinion.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Scott Shafer: \u003c/strong>As California tech CEOs ingratiate themselves with Trump, Pelosi seems to draw a distinction between tech money and other corporate money. \u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Nancy Pelosi: \u003c/strong>Now, the tech community is a relatively new phenomenon in terms of… \u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Scott Shafer: \u003c/strong>But it’s corporate money.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Nancy Pelosi: \u003c/strong>Yeah, no, but the tech money is on both sides of the issues. Some of the tech-money that’s saying we should have a better, fairer immigration system and the rest of that. I’m not here to protect them, but all the businesses are the same. I mean, I don’t want to paint everybody with the same brush, but they all want lower their taxes and lower their regulation. \u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Scott Shafer: \u003c/strong>But when I ask Pelosi if she thinks the Democratic Party is too reliant on corporate donations, she bristles.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Nancy Pelosi: \u003c/strong>I completely, totally disagree that the Democratic Party is dominated by corporate money. It isn’t. And certainly the Democrats vote for gun violence prevention. The Republicans do not. Their Democrats vote to protect the environment. The other people are in the pocket of the fossil fuel industry as well as the gun industry. So it is a big difference. But we haven’t made that clear. And every poll shows, oh, they think we’re both sort of the same. \u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Scott Shafer: \u003c/strong>Right now, Pelosi’s eye is firmly on taking back the House. She’s traveling the country to raise money for Democrats, trying to flip seats from red to blue. She’s weighing in on a few non-House seats as well. For example, the Senate race in Michigan. Pelosi endorsed Haley Stevens, a fellow House member, the more centrist establishment Democrat. Stevens lost the primary to Abdul Al Sayed, the candidate who supports Medicare for All. And opposes unconditional military aid for Israel. But Pelosi sees the field like a chessboard. There are some districts and states she thinks the party will struggle to win with a progressive agenda. \u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Nancy Pelosi: \u003c/strong>I don’t know about Michigan. I don’t know what’s gonna happen there in the Senate. But I’ll tell you, the more left the candidate, the harder to win the general in Michigan, in Michigan.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Scott Shafer: \u003c/strong>But with the primaries over and the field of candidates set, Pelosi has hit the road to help Democrats win in November.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Nancy Pelosi: \u003c/strong>Will be a path to winning the White House. What’s happening right now is contrary to anything our founders had in mind for our country, contrary to the Constitution of the United States. And I just, well, we just win, baby. That’s just the whole thing. And win big. \u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Scott Shafer: \u003c/strong>On the night of October 28th, 2022, just before the midterm elections, someone broke into the Pelosi home in San Francisco. The intruder, David DePapp, found Nancy Pelosi’s husband, Paul, in bed. He demanded to know, where’s Nancy? When Paul told him she wasn’t home, he said he’d wait for her. Paul managed to call the police from the bathroom. Police body cam footage from the officers who responded. Revealed DePapp and Paul Pelosi, wearing boxer shorts, struggling for a hammer. Police told DePap to put the hammer down. He said no and swung it at Paul, hitting him in the head, fracturing his skull. Later, authorities found zip ties at the scene and rope in DePaps backpack. According to a federal charging document, DePapa was planning on holding Nancy Pelosi hostage to break her kneecaps if she didn’t answer his questions honestly. Paul was 82 years old. He needed emergency surgery to repair his fractured skull and was in the hospital for several days. Nancy remembers sitting with her family in the ICU. In episode one, we talked about how many years earlier, as a teenager, Alexandra gave her mother permission to run for Congress. \u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Nancy Pelosi: \u003c/strong>Then she said, get a life.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Scott Shafer: \u003c/strong>But that night in the ICU, Alexandra had a very different take.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Nancy Pelosi: \u003c/strong>After daddy got hurt, she said, if I knew this was at the end of the road, I would never have given you my permission. And that’s too big a price to pay. \u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Scott Shafer: \u003c/strong>Were you surprised that Alexandra said what she did?\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Nancy Pelosi: \u003c/strong>No, I wasn’t surprised. No, this is our dad, our pop. Pop is what the grandchildren call him. No, that was terrible, terrible thing.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Scott Shafer: \u003c/strong>It was the cruelty after the attacks that really got to her.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Nancy Pelosi: \u003c/strong>It’s not only that, though. It’s all the things that people say along the way. I don’t even know how to refer to the person in the White House anymore. It’s just beyond. But he was making a joke of the whole thing. His kids were making a joke of the thing.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Scott Shafer: \u003c/strong>Two days after the attack on Paul, Donald Trump Jr. Retweeted a meme, a hammer and white underwear that said, got my Paul Pelosi Halloween costume ready. He wasn’t the only one. \u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Nancy Pelosi: \u003c/strong>That Charlie Kirk or whatever his name was wasn’t there anybody who’s patriotic enough to spend to save to bail out this guy And what was that jerk’s name, Tesla. \u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Scott Shafer: \u003c/strong>Oh, Elon Musk.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Scott Shafer: \u003c/strong>Pelosi probably knows Elon Musk’s name, but in my experience, when she throws shade, she pretends she doesn’t know someone.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Nancy Pelosi: \u003c/strong>Elon Musk, he made terrible statements, too. They’re just very sick people, but that is trauma. I mean, physical is life or death. Trauma is with you for a long time to come, and that is very traumatizing to a family, to have that kind of assault.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Scott Shafer: \u003c/strong>Our producer, Ariella, talked to another one of Pelosi’s daughters.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Ariella Markowitz: \u003c/strong>Were you surprised when your mother decided to run for reelection after the attack?\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Christine Pelosi: \u003c/strong>No, I wasn’t surprised because we had the political work that was going to be done. \u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Scott Shafer: \u003c/strong>That’s Christine Pelosi.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Christine Pelosi: \u003c/strong>It was really particular that they should go out and live their lives and not live in fear. What were they supposed to do? Stay home and stay inside their house and not go out and be with people, not be in the community that they built together for 50 years in San Francisco because of something like that? I think the opposite.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Scott Shafer: \u003c/strong>But Christine thinks it’s bigger than that.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Christine Pelosi: \u003c/strong>I think a lot of women of her generation who were living the unlived lives of their mother. Her father was not supportive of her mother becoming a lawyer. There was a lot work that women tried to do but weren’t rewarded for. It was the men groomed for politics, not women. So I think for my mother, what she wanted for herself and for women of her generation, certainly of the next generation and the one after that, is for people to break through all of that and not be held back.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Scott Shafer: \u003c/strong>Less than two weeks after the attack on Paul, Republicans took back control of the House. Pelosi stepped down as leader of the house Democrats, but it wasn’t because of the attack on her husband. She was keeping a promise she made four years earlier, self-imposing a term limit response to the desire for new leadership among some in her caucus. In her speech after the election, she talked about how violence can undermine democracy.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Nancy Pelosi: \u003c/strong>Indeed, American democracy is majestic, but it is fragile. Many of us here have witnessed its fragility firsthand, tragically, in this chamber. And so democracy must be forever defended from forces that wish it harm.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Scott Shafer: \u003c/strong>The political environment had gotten increasingly dangerous. Pelosi worries that the attacks on her and the events on January 6th, 2021 will discourage other women from entering politics.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Nancy Pelosi: \u003c/strong>Over the years, the attacks that were made on me, the women were saying, I could never do that. But you don’t want other people not running for office because they saw something happen. When women succeed, America succeeds. I firmly believe that. And I speak to women, I say to them all the time, know your power in this, you are so needed. \u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Scott Shafer: \u003c/strong>In our last episode, we heard from Ilhan Omar, the representative from Minnesota’s Fifth District, one of the squad of four progressive lawmakers elected in 2018. She and Pelosi sometimes disagree. For example, on Medicare for All, she supports it. Pelosi does not. But when Omar first got to Congress. I talked to her quite often. She called a lot. So often, her staff would joke that Auntie Nancy’s calling.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Ilhan Omar: \u003c/strong>And I think she was mostly nervous for me and what I would be dealing with as someone who carried unique identities that were under attack in our country. I really thought that it was super kind of her to pay that much attention to me and what I might need, not just in terms of serving, but just mentally as well. \u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Scott Shafer: \u003c/strong>Before Omar was sworn in in 2018, she was worried about one thing in particular. This ban that existed on head coverings. Omar wears religious head covering. Head coverings of any kind weren’t allowed on the house floor at the time she was elected. So she brought it up to Pelosi.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Ilhan Omar: \u003c/strong>She did her… You know, mom assurance thing of like, no, that’s not gonna happen and we’re gonna fix it to my surprise. She worked with me to have the rule change have my name attached to it.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Scott Shafer: \u003c/strong>Ariella asked her\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Ariella Markowitz: \u003c/strong>Were you surprised she took care of it, or?\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Ilhan Omar: \u003c/strong>Yeah, and that she was thoughtful, that she also wanted me to be the one who proposed the change\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Scott Shafer: \u003c/strong>Pelosi was right to be worried. The vitriol has only escalated since Omar was first elected. Omar was born in Somalia, but became a U.S. Citizen when she was a teenager. She’s also Muslim. Omar is often attacked by President Trump. At a rally in 2019, you can hear the crowd yelling, send her back before he speaks.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Donald Trump: \u003c/strong>So, Representative Omar blamed the United States. For the terrorist attacks on our country, saying that…\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Scott Shafer: \u003c/strong>And the rhetoric has only intensified in President Trump’s second term. \u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Donald Trump: \u003c/strong>\u003cem> \u003c/em>Ilhan Omar is garbage. She’s garbage. Her friends are garbage.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Scott Shafer: \u003c/strong>Two months after Trump made these comments, she was attacked at a town hall meeting during the ICE surge in Minneapolis. During protests against that surge, federal agents killed two U.S. Citizens, Renee Good and Alex Preti. Omar was calling for the resignation of the head of DHS at that point. \u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Ilhan Omar: \u003c/strong>And DHS Secretary Kristi Noem must resign or face impeachment.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Press Conference Archival: \u003c/strong>Whoa, whoa, whoa!\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Scott Shafer: \u003c/strong>A man lunged and sprayed her with a liquid that turned out to be a mixture of water and vinegar. Omar finished the town hall after the man was tackled and removed by security. In that sense, her toughness, she can relate to Nancy Pelosi. She grew up with brothers.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Ilhan Omar: \u003c/strong>Her dad was very much instrumental in her life and the way that she thinks about life and the ways that she think about strength and courage. And I grew up with brothers and my dad really is the reason I am who I am today. And I think we have a similar energy that shaped us.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Scott Shafer: \u003c/strong>Even though they disagree about how to fix America’s health care system and other policies too, Pelosi’s steeliness through it all is something Omar admires. It is important. \u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Ilhan Omar: \u003c/strong>Make sure people who see you as an inspiration don’t see you backing down. Because it will inspire them to stand up to police as well.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Scott Shafer: \u003c/strong>While we were in D.C., Areola went to the annual California Congressional Transportation Reception. That sounds like fun, doesn’t it? I know. It was packed with politicians and workers from California public transportation projects. Pelosi was there, along with a freshman member of Congress.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Lateefah Simon: \u003c/strong>The Bay Area is very special because we throw down, we throw down hard. \u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Scott Shafer: \u003c/strong>Lateefah Simon represents California’s 12th District, right across the bay from Pelosi’s San Francisco seat. Like Representative Ilhan Omar, there are policies she disagrees with Pelosi on, but when Ariella asked her about Pelosi at the event, she lit up.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Lateefah Simon: \u003c/strong>And I call her Ms Pelosi. I grew up in San Francisco and in Oakland. She spent so much time with freshmen and I gotta say, a lot of time with me really training me on how this place works. Now, she’s clear that I’m kind of like an ultra progressive. Like I’m a no war, anti-war organizer who grew up doing justice reform. What did that mentorship mean to you? Just like, how did, how do you think, what did she teach you? When I was running. She was very clear to me, I don’t want to talk politics with you, Latif, I want to talk about where you’re going to send your daughter to school. How are you going to be with family? You’re going leave your elderly mother. She’s so clear that our first obligation is to community and family. You know, I sit with her almost weekly and I ask her questions about particular bills and she gives me her her direct thoughts. And sometimes I’ll say, Miss Pelosi, I’m not going to vote that way. And yet… Yeah, she always says, vote your district. What are your hopes for the future of the Democratic Party as she’s stepping down? I remember how Nancy phrases the demand of the moment, and she always equates it with the children. So as a disabled woman, I’m always remembering that, that this is not about power. It must be about service. We’re up against Armageddon in some ways, I feel like, it’s David and Goliath. But I come from, you know, the Bay Area, where we’re ruthless in our own politic about what we believe, what is morally consequential. And I’m glad that I actually came into the Coliseum, not the Dome. Some people call it the DOME. It’s a Coliseium. We’re fighting for the lifeblood of our democracy. And I am so blessed that I have that lens to be able to say, well, no one’s going to push me around. I’ve seen the Nancy Pelosi’s. Hands. I’m stronger because of it.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Scott Shafer: \u003c/strong>When Pelosi first got to Congress in 1987, there were 13 Democratic women in the House. Now, there are 95. Pelosi helped many of them win their seats. But in many ways, politics is still a man’s club. For women to survive and build a career, you have to be ready to fight. And now, many women in Congress have a template. Nancy Pelosi.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Scott Shafer: \u003c/strong>Many have pointed out that Pelosi’s political acumen came from Baltimore, her home city in Maryland. But, I really see San Francisco in her. A local politician once described San Francisco politics as a knife fight in a phone booth, a fierce battle that often becomes personal because the city is relatively small and the political spectrum runs from liberal to further left. Surviving the city’s political cauldron, often battles between progressives and centrists, forces politicians to learn how to navigate the many interests, labor, business, environmentalists, LGBTQ. Racial and ethnic groups, political clubs. California Governor Gavin Newsom sees Pelosi as a pure product of these dynamics.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Gavin Newsom: \u003c/strong>There’s that cross-pollination that was old San Francisco, the Moscone’s and the Burton’s, the Brown’s, and, you know, the machine.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Scott Shafer: \u003c/strong>Newsom grew up in a well-connected family. Nancy Pelosi was basically his aunt through marriage. His uncle was Paul Pelosi’s brother. He grew up with her coming to Thanksgiving or Christmas. Newsom said he didn’t really know she was a political player when he was growing up in San Francisco, but as he entered politics, city supervisor, mayor of San Francisco and eventually governor, he got closer to Pelosi. And as Newsom sees the party change today,\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Gavin Newsom: \u003c/strong>I’m literally mesmerized by the punditry about this DSA. I’m like, have you guys ever been out west, never been in the Bay Area, never paid attention to San Francisco politics? This is like decades, this is what we do. This is the Harry Britt versus the Brown Pelosi machine. \u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Scott Shafer: \u003c/strong>That dynamic between centrist and progressive Democrats is still shaping the party. But to Pelosi, knowing each side of the party through and through, her body in both camps, as former San Francisco mayor Willie Brown put it, I see that as her strength. \u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Nancy Pelosi: \u003c/strong>Tomorrow’s another day. You know, that’s what I always say to them. When you have like a weaver at the loom and we would weave this and sometimes people couldn’t be in the design and we’d say, okay, if you’re not in the designed, don’t go criticize the design because this is the consensus of the democratic caucus. This is what everybody’s put in and this is a consensus, but don’t criticize it because tomorrow was another day\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Scott Shafer: \u003c/strong>Pelosi’s time in elected office is winding down, but the monuments to her legacy are starting to be built. Across the San Francisco Bay Area, you can find markers of Pelosi’s impact and influence. The AIDS Memorial Grove in Golden Gate Park, at the University of California at Berkeley, the new Nancy Pelosi Institute for Representative Democracy. I’ve been reflecting a lot about how life will be different when I’m no longer covering politics. When people stop saying things like, oh, I heard you on the radio or on a podcast. Now that Pelosi’s time in office is almost up, I wanted to ask her, what are you gonna miss most about not being, when you leave Congress?\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Nancy Pelosi: \u003c/strong>Nobody in San Francisco or California ever has Potomac fever. I don’t know. I’ll miss some of my friends, but I’ll see them. I’m excited about going to Berkeley and having the UC Berkeley Nancy Pelosi Institute for Representative Democracy.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Scott Shafer: \u003c/strong>You’re not gonna miss like just being in the mix all the time. No.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Nancy Pelosi: \u003c/strong>I didn’t go to stay that long. It’s just one thing led to another. You run for leadership, and then you’re leadership, then you become speaker, and it’s those. No, that’s being in the mix. I was in the mixed. Been that, done that. Yeah, I mean, I was first woman speaker of the House. This was a very big deal, and I won it back again. So no, I wouldn’t miss it at all.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Scott Shafer: \u003c/strong>Pelosi says she won’t miss being in the mix, but she’s still active. In our last interview, she told me she was in five states in one weekend, campaigning for the midterms, raising money, doing everything she can to win, and she is confident.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Nancy Pelosi: \u003c/strong>What gives you hope? The fact that we’re gonna win this election gives me hope because we will.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Scott Shafer: \u003c/strong>But if there’s one thing I know as a journalist, it’s this. When someone claims to be certain, it’s our job to keep asking questions.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Scott Shafer: \u003c/strong>I’ve often said the things Nancy Pelosi is best at are the things very few people see. Governor Gavin Newsom said something similar.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Gavin Newsom: \u003c/strong>It was constant blocking and tackling. Just the constant, so it was Nancy, blocking and tackle, blocking and tackling. Wasn’t just delivering more resources, was stopping those resources from being cut and building coalitions that wouldn’t have otherwise existed without her. \u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Scott Shafer: \u003c/strong>That reminded me of one of Pelosi’s biggest local accomplishments. The Presidio is an old army base on the northern edge of San Francisco, with towering eucalyptus groves and sweeping views of the Golden Gate Bridge. It was a U.S. Military base from the mid-1800s to 1994. After Congress voted to decommission it, there was a big debate about what to do with it. Some in Congress wanted to sell the prime real estate to private developers. In the 90s, Pelosi got Congress on board to turn it into a thriving park with restaurants, businesses, and non-profits. And thanks to that public-private partnership structure Pelosi helped create, the park is now financially self-sufficient. We talked to Pelosi about it on Memorial Day this year when she spoke at an event honoring veterans. \u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Nancy Pelosi: \u003c/strong>When I did my legislation to turn it from a post into a park, our motto was one that existed from the start, from 250 years ago, no shot fired in anger. So we always did it in the most nonpartisan, unifying way. And that’s what will protect the procedures we go forward. \u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Scott Shafer: \u003c/strong>In the early 90s, Pelosi was still relatively new to Washington, but she convinced even some Republican members of Congress to support her plan to preserve the land for the public and to have it pay for itself. Today, that legacy is under attack.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Archival: \u003c/strong>President Trump’s latest executive order is aimed directly at one of his political rivals’ favorite achievements, the Presidio Trust, established nearly three decades ago, largely because of the work of Congresswoman Nancy Pelosi.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Scott Shafer: \u003c/strong>Earlier this year, President Trump fired all six board members of the Presidio. But at the Memorial Day event, Pelosi was confident. The Trump administration can attack the Affordable Care Act. They can cut government programs. They can dismantle laws she spent months, even years, trying to pass Congress. But when it comes to her public park, The Presidio\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Nancy Pelosi: \u003c/strong>When we passed this legislation, we did it in a very wise and strong way. I feel that this procedure was protected by the legislation because it anticipated any kind of assault that it might have. So I’ll just leave it at that.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Scott Shafer: \u003c/strong>After she spoke, a crowd formed around Pelosi. The fog had broken by then, and the sun was shining in the cemetery. Kids with their parents, veterans, constituents, all came up to thank her for her work and her years as their representative.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Presidio Memorial Day Ambi: \u003c/strong>Thank you, Madam. You’re an inspiration. Thank you. \u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Scott Shafer: \u003c/strong>At a time when people are very skeptical of political institutions or politicians, in San Francisco, Representative Nancy Pelosi is still pretty popular. I’m reflecting on my own career, decades following politics, and in many ways following the decline of our democracy. For Pelosi, the work is about building a better future, a better planet. Even though the results and legacy of her time in power will be studied and debated for years to come. This moment of gratitude, it reminded me that even now, when we’re so divided, government can still help people. The force that is Nancy Pelosi will soon be gone, and whatever comes next, well, that’s a tough act to follow.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Scott Shafer: \u003c/strong>The Speaker is a production of KQED in San Francisco and distributed by NPR. It’s hosted and reported by me, Scott Schaefer. Co-reported and produced by Ariella Markowitz. It’s edited by Padmini Raghunath. Final mix and sound designed by Christopher Beal. Additional mixing help from Brendan Willard. Fact-checking by Mark Betancourt. Additional editing from Anna Sussman and Jen Chien, KQED’s director of podcasts. Original theme music composed by Cedric Wilson. Additional music from APM. Maha Sanad is KQED’s podcast engagement producer. Ethan Toven-Lindsey is KQED’s editor-in-chief. Special thanks to Paul Burnett, Nan Alamilla Boyd, and Todd Holmes, our partners from the Oral History Center at the University of California, Berkeley. Special thanks Ana de Almeida Amaral, Armando Arteaga, Jim Bennett, Izzy Bloom, Robert Chehosky, Brian Douglas, Annie Fruit, Rebecca Hopkins, Becca Kao, Sasha Khokha, Paul Lancour, John Lawrence, Marisa Lagos, Derek Larteau, Guy Marzorati, Victoria Mauleon, Katherine Monahan, Susan Page, Suzie Racho, Nicole Rodas, Katrina Schwartz, Zaldy Serrano, Renzo Santos, Katie Sprenger, and Molly Solomon. Some members of the KQED podcast team are represented by the Screen Actors Guild American Federation of Television and Radio Artists, San Francisco, Northern California Local. \u003c/p>\n",
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>\u003cem>This is a computer-generated transcript. While our team has reviewed it, there may be errors.\u003c/em>\u003c/p>\n",
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"\n\u003cp>\u003cem>This is a computer-generated transcript. While our team has reviewed it, there may be errors.\u003c/em>\u003c/p>\n"
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Scott Shafer: \u003c/strong>Our team started working on this project in the lead up to the 2026 midterm election. Polls show that nationwide voters are ready to reject President Trump’s agenda and support Democrats again. But for the Democratic Party, things are shifting. Are we ready to change the party? This May, I went to a rally in San Francisco. The theme was change the Party. It was promoted by Saikat Chakrabarti, AOC’s former chief of staff. And at that time, one of the top three challengers in the race for the congressional seat, Nancy Pelosi, will be vacating. The venue was an event space in the city’s south of Market neighborhood. The room was packed, lots of energy, party atmosphere, a disco ball hung from the ceiling. The crowd skewed young and racially diverse. I wanted to hear what these attendees thought about the Democratic Party.\u003c/p>\n",
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"\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Scott Shafer: \u003c/strong>Our team started working on this project in the lead up to the 2026 midterm election. Polls show that nationwide voters are ready to reject President Trump’s agenda and support Democrats again. But for the Democratic Party, things are shifting. Are we ready to change the party? This May, I went to a rally in San Francisco. The theme was change the Party. It was promoted by Saikat Chakrabarti, AOC’s former chief of staff. And at that time, one of the top three challengers in the race for the congressional seat, Nancy Pelosi, will be vacating. The venue was an event space in the city’s south of Market neighborhood. The room was packed, lots of energy, party atmosphere, a disco ball hung from the ceiling. The crowd skewed young and racially diverse. I wanted to hear what these attendees thought about the Democratic Party.\u003c/p>\n"
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Change the Party Vox: \u003c/strong>And the theme has changed the party. Like, what does that mean to you? \u003c/p>\n",
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"\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Change the Party Vox: \u003c/strong>And the theme has changed the party. Like, what does that mean to you? \u003c/p>\n"
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Change the Party Vox: \u003c/strong>Change the party.\u003c/p>\n",
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"\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Change the Party Vox: \u003c/strong>Change the party.\u003c/p>\n"
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Change the Party Vox: \u003c/strong>How so?\u003c/p>\n",
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"\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Change the Party Vox: \u003c/strong>How so?\u003c/p>\n"
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Change the Party Vox: \u003c/strong>Because the Democratic establishment is just as corrupt as the Republican establishment. They’re donor Democrats.\u003c/p>\n",
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"\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Change the Party Vox: \u003c/strong>Because the Democratic establishment is just as corrupt as the Republican establishment. They’re donor Democrats.\u003c/p>\n"
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Change the Party Vox: \u003c/strong>Democrats are currently very stagnant and uninspired and they’re fighting for the wrong thing.\u003c/p>\n",
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"\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Change the Party Vox: \u003c/strong>Democrats are currently very stagnant and uninspired and they’re fighting for the wrong thing.\u003c/p>\n"
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Scott Shafer: \u003c/strong>I also wanted to hear what people thought about Pelosi’s role in everything. \u003c/p>\n",
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"\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Scott Shafer: \u003c/strong>I also wanted to hear what people thought about Pelosi’s role in everything. \u003c/p>\n"
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Change the Party Vox: \u003c/strong>And how does Nancy Pelosi fit into that?\u003c/p>\n",
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"\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Change the Party Vox: \u003c/strong>And how does Nancy Pelosi fit into that?\u003c/p>\n"
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Change the Party Vox: \u003c/strong>She was able to whip the votes for important issues, but at the end of the day, she was part of the problem and the corporate establishment Democratic Party. \u003c/p>\n",
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"\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Change the Party Vox: \u003c/strong>She was able to whip the votes for important issues, but at the end of the day, she was part of the problem and the corporate establishment Democratic Party. \u003c/p>\n"
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Change the Party Vox: \u003c/strong>If we look at what happened in New York with Mayor Mamdani, he spoke to actual real life issues that people are really dealing with on a daily basis. And he used that as sort of his core. And I don’t think that’s what Pelosi and the establishment Democrats have historically done. They speak more to their corporate base, their donor base. \u003c/p>\n",
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"\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Change the Party Vox: \u003c/strong>If we look at what happened in New York with Mayor Mamdani, he spoke to actual real life issues that people are really dealing with on a daily basis. And he used that as sort of his core. And I don’t think that’s what Pelosi and the establishment Democrats have historically done. They speak more to their corporate base, their donor base. \u003c/p>\n"
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Scott Shafer: \u003c/strong>As a politics reporter, I take in a lot of different perspectives. One day I’ll go to a rally and ask voters what they think. And then another, I’ll interview the most powerful man in California. Governor Gavin Newsom. I asked him the same question. What’s Pelosi’s legacy?\u003c/p>\n",
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"\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Scott Shafer: \u003c/strong>As a politics reporter, I take in a lot of different perspectives. One day I’ll go to a rally and ask voters what they think. And then another, I’ll interview the most powerful man in California. Governor Gavin Newsom. I asked him the same question. What’s Pelosi’s legacy?\u003c/p>\n"
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Gavin Newsom: \u003c/strong>People need to study effectiveness, and they need to celebrate it, and they to celebrate some pragmatism, not just idealism.\u003c/p>\n",
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"\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Gavin Newsom: \u003c/strong>People need to study effectiveness, and they need to celebrate it, and they to celebrate some pragmatism, not just idealism.\u003c/p>\n"
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Scott Shafer: \u003c/strong>Newsom’s had a front row seat to Pelosi’s work over the years. What does California, what does the Democratic Party lose in her retirement? And how do you get it back? \u003c/p>\n",
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"\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Scott Shafer: \u003c/strong>Newsom’s had a front row seat to Pelosi’s work over the years. What does California, what does the Democratic Party lose in her retirement? And how do you get it back? \u003c/p>\n"
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Gavin Newsom: \u003c/strong>Well, you lose, obviously, the wisdom, the temperance, the courage. I’m sorry everybody out there hates the establishment and incumbents. It kind of worked for us. Be careful what you wish for.\u003c/p>\n",
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"\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Gavin Newsom: \u003c/strong>Well, you lose, obviously, the wisdom, the temperance, the courage. I’m sorry everybody out there hates the establishment and incumbents. It kind of worked for us. Be careful what you wish for.\u003c/p>\n"
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Scott Shafer: \u003c/strong>Like Pelosi, I’m also retiring this year. Now, just to be clear of the similarities and the there, there won’t be any buildings named after me, but we’re both leaving at a time of change for the Democratic Party, the institution Pelosi has devoted her life to.\u003c/p>\n",
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"\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Scott Shafer: \u003c/strong>Like Pelosi, I’m also retiring this year. Now, just to be clear of the similarities and the there, there won’t be any buildings named after me, but we’re both leaving at a time of change for the Democratic Party, the institution Pelosi has devoted her life to.\u003c/p>\n"
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Scott Shafer: \u003c/strong>What do you make of the rise? We’re seeing a lot of turmoil in the Democratic party in terms of candidates.\u003c/p>\n",
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"\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Scott Shafer: \u003c/strong>What do you make of the rise? We’re seeing a lot of turmoil in the Democratic party in terms of candidates.\u003c/p>\n"
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Nancy Pelosi: \u003c/strong>I disagree with your terminology. A lot of turmoil in the Democratic Party. There isn’t a lot of tumble in the party. There’s some people who’ve won their elections.\u003c/p>\n",
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"\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Nancy Pelosi: \u003c/strong>I disagree with your terminology. A lot of turmoil in the Democratic Party. There isn’t a lot of tumble in the party. There’s some people who’ve won their elections.\u003c/p>\n"
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Scott Shafer: \u003c/strong>The way she sees it, there are places where more progressive candidates can win and others where they can’t. In the period of time I sat down with her the summer of 2026, she was laser focused on the midterm elections. How do you want people to remember your legacy? \u003c/p>\n",
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"\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Scott Shafer: \u003c/strong>The way she sees it, there are places where more progressive candidates can win and others where they can’t. In the period of time I sat down with her the summer of 2026, she was laser focused on the midterm elections. How do you want people to remember your legacy? \u003c/p>\n"
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Nancy Pelosi: \u003c/strong>Not so fast on the legacy. We have to win the house, which we will do. \u003c/p>\n",
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"\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Nancy Pelosi: \u003c/strong>Not so fast on the legacy. We have to win the house, which we will do. \u003c/p>\n"
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Scott Shafer: \u003c/strong>As someone who watched Nancy Pelosi’s rise from that raucous first election in 1987 to the power broker that she is today, I wanted to really take this moment to examine Nancy Pelosi impact on the party she’s devoted her entire life to. Has her role as a fundraiser pushed the party away from its working class ideals? Or has Pelosi kicked down the doors for a more progressive crop of voices in Congress? I’m Scott Schaefer from KQED. This is The Speaker, today the question of Nancy Pelosi’s legacy in a moment of conflict.\u003c/p>\n",
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"\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Scott Shafer: \u003c/strong>As someone who watched Nancy Pelosi’s rise from that raucous first election in 1987 to the power broker that she is today, I wanted to really take this moment to examine Nancy Pelosi impact on the party she’s devoted her entire life to. Has her role as a fundraiser pushed the party away from its working class ideals? Or has Pelosi kicked down the doors for a more progressive crop of voices in Congress? I’m Scott Schaefer from KQED. This is The Speaker, today the question of Nancy Pelosi’s legacy in a moment of conflict.\u003c/p>\n"
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Scott Shafer: \u003c/strong>Over the decades, Nancy Pelosi built tremendous influence in the Democratic party, leveraging trusting relationships and her history of success, political capital, as we sometimes call it. In 2024, something happened that would require her to spend some of that capital. President Biden took the stage that June to debate Republican candidate Donald Trump.\u003c/p>\n",
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Joe Biden: \u003c/strong>Making sure that we’re able to make every single solitary person eligible for what I’ve been able to do with the COVID, excuse me, with dealing with everything we have to do with, look, if we finally beat Medicare. Thank you.\u003c/p>\n",
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"\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Joe Biden: \u003c/strong>Making sure that we’re able to make every single solitary person eligible for what I’ve been able to do with the COVID, excuse me, with dealing with everything we have to do with, look, if we finally beat Medicare. Thank you.\u003c/p>\n"
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Scott Shafer: \u003c/strong>Biden’s performance in that debate caused a lot of Democrats to hit the panic button. Concerns about Biden’s cognitive ability and age inflamed already simmering tensions within the party around what its future should look like. And big donors were threatening to withhold their support as long as he was the nominee. And then Pelosi stepped in. She went on Morning Joe, the MSNBC show.\u003c/p>\n",
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"\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Scott Shafer: \u003c/strong>Biden’s performance in that debate caused a lot of Democrats to hit the panic button. Concerns about Biden’s cognitive ability and age inflamed already simmering tensions within the party around what its future should look like. And big donors were threatening to withhold their support as long as he was the nominee. And then Pelosi stepped in. She went on Morning Joe, the MSNBC show.\u003c/p>\n"
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Morning Joe: \u003c/strong>Does he have your support to be the head of the Democratic second? \u003c/p>\n",
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Morning Joe: \u003c/strong>As long as the president has the president, it’s up to the president to decide if he is going to run. We’re all encouraging him to make that decision because time is running short. \u003c/p>\n",
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"\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Morning Joe: \u003c/strong>As long as the president has the president, it’s up to the president to decide if he is going to run. We’re all encouraging him to make that decision because time is running short. \u003c/p>\n"
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Scott Shafer: \u003c/strong>Biden had already decided he was running. This is basically Pelosi giving Biden a vote of no confidence. As close as she’d come to saying he should drop out of the race without saying so directly. The weeks dragged on. President Biden was still in the race. So behind the scenes, Pelosi knew she had to make a critical phone call.\u003c/p>\n",
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"\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Scott Shafer: \u003c/strong>Biden had already decided he was running. This is basically Pelosi giving Biden a vote of no confidence. As close as she’d come to saying he should drop out of the race without saying so directly. The weeks dragged on. President Biden was still in the race. So behind the scenes, Pelosi knew she had to make a critical phone call.\u003c/p>\n"
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Nancy Pelosi: \u003c/strong>I was not there to undo his decision, I just told him what I thought.\u003c/p>\n",
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Scott Shafer: \u003c/strong>This would not be easy for her. They had been friends for decades. They’d worked hard with a narrow majority in the House to pass legislation.\u003c/p>\n",
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"\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Scott Shafer: \u003c/strong>This would not be easy for her. They had been friends for decades. They’d worked hard with a narrow majority in the House to pass legislation.\u003c/p>\n"
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Nancy Pelosi: \u003c/strong>Infrastructure Bill, CHIPS Act, CHIPs and Science Act, more for climate than any history of any country in the world, issues that related to our veterans, the PACT Act. He was really on roll.\u003c/p>\n",
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"\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Nancy Pelosi: \u003c/strong>Infrastructure Bill, CHIPS Act, CHIPs and Science Act, more for climate than any history of any country in the world, issues that related to our veterans, the PACT Act. He was really on roll.\u003c/p>\n"
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Scott Shafer: \u003c/strong>But she knew the time had come to say something.\u003c/p>\n",
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Nancy Pelosi: \u003c/strong>I never asked him not to run. All I said is, two things. One, presentation that is being made is not a winning one. The polls are not good on this. And you’ve accomplished so much. This is a winning agenda that you have. I don’t know. Let me talk to my polls, because they have the polls. I said, well, that’s interesting. But I’d like to have more pollsters around the table to compare. I don’t have any recommendations of who they should be. But just have some other points of view so that we can see where we are on this. Because too much is at stake. Donald Trump. Too much is a stake.\u003c/p>\n",
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"\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Nancy Pelosi: \u003c/strong>I never asked him not to run. All I said is, two things. One, presentation that is being made is not a winning one. The polls are not good on this. And you’ve accomplished so much. This is a winning agenda that you have. I don’t know. Let me talk to my polls, because they have the polls. I said, well, that’s interesting. But I’d like to have more pollsters around the table to compare. I don’t have any recommendations of who they should be. But just have some other points of view so that we can see where we are on this. Because too much is at stake. Donald Trump. Too much is a stake.\u003c/p>\n"
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Scott Shafer: \u003c/strong>How hard was that conversation? I mean, you say you didn’t ask him not to run, but it was interpreted that way. And ultimately, there were others calling on him not to run. How hard is that given the relationship you’ve had with him?\u003c/p>\n",
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Nancy Pelosi: \u003c/strong>It was not a good thing. I mean, it was hard. I mean I’ve known him for decades. We’ve been friends a very long time. I love him. I think he was a great patriot. He was a Great President. All we wanted to do was to see the reality of when you take polls, it’s not about where you are. It’s about where the public is on issues and how your message is coming across. \u003c/p>\n",
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"\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Nancy Pelosi: \u003c/strong>It was not a good thing. I mean, it was hard. I mean I’ve known him for decades. We’ve been friends a very long time. I love him. I think he was a great patriot. He was a Great President. All we wanted to do was to see the reality of when you take polls, it’s not about where you are. It’s about where the public is on issues and how your message is coming across. \u003c/p>\n"
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Scott Shafer: \u003c/strong>On July 21st, 2024, President Biden dropped out of the race. Pelosi endorsed his replacement, Vice President Kamala Harris, who was the only person who could legally use Biden’s remaining campaign funds. Pelosi threw her weight into the race, raising more money for the Harris campaign. \u003c/p>\n",
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"\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Scott Shafer: \u003c/strong>On July 21st, 2024, President Biden dropped out of the race. Pelosi endorsed his replacement, Vice President Kamala Harris, who was the only person who could legally use Biden’s remaining campaign funds. Pelosi threw her weight into the race, raising more money for the Harris campaign. \u003c/p>\n"
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Nancy Pelosi: \u003c/strong>I give Kamala Harris great credit for getting out the vote. She got out a big vote. \u003c/p>\n",
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"\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Nancy Pelosi: \u003c/strong>I give Kamala Harris great credit for getting out the vote. She got out a big vote. \u003c/p>\n"
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Scott Shafer: \u003c/strong>But even so.\u003c/p>\n",
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"\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Scott Shafer: \u003c/strong>But even so.\u003c/p>\n"
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Kamala Harris: \u003c/strong>The votes for President of the United States are as follows.\u003c/p>\n",
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"\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Kamala Harris: \u003c/strong>The votes for President of the United States are as follows.\u003c/p>\n"
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Scott Shafer: \u003c/strong>In her role as vice president, Harris oversaw the certification of the election results.\u003c/p>\n",
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Kamala Harris: \u003c/strong>Donald J. Trump of the state of Florida has received 312 votes. Kamala D. Harris.\u003c/p>\n",
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Hilary Braseth: \u003c/strong>Now, 2024 was a bit of an outlier in that, what we know on record, Kamala Harris far out-raised Donald Trump. She did not win.\u003c/p>\n",
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Scott Shafer: \u003c/strong>Hilary Braseth is the executive director of Open Secrets. That’s a nonprofit dedicated to tracking money in U.S. Politics. She says 2024 was an outlier because \u003c/p>\n",
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Hilary Braseth: \u003c/strong>If you raise more money than your opponent, the likelihood that you will win is roughly 80%. So it’s quite high.\u003c/p>\n",
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"\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Hilary Braseth: \u003c/strong>If you raise more money than your opponent, the likelihood that you will win is roughly 80%. So it’s quite high.\u003c/p>\n"
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Scott Shafer: \u003c/strong>And Nancy Pelosi, well, she’s famous for raising a lot of money for Democrats. \u003c/p>\n",
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Hilary Braseth: \u003c/strong>She was the Speaker of the House for many years, and it’s no secret that she’s, with that title, also managed to raise a whole bunch of money.\u003c/p>\n",
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Scott Shafer: \u003c/strong>Since 2000, she’s raised around $100 million directly and has helped the Democratic Party bring in around $1.25 billion total. To Brasif, Pelosi’s power comes in part from this fundraising ability. \u003c/p>\n",
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"\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Scott Shafer: \u003c/strong>Since 2000, she’s raised around $100 million directly and has helped the Democratic Party bring in around $1.25 billion total. To Brasif, Pelosi’s power comes in part from this fundraising ability. \u003c/p>\n"
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Hilary Braseth: \u003c/strong>Members of Congress who are able to raise large sums of money is often seen as a proxy for how successful they may be in an election or how powerful they might be able to be once they are elected by virtue of having a war chest, we refer to it as, to transfer to other lower-ranking Democrats, which again fuels and reinforces the system of power. \u003c/p>\n",
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"\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Hilary Braseth: \u003c/strong>Members of Congress who are able to raise large sums of money is often seen as a proxy for how successful they may be in an election or how powerful they might be able to be once they are elected by virtue of having a war chest, we refer to it as, to transfer to other lower-ranking Democrats, which again fuels and reinforces the system of power. \u003c/p>\n"
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Scott Shafer: \u003c/strong>Like in Nancy Pelosi’s case, she raises a ton of money, but she doesn’t need it for herself, right?\u003c/p>\n",
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"\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Scott Shafer: \u003c/strong>Like in Nancy Pelosi’s case, she raises a ton of money, but she doesn’t need it for herself, right?\u003c/p>\n"
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Hilary Braseth: \u003c/strong>And then she can transfer it to lower ranking members. So it’s powerful, right? She gets to decide who gets to receive this money that then produces a system of currying favor from lower ranking Democrats. And you have the party machinery here.\u003c/p>\n",
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"\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Hilary Braseth: \u003c/strong>And then she can transfer it to lower ranking members. So it’s powerful, right? She gets to decide who gets to receive this money that then produces a system of currying favor from lower ranking Democrats. And you have the party machinery here.\u003c/p>\n"
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Scott Shafer: \u003c/strong>Pelosi’s strength as a fundraiser is more important than ever. This is an extremely consequential midterm election at a time when voters aren’t particularly excited about Democrats. As of February, Pelosi had about $9 million in a personal war chest, ready to deploy for congressional races around the country. \u003c/p>\n",
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"\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Scott Shafer: \u003c/strong>Pelosi’s strength as a fundraiser is more important than ever. This is an extremely consequential midterm election at a time when voters aren’t particularly excited about Democrats. As of February, Pelosi had about $9 million in a personal war chest, ready to deploy for congressional races around the country. \u003c/p>\n"
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Hilary Braseth: \u003c/strong>She’s built strong relationships with heavy hitters when it comes to political donors. It also means that she’s had largely the backing of her party as somebody who’s been able to bring in very large sums of money.\u003c/p>\n",
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Scott Shafer: \u003c/strong>But that’s also contributed to image problems and the rise of what progressive critics call corporate Democrats. \u003c/p>\n",
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Barack Obama: \u003c/strong>Last week, the Supreme Court reversed a century of law that I believe will open the floodgates for special interests.\u003c/p>\n",
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Scott Shafer: \u003c/strong>Since the Supreme Court’s Citizens United decision in 2010, money has poured into our political system. It allowed corporations, interest groups, and wealthy individuals to spend an unlimited amount of money funding political ads and other campaign activities. They often do this through political action committees, or PACs, and their supercharged cousins, super PACs. And this happens on both sides of the aisle. One of Pelosi’s political mantras is just win. She used the phrase in an interview once. She was asked about Democrats criticizing her to score political points in more conservative districts. Her answer, basically, go ahead, do whatever it takes to win the election. Times have changed in terms of political giving. Today, some of the largest contributors to PACs and campaigns have ties to Silicon Valley. Even today. As data centers and AI attract bipartisan criticism, Pelosi doesn’t discourage Democrats from taking tech contributions, insisting that support does not have to compromise their values. \u003c/p>\n",
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"\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Scott Shafer: \u003c/strong>Since the Supreme Court’s Citizens United decision in 2010, money has poured into our political system. It allowed corporations, interest groups, and wealthy individuals to spend an unlimited amount of money funding political ads and other campaign activities. They often do this through political action committees, or PACs, and their supercharged cousins, super PACs. And this happens on both sides of the aisle. One of Pelosi’s political mantras is just win. She used the phrase in an interview once. She was asked about Democrats criticizing her to score political points in more conservative districts. Her answer, basically, go ahead, do whatever it takes to win the election. Times have changed in terms of political giving. Today, some of the largest contributors to PACs and campaigns have ties to Silicon Valley. Even today. As data centers and AI attract bipartisan criticism, Pelosi doesn’t discourage Democrats from taking tech contributions, insisting that support does not have to compromise their values. \u003c/p>\n"
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Nancy Pelosi: \u003c/strong>I mean, candidates call me and say, tech is coming in for me. I don’t want it, but they’re coming in for me because they don’t like the opponent, and I’m afraid that other tech will come in for them. But tech money is different from fossil fuel money, and it’s different from gun money, because there are differences of opinion.\u003c/p>\n",
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"\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Nancy Pelosi: \u003c/strong>I mean, candidates call me and say, tech is coming in for me. I don’t want it, but they’re coming in for me because they don’t like the opponent, and I’m afraid that other tech will come in for them. But tech money is different from fossil fuel money, and it’s different from gun money, because there are differences of opinion.\u003c/p>\n"
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Scott Shafer: \u003c/strong>As California tech CEOs ingratiate themselves with Trump, Pelosi seems to draw a distinction between tech money and other corporate money. \u003c/p>\n",
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Nancy Pelosi: \u003c/strong>Now, the tech community is a relatively new phenomenon in terms of… \u003c/p>\n",
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Scott Shafer: \u003c/strong>But it’s corporate money.\u003c/p>\n",
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Nancy Pelosi: \u003c/strong>Yeah, no, but the tech money is on both sides of the issues. Some of the tech-money that’s saying we should have a better, fairer immigration system and the rest of that. I’m not here to protect them, but all the businesses are the same. I mean, I don’t want to paint everybody with the same brush, but they all want lower their taxes and lower their regulation. \u003c/p>\n",
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Scott Shafer: \u003c/strong>But when I ask Pelosi if she thinks the Democratic Party is too reliant on corporate donations, she bristles.\u003c/p>\n",
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Nancy Pelosi: \u003c/strong>I completely, totally disagree that the Democratic Party is dominated by corporate money. It isn’t. And certainly the Democrats vote for gun violence prevention. The Republicans do not. Their Democrats vote to protect the environment. The other people are in the pocket of the fossil fuel industry as well as the gun industry. So it is a big difference. But we haven’t made that clear. And every poll shows, oh, they think we’re both sort of the same. \u003c/p>\n",
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"\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Nancy Pelosi: \u003c/strong>I completely, totally disagree that the Democratic Party is dominated by corporate money. It isn’t. And certainly the Democrats vote for gun violence prevention. The Republicans do not. Their Democrats vote to protect the environment. The other people are in the pocket of the fossil fuel industry as well as the gun industry. So it is a big difference. But we haven’t made that clear. And every poll shows, oh, they think we’re both sort of the same. \u003c/p>\n"
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Scott Shafer: \u003c/strong>Right now, Pelosi’s eye is firmly on taking back the House. She’s traveling the country to raise money for Democrats, trying to flip seats from red to blue. She’s weighing in on a few non-House seats as well. For example, the Senate race in Michigan. Pelosi endorsed Haley Stevens, a fellow House member, the more centrist establishment Democrat. Stevens lost the primary to Abdul Al Sayed, the candidate who supports Medicare for All. And opposes unconditional military aid for Israel. But Pelosi sees the field like a chessboard. There are some districts and states she thinks the party will struggle to win with a progressive agenda. \u003c/p>\n",
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"\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Scott Shafer: \u003c/strong>Right now, Pelosi’s eye is firmly on taking back the House. She’s traveling the country to raise money for Democrats, trying to flip seats from red to blue. She’s weighing in on a few non-House seats as well. For example, the Senate race in Michigan. Pelosi endorsed Haley Stevens, a fellow House member, the more centrist establishment Democrat. Stevens lost the primary to Abdul Al Sayed, the candidate who supports Medicare for All. And opposes unconditional military aid for Israel. But Pelosi sees the field like a chessboard. There are some districts and states she thinks the party will struggle to win with a progressive agenda. \u003c/p>\n"
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Nancy Pelosi: \u003c/strong>I don’t know about Michigan. I don’t know what’s gonna happen there in the Senate. But I’ll tell you, the more left the candidate, the harder to win the general in Michigan, in Michigan.\u003c/p>\n",
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"\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Nancy Pelosi: \u003c/strong>I don’t know about Michigan. I don’t know what’s gonna happen there in the Senate. But I’ll tell you, the more left the candidate, the harder to win the general in Michigan, in Michigan.\u003c/p>\n"
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Scott Shafer: \u003c/strong>But with the primaries over and the field of candidates set, Pelosi has hit the road to help Democrats win in November.\u003c/p>\n",
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Nancy Pelosi: \u003c/strong>Will be a path to winning the White House. What’s happening right now is contrary to anything our founders had in mind for our country, contrary to the Constitution of the United States. And I just, well, we just win, baby. That’s just the whole thing. And win big. \u003c/p>\n",
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"\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Nancy Pelosi: \u003c/strong>Will be a path to winning the White House. What’s happening right now is contrary to anything our founders had in mind for our country, contrary to the Constitution of the United States. And I just, well, we just win, baby. That’s just the whole thing. And win big. \u003c/p>\n"
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Scott Shafer: \u003c/strong>On the night of October 28th, 2022, just before the midterm elections, someone broke into the Pelosi home in San Francisco. The intruder, David DePapp, found Nancy Pelosi’s husband, Paul, in bed. He demanded to know, where’s Nancy? When Paul told him she wasn’t home, he said he’d wait for her. Paul managed to call the police from the bathroom. Police body cam footage from the officers who responded. Revealed DePapp and Paul Pelosi, wearing boxer shorts, struggling for a hammer. Police told DePap to put the hammer down. He said no and swung it at Paul, hitting him in the head, fracturing his skull. Later, authorities found zip ties at the scene and rope in DePaps backpack. According to a federal charging document, DePapa was planning on holding Nancy Pelosi hostage to break her kneecaps if she didn’t answer his questions honestly. Paul was 82 years old. He needed emergency surgery to repair his fractured skull and was in the hospital for several days. Nancy remembers sitting with her family in the ICU. In episode one, we talked about how many years earlier, as a teenager, Alexandra gave her mother permission to run for Congress. \u003c/p>\n",
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"\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Scott Shafer: \u003c/strong>On the night of October 28th, 2022, just before the midterm elections, someone broke into the Pelosi home in San Francisco. The intruder, David DePapp, found Nancy Pelosi’s husband, Paul, in bed. He demanded to know, where’s Nancy? When Paul told him she wasn’t home, he said he’d wait for her. Paul managed to call the police from the bathroom. Police body cam footage from the officers who responded. Revealed DePapp and Paul Pelosi, wearing boxer shorts, struggling for a hammer. Police told DePap to put the hammer down. He said no and swung it at Paul, hitting him in the head, fracturing his skull. Later, authorities found zip ties at the scene and rope in DePaps backpack. According to a federal charging document, DePapa was planning on holding Nancy Pelosi hostage to break her kneecaps if she didn’t answer his questions honestly. Paul was 82 years old. He needed emergency surgery to repair his fractured skull and was in the hospital for several days. Nancy remembers sitting with her family in the ICU. In episode one, we talked about how many years earlier, as a teenager, Alexandra gave her mother permission to run for Congress. \u003c/p>\n"
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Nancy Pelosi: \u003c/strong>Then she said, get a life.\u003c/p>\n",
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Scott Shafer: \u003c/strong>But that night in the ICU, Alexandra had a very different take.\u003c/p>\n",
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"\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Scott Shafer: \u003c/strong>But that night in the ICU, Alexandra had a very different take.\u003c/p>\n"
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Nancy Pelosi: \u003c/strong>After daddy got hurt, she said, if I knew this was at the end of the road, I would never have given you my permission. And that’s too big a price to pay. \u003c/p>\n",
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"\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Nancy Pelosi: \u003c/strong>After daddy got hurt, she said, if I knew this was at the end of the road, I would never have given you my permission. And that’s too big a price to pay. \u003c/p>\n"
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Scott Shafer: \u003c/strong>Were you surprised that Alexandra said what she did?\u003c/p>\n",
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Nancy Pelosi: \u003c/strong>No, I wasn’t surprised. No, this is our dad, our pop. Pop is what the grandchildren call him. No, that was terrible, terrible thing.\u003c/p>\n",
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"\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Nancy Pelosi: \u003c/strong>No, I wasn’t surprised. No, this is our dad, our pop. Pop is what the grandchildren call him. No, that was terrible, terrible thing.\u003c/p>\n"
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Scott Shafer: \u003c/strong>It was the cruelty after the attacks that really got to her.\u003c/p>\n",
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"\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Scott Shafer: \u003c/strong>It was the cruelty after the attacks that really got to her.\u003c/p>\n"
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Nancy Pelosi: \u003c/strong>It’s not only that, though. It’s all the things that people say along the way. I don’t even know how to refer to the person in the White House anymore. It’s just beyond. But he was making a joke of the whole thing. His kids were making a joke of the thing.\u003c/p>\n",
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"\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Nancy Pelosi: \u003c/strong>It’s not only that, though. It’s all the things that people say along the way. I don’t even know how to refer to the person in the White House anymore. It’s just beyond. But he was making a joke of the whole thing. His kids were making a joke of the thing.\u003c/p>\n"
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Scott Shafer: \u003c/strong>Two days after the attack on Paul, Donald Trump Jr. Retweeted a meme, a hammer and white underwear that said, got my Paul Pelosi Halloween costume ready. He wasn’t the only one. \u003c/p>\n",
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"\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Scott Shafer: \u003c/strong>Two days after the attack on Paul, Donald Trump Jr. Retweeted a meme, a hammer and white underwear that said, got my Paul Pelosi Halloween costume ready. He wasn’t the only one. \u003c/p>\n"
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Nancy Pelosi: \u003c/strong>That Charlie Kirk or whatever his name was wasn’t there anybody who’s patriotic enough to spend to save to bail out this guy And what was that jerk’s name, Tesla. \u003c/p>\n",
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"\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Nancy Pelosi: \u003c/strong>That Charlie Kirk or whatever his name was wasn’t there anybody who’s patriotic enough to spend to save to bail out this guy And what was that jerk’s name, Tesla. \u003c/p>\n"
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Scott Shafer: \u003c/strong>Oh, Elon Musk.\u003c/p>\n",
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Scott Shafer: \u003c/strong>Pelosi probably knows Elon Musk’s name, but in my experience, when she throws shade, she pretends she doesn’t know someone.\u003c/p>\n",
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"\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Scott Shafer: \u003c/strong>Pelosi probably knows Elon Musk’s name, but in my experience, when she throws shade, she pretends she doesn’t know someone.\u003c/p>\n"
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Nancy Pelosi: \u003c/strong>Elon Musk, he made terrible statements, too. They’re just very sick people, but that is trauma. I mean, physical is life or death. Trauma is with you for a long time to come, and that is very traumatizing to a family, to have that kind of assault.\u003c/p>\n",
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"\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Nancy Pelosi: \u003c/strong>Elon Musk, he made terrible statements, too. They’re just very sick people, but that is trauma. I mean, physical is life or death. Trauma is with you for a long time to come, and that is very traumatizing to a family, to have that kind of assault.\u003c/p>\n"
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Scott Shafer: \u003c/strong>Our producer, Ariella, talked to another one of Pelosi’s daughters.\u003c/p>\n",
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"\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Scott Shafer: \u003c/strong>Our producer, Ariella, talked to another one of Pelosi’s daughters.\u003c/p>\n"
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Ariella Markowitz: \u003c/strong>Were you surprised when your mother decided to run for reelection after the attack?\u003c/p>\n",
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Christine Pelosi: \u003c/strong>No, I wasn’t surprised because we had the political work that was going to be done. \u003c/p>\n",
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Scott Shafer: \u003c/strong>That’s Christine Pelosi.\u003c/p>\n",
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Christine Pelosi: \u003c/strong>It was really particular that they should go out and live their lives and not live in fear. What were they supposed to do? Stay home and stay inside their house and not go out and be with people, not be in the community that they built together for 50 years in San Francisco because of something like that? I think the opposite.\u003c/p>\n",
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"\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Christine Pelosi: \u003c/strong>It was really particular that they should go out and live their lives and not live in fear. What were they supposed to do? Stay home and stay inside their house and not go out and be with people, not be in the community that they built together for 50 years in San Francisco because of something like that? I think the opposite.\u003c/p>\n"
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Scott Shafer: \u003c/strong>But Christine thinks it’s bigger than that.\u003c/p>\n",
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"\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Scott Shafer: \u003c/strong>But Christine thinks it’s bigger than that.\u003c/p>\n"
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Christine Pelosi: \u003c/strong>I think a lot of women of her generation who were living the unlived lives of their mother. Her father was not supportive of her mother becoming a lawyer. There was a lot work that women tried to do but weren’t rewarded for. It was the men groomed for politics, not women. So I think for my mother, what she wanted for herself and for women of her generation, certainly of the next generation and the one after that, is for people to break through all of that and not be held back.\u003c/p>\n",
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"\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Christine Pelosi: \u003c/strong>I think a lot of women of her generation who were living the unlived lives of their mother. Her father was not supportive of her mother becoming a lawyer. There was a lot work that women tried to do but weren’t rewarded for. It was the men groomed for politics, not women. So I think for my mother, what she wanted for herself and for women of her generation, certainly of the next generation and the one after that, is for people to break through all of that and not be held back.\u003c/p>\n"
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Scott Shafer: \u003c/strong>Less than two weeks after the attack on Paul, Republicans took back control of the House. Pelosi stepped down as leader of the house Democrats, but it wasn’t because of the attack on her husband. She was keeping a promise she made four years earlier, self-imposing a term limit response to the desire for new leadership among some in her caucus. In her speech after the election, she talked about how violence can undermine democracy.\u003c/p>\n",
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"\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Scott Shafer: \u003c/strong>Less than two weeks after the attack on Paul, Republicans took back control of the House. Pelosi stepped down as leader of the house Democrats, but it wasn’t because of the attack on her husband. She was keeping a promise she made four years earlier, self-imposing a term limit response to the desire for new leadership among some in her caucus. In her speech after the election, she talked about how violence can undermine democracy.\u003c/p>\n"
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Nancy Pelosi: \u003c/strong>Indeed, American democracy is majestic, but it is fragile. Many of us here have witnessed its fragility firsthand, tragically, in this chamber. And so democracy must be forever defended from forces that wish it harm.\u003c/p>\n",
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"\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Nancy Pelosi: \u003c/strong>Indeed, American democracy is majestic, but it is fragile. Many of us here have witnessed its fragility firsthand, tragically, in this chamber. And so democracy must be forever defended from forces that wish it harm.\u003c/p>\n"
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Scott Shafer: \u003c/strong>The political environment had gotten increasingly dangerous. Pelosi worries that the attacks on her and the events on January 6th, 2021 will discourage other women from entering politics.\u003c/p>\n",
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"\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Scott Shafer: \u003c/strong>The political environment had gotten increasingly dangerous. Pelosi worries that the attacks on her and the events on January 6th, 2021 will discourage other women from entering politics.\u003c/p>\n"
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Nancy Pelosi: \u003c/strong>Over the years, the attacks that were made on me, the women were saying, I could never do that. But you don’t want other people not running for office because they saw something happen. When women succeed, America succeeds. I firmly believe that. And I speak to women, I say to them all the time, know your power in this, you are so needed. \u003c/p>\n",
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"\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Nancy Pelosi: \u003c/strong>Over the years, the attacks that were made on me, the women were saying, I could never do that. But you don’t want other people not running for office because they saw something happen. When women succeed, America succeeds. I firmly believe that. And I speak to women, I say to them all the time, know your power in this, you are so needed. \u003c/p>\n"
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Scott Shafer: \u003c/strong>In our last episode, we heard from Ilhan Omar, the representative from Minnesota’s Fifth District, one of the squad of four progressive lawmakers elected in 2018. She and Pelosi sometimes disagree. For example, on Medicare for All, she supports it. Pelosi does not. But when Omar first got to Congress. I talked to her quite often. She called a lot. So often, her staff would joke that Auntie Nancy’s calling.\u003c/p>\n",
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"\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Scott Shafer: \u003c/strong>In our last episode, we heard from Ilhan Omar, the representative from Minnesota’s Fifth District, one of the squad of four progressive lawmakers elected in 2018. She and Pelosi sometimes disagree. For example, on Medicare for All, she supports it. Pelosi does not. But when Omar first got to Congress. I talked to her quite often. She called a lot. So often, her staff would joke that Auntie Nancy’s calling.\u003c/p>\n"
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Ilhan Omar: \u003c/strong>And I think she was mostly nervous for me and what I would be dealing with as someone who carried unique identities that were under attack in our country. I really thought that it was super kind of her to pay that much attention to me and what I might need, not just in terms of serving, but just mentally as well. \u003c/p>\n",
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"\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Ilhan Omar: \u003c/strong>And I think she was mostly nervous for me and what I would be dealing with as someone who carried unique identities that were under attack in our country. I really thought that it was super kind of her to pay that much attention to me and what I might need, not just in terms of serving, but just mentally as well. \u003c/p>\n"
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Scott Shafer: \u003c/strong>Before Omar was sworn in in 2018, she was worried about one thing in particular. This ban that existed on head coverings. Omar wears religious head covering. Head coverings of any kind weren’t allowed on the house floor at the time she was elected. So she brought it up to Pelosi.\u003c/p>\n",
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"\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Scott Shafer: \u003c/strong>Before Omar was sworn in in 2018, she was worried about one thing in particular. This ban that existed on head coverings. Omar wears religious head covering. Head coverings of any kind weren’t allowed on the house floor at the time she was elected. So she brought it up to Pelosi.\u003c/p>\n"
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Ilhan Omar: \u003c/strong>She did her… You know, mom assurance thing of like, no, that’s not gonna happen and we’re gonna fix it to my surprise. She worked with me to have the rule change have my name attached to it.\u003c/p>\n",
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"\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Ilhan Omar: \u003c/strong>She did her… You know, mom assurance thing of like, no, that’s not gonna happen and we’re gonna fix it to my surprise. She worked with me to have the rule change have my name attached to it.\u003c/p>\n"
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Scott Shafer: \u003c/strong>Ariella asked her\u003c/p>\n",
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Ariella Markowitz: \u003c/strong>Were you surprised she took care of it, or?\u003c/p>\n",
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"\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Ariella Markowitz: \u003c/strong>Were you surprised she took care of it, or?\u003c/p>\n"
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Ilhan Omar: \u003c/strong>Yeah, and that she was thoughtful, that she also wanted me to be the one who proposed the change\u003c/p>\n",
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"\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Ilhan Omar: \u003c/strong>Yeah, and that she was thoughtful, that she also wanted me to be the one who proposed the change\u003c/p>\n"
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Scott Shafer: \u003c/strong>Pelosi was right to be worried. The vitriol has only escalated since Omar was first elected. Omar was born in Somalia, but became a U.S. Citizen when she was a teenager. She’s also Muslim. Omar is often attacked by President Trump. At a rally in 2019, you can hear the crowd yelling, send her back before he speaks.\u003c/p>\n",
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"\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Scott Shafer: \u003c/strong>Pelosi was right to be worried. The vitriol has only escalated since Omar was first elected. Omar was born in Somalia, but became a U.S. Citizen when she was a teenager. She’s also Muslim. Omar is often attacked by President Trump. At a rally in 2019, you can hear the crowd yelling, send her back before he speaks.\u003c/p>\n"
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Donald Trump: \u003c/strong>So, Representative Omar blamed the United States. For the terrorist attacks on our country, saying that…\u003c/p>\n",
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"\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Donald Trump: \u003c/strong>So, Representative Omar blamed the United States. For the terrorist attacks on our country, saying that…\u003c/p>\n"
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Scott Shafer: \u003c/strong>And the rhetoric has only intensified in President Trump’s second term. \u003c/p>\n",
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"\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Scott Shafer: \u003c/strong>And the rhetoric has only intensified in President Trump’s second term. \u003c/p>\n"
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Donald Trump: \u003c/strong>\u003cem> \u003c/em>Ilhan Omar is garbage. She’s garbage. Her friends are garbage.\u003c/p>\n",
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"\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Donald Trump: \u003c/strong>\u003cem> \u003c/em>Ilhan Omar is garbage. She’s garbage. Her friends are garbage.\u003c/p>\n"
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Scott Shafer: \u003c/strong>Two months after Trump made these comments, she was attacked at a town hall meeting during the ICE surge in Minneapolis. During protests against that surge, federal agents killed two U.S. Citizens, Renee Good and Alex Preti. Omar was calling for the resignation of the head of DHS at that point. \u003c/p>\n",
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"\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Scott Shafer: \u003c/strong>Two months after Trump made these comments, she was attacked at a town hall meeting during the ICE surge in Minneapolis. During protests against that surge, federal agents killed two U.S. Citizens, Renee Good and Alex Preti. Omar was calling for the resignation of the head of DHS at that point. \u003c/p>\n"
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Ilhan Omar: \u003c/strong>And DHS Secretary Kristi Noem must resign or face impeachment.\u003c/p>\n",
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"\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Ilhan Omar: \u003c/strong>And DHS Secretary Kristi Noem must resign or face impeachment.\u003c/p>\n"
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Press Conference Archival: \u003c/strong>Whoa, whoa, whoa!\u003c/p>\n",
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"\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Press Conference Archival: \u003c/strong>Whoa, whoa, whoa!\u003c/p>\n"
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Scott Shafer: \u003c/strong>A man lunged and sprayed her with a liquid that turned out to be a mixture of water and vinegar. Omar finished the town hall after the man was tackled and removed by security. In that sense, her toughness, she can relate to Nancy Pelosi. She grew up with brothers.\u003c/p>\n",
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"\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Scott Shafer: \u003c/strong>A man lunged and sprayed her with a liquid that turned out to be a mixture of water and vinegar. Omar finished the town hall after the man was tackled and removed by security. In that sense, her toughness, she can relate to Nancy Pelosi. She grew up with brothers.\u003c/p>\n"
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Ilhan Omar: \u003c/strong>Her dad was very much instrumental in her life and the way that she thinks about life and the ways that she think about strength and courage. And I grew up with brothers and my dad really is the reason I am who I am today. And I think we have a similar energy that shaped us.\u003c/p>\n",
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"\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Ilhan Omar: \u003c/strong>Her dad was very much instrumental in her life and the way that she thinks about life and the ways that she think about strength and courage. And I grew up with brothers and my dad really is the reason I am who I am today. And I think we have a similar energy that shaped us.\u003c/p>\n"
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Scott Shafer: \u003c/strong>Even though they disagree about how to fix America’s health care system and other policies too, Pelosi’s steeliness through it all is something Omar admires. It is important. \u003c/p>\n",
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"\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Scott Shafer: \u003c/strong>Even though they disagree about how to fix America’s health care system and other policies too, Pelosi’s steeliness through it all is something Omar admires. It is important. \u003c/p>\n"
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Ilhan Omar: \u003c/strong>Make sure people who see you as an inspiration don’t see you backing down. Because it will inspire them to stand up to police as well.\u003c/p>\n",
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"\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Ilhan Omar: \u003c/strong>Make sure people who see you as an inspiration don’t see you backing down. Because it will inspire them to stand up to police as well.\u003c/p>\n"
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Scott Shafer: \u003c/strong>While we were in D.C., Areola went to the annual California Congressional Transportation Reception. That sounds like fun, doesn’t it? I know. It was packed with politicians and workers from California public transportation projects. Pelosi was there, along with a freshman member of Congress.\u003c/p>\n",
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"\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Scott Shafer: \u003c/strong>While we were in D.C., Areola went to the annual California Congressional Transportation Reception. That sounds like fun, doesn’t it? I know. It was packed with politicians and workers from California public transportation projects. Pelosi was there, along with a freshman member of Congress.\u003c/p>\n"
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Lateefah Simon: \u003c/strong>The Bay Area is very special because we throw down, we throw down hard. \u003c/p>\n",
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"\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Lateefah Simon: \u003c/strong>The Bay Area is very special because we throw down, we throw down hard. \u003c/p>\n"
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Scott Shafer: \u003c/strong>Lateefah Simon represents California’s 12th District, right across the bay from Pelosi’s San Francisco seat. Like Representative Ilhan Omar, there are policies she disagrees with Pelosi on, but when Ariella asked her about Pelosi at the event, she lit up.\u003c/p>\n",
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"\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Scott Shafer: \u003c/strong>Lateefah Simon represents California’s 12th District, right across the bay from Pelosi’s San Francisco seat. Like Representative Ilhan Omar, there are policies she disagrees with Pelosi on, but when Ariella asked her about Pelosi at the event, she lit up.\u003c/p>\n"
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Lateefah Simon: \u003c/strong>And I call her Ms Pelosi. I grew up in San Francisco and in Oakland. She spent so much time with freshmen and I gotta say, a lot of time with me really training me on how this place works. Now, she’s clear that I’m kind of like an ultra progressive. Like I’m a no war, anti-war organizer who grew up doing justice reform. What did that mentorship mean to you? Just like, how did, how do you think, what did she teach you? When I was running. She was very clear to me, I don’t want to talk politics with you, Latif, I want to talk about where you’re going to send your daughter to school. How are you going to be with family? You’re going leave your elderly mother. She’s so clear that our first obligation is to community and family. You know, I sit with her almost weekly and I ask her questions about particular bills and she gives me her her direct thoughts. And sometimes I’ll say, Miss Pelosi, I’m not going to vote that way. And yet… Yeah, she always says, vote your district. What are your hopes for the future of the Democratic Party as she’s stepping down? I remember how Nancy phrases the demand of the moment, and she always equates it with the children. So as a disabled woman, I’m always remembering that, that this is not about power. It must be about service. We’re up against Armageddon in some ways, I feel like, it’s David and Goliath. But I come from, you know, the Bay Area, where we’re ruthless in our own politic about what we believe, what is morally consequential. And I’m glad that I actually came into the Coliseum, not the Dome. Some people call it the DOME. It’s a Coliseium. We’re fighting for the lifeblood of our democracy. And I am so blessed that I have that lens to be able to say, well, no one’s going to push me around. I’ve seen the Nancy Pelosi’s. Hands. I’m stronger because of it.\u003c/p>\n",
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"\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Lateefah Simon: \u003c/strong>And I call her Ms Pelosi. I grew up in San Francisco and in Oakland. She spent so much time with freshmen and I gotta say, a lot of time with me really training me on how this place works. Now, she’s clear that I’m kind of like an ultra progressive. Like I’m a no war, anti-war organizer who grew up doing justice reform. What did that mentorship mean to you? Just like, how did, how do you think, what did she teach you? When I was running. She was very clear to me, I don’t want to talk politics with you, Latif, I want to talk about where you’re going to send your daughter to school. How are you going to be with family? You’re going leave your elderly mother. She’s so clear that our first obligation is to community and family. You know, I sit with her almost weekly and I ask her questions about particular bills and she gives me her her direct thoughts. And sometimes I’ll say, Miss Pelosi, I’m not going to vote that way. And yet… Yeah, she always says, vote your district. What are your hopes for the future of the Democratic Party as she’s stepping down? I remember how Nancy phrases the demand of the moment, and she always equates it with the children. So as a disabled woman, I’m always remembering that, that this is not about power. It must be about service. We’re up against Armageddon in some ways, I feel like, it’s David and Goliath. But I come from, you know, the Bay Area, where we’re ruthless in our own politic about what we believe, what is morally consequential. And I’m glad that I actually came into the Coliseum, not the Dome. Some people call it the DOME. It’s a Coliseium. We’re fighting for the lifeblood of our democracy. And I am so blessed that I have that lens to be able to say, well, no one’s going to push me around. I’ve seen the Nancy Pelosi’s. Hands. I’m stronger because of it.\u003c/p>\n"
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Scott Shafer: \u003c/strong>When Pelosi first got to Congress in 1987, there were 13 Democratic women in the House. Now, there are 95. Pelosi helped many of them win their seats. But in many ways, politics is still a man’s club. For women to survive and build a career, you have to be ready to fight. And now, many women in Congress have a template. Nancy Pelosi.\u003c/p>\n",
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Scott Shafer: \u003c/strong>Many have pointed out that Pelosi’s political acumen came from Baltimore, her home city in Maryland. But, I really see San Francisco in her. A local politician once described San Francisco politics as a knife fight in a phone booth, a fierce battle that often becomes personal because the city is relatively small and the political spectrum runs from liberal to further left. Surviving the city’s political cauldron, often battles between progressives and centrists, forces politicians to learn how to navigate the many interests, labor, business, environmentalists, LGBTQ. Racial and ethnic groups, political clubs. California Governor Gavin Newsom sees Pelosi as a pure product of these dynamics.\u003c/p>\n",
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"\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Scott Shafer: \u003c/strong>Many have pointed out that Pelosi’s political acumen came from Baltimore, her home city in Maryland. But, I really see San Francisco in her. A local politician once described San Francisco politics as a knife fight in a phone booth, a fierce battle that often becomes personal because the city is relatively small and the political spectrum runs from liberal to further left. Surviving the city’s political cauldron, often battles between progressives and centrists, forces politicians to learn how to navigate the many interests, labor, business, environmentalists, LGBTQ. Racial and ethnic groups, political clubs. California Governor Gavin Newsom sees Pelosi as a pure product of these dynamics.\u003c/p>\n"
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Gavin Newsom: \u003c/strong>There’s that cross-pollination that was old San Francisco, the Moscone’s and the Burton’s, the Brown’s, and, you know, the machine.\u003c/p>\n",
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"\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Gavin Newsom: \u003c/strong>There’s that cross-pollination that was old San Francisco, the Moscone’s and the Burton’s, the Brown’s, and, you know, the machine.\u003c/p>\n"
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Scott Shafer: \u003c/strong>Newsom grew up in a well-connected family. Nancy Pelosi was basically his aunt through marriage. His uncle was Paul Pelosi’s brother. He grew up with her coming to Thanksgiving or Christmas. Newsom said he didn’t really know she was a political player when he was growing up in San Francisco, but as he entered politics, city supervisor, mayor of San Francisco and eventually governor, he got closer to Pelosi. And as Newsom sees the party change today,\u003c/p>\n",
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"\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Scott Shafer: \u003c/strong>Newsom grew up in a well-connected family. Nancy Pelosi was basically his aunt through marriage. His uncle was Paul Pelosi’s brother. He grew up with her coming to Thanksgiving or Christmas. Newsom said he didn’t really know she was a political player when he was growing up in San Francisco, but as he entered politics, city supervisor, mayor of San Francisco and eventually governor, he got closer to Pelosi. And as Newsom sees the party change today,\u003c/p>\n"
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Gavin Newsom: \u003c/strong>I’m literally mesmerized by the punditry about this DSA. I’m like, have you guys ever been out west, never been in the Bay Area, never paid attention to San Francisco politics? This is like decades, this is what we do. This is the Harry Britt versus the Brown Pelosi machine. \u003c/p>\n",
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"\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Gavin Newsom: \u003c/strong>I’m literally mesmerized by the punditry about this DSA. I’m like, have you guys ever been out west, never been in the Bay Area, never paid attention to San Francisco politics? This is like decades, this is what we do. This is the Harry Britt versus the Brown Pelosi machine. \u003c/p>\n"
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Scott Shafer: \u003c/strong>That dynamic between centrist and progressive Democrats is still shaping the party. But to Pelosi, knowing each side of the party through and through, her body in both camps, as former San Francisco mayor Willie Brown put it, I see that as her strength. \u003c/p>\n",
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"\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Scott Shafer: \u003c/strong>That dynamic between centrist and progressive Democrats is still shaping the party. But to Pelosi, knowing each side of the party through and through, her body in both camps, as former San Francisco mayor Willie Brown put it, I see that as her strength. \u003c/p>\n"
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Nancy Pelosi: \u003c/strong>Tomorrow’s another day. You know, that’s what I always say to them. When you have like a weaver at the loom and we would weave this and sometimes people couldn’t be in the design and we’d say, okay, if you’re not in the designed, don’t go criticize the design because this is the consensus of the democratic caucus. This is what everybody’s put in and this is a consensus, but don’t criticize it because tomorrow was another day\u003c/p>\n",
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"\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Nancy Pelosi: \u003c/strong>Tomorrow’s another day. You know, that’s what I always say to them. When you have like a weaver at the loom and we would weave this and sometimes people couldn’t be in the design and we’d say, okay, if you’re not in the designed, don’t go criticize the design because this is the consensus of the democratic caucus. This is what everybody’s put in and this is a consensus, but don’t criticize it because tomorrow was another day\u003c/p>\n"
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Scott Shafer: \u003c/strong>Pelosi’s time in elected office is winding down, but the monuments to her legacy are starting to be built. Across the San Francisco Bay Area, you can find markers of Pelosi’s impact and influence. The AIDS Memorial Grove in Golden Gate Park, at the University of California at Berkeley, the new Nancy Pelosi Institute for Representative Democracy. I’ve been reflecting a lot about how life will be different when I’m no longer covering politics. When people stop saying things like, oh, I heard you on the radio or on a podcast. Now that Pelosi’s time in office is almost up, I wanted to ask her, what are you gonna miss most about not being, when you leave Congress?\u003c/p>\n",
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Nancy Pelosi: \u003c/strong>Nobody in San Francisco or California ever has Potomac fever. I don’t know. I’ll miss some of my friends, but I’ll see them. I’m excited about going to Berkeley and having the UC Berkeley Nancy Pelosi Institute for Representative Democracy.\u003c/p>\n",
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"\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Nancy Pelosi: \u003c/strong>Nobody in San Francisco or California ever has Potomac fever. I don’t know. I’ll miss some of my friends, but I’ll see them. I’m excited about going to Berkeley and having the UC Berkeley Nancy Pelosi Institute for Representative Democracy.\u003c/p>\n"
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Scott Shafer: \u003c/strong>You’re not gonna miss like just being in the mix all the time. No.\u003c/p>\n",
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Nancy Pelosi: \u003c/strong>I didn’t go to stay that long. It’s just one thing led to another. You run for leadership, and then you’re leadership, then you become speaker, and it’s those. No, that’s being in the mix. I was in the mixed. Been that, done that. Yeah, I mean, I was first woman speaker of the House. This was a very big deal, and I won it back again. So no, I wouldn’t miss it at all.\u003c/p>\n",
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"\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Nancy Pelosi: \u003c/strong>I didn’t go to stay that long. It’s just one thing led to another. You run for leadership, and then you’re leadership, then you become speaker, and it’s those. No, that’s being in the mix. I was in the mixed. Been that, done that. Yeah, I mean, I was first woman speaker of the House. This was a very big deal, and I won it back again. So no, I wouldn’t miss it at all.\u003c/p>\n"
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Scott Shafer: \u003c/strong>Pelosi says she won’t miss being in the mix, but she’s still active. In our last interview, she told me she was in five states in one weekend, campaigning for the midterms, raising money, doing everything she can to win, and she is confident.\u003c/p>\n",
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"\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Scott Shafer: \u003c/strong>Pelosi says she won’t miss being in the mix, but she’s still active. In our last interview, she told me she was in five states in one weekend, campaigning for the midterms, raising money, doing everything she can to win, and she is confident.\u003c/p>\n"
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Nancy Pelosi: \u003c/strong>What gives you hope? The fact that we’re gonna win this election gives me hope because we will.\u003c/p>\n",
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"\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Nancy Pelosi: \u003c/strong>What gives you hope? The fact that we’re gonna win this election gives me hope because we will.\u003c/p>\n"
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Scott Shafer: \u003c/strong>But if there’s one thing I know as a journalist, it’s this. When someone claims to be certain, it’s our job to keep asking questions.\u003c/p>\n",
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"\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Scott Shafer: \u003c/strong>But if there’s one thing I know as a journalist, it’s this. When someone claims to be certain, it’s our job to keep asking questions.\u003c/p>\n"
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Scott Shafer: \u003c/strong>I’ve often said the things Nancy Pelosi is best at are the things very few people see. Governor Gavin Newsom said something similar.\u003c/p>\n",
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"\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Scott Shafer: \u003c/strong>I’ve often said the things Nancy Pelosi is best at are the things very few people see. Governor Gavin Newsom said something similar.\u003c/p>\n"
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Gavin Newsom: \u003c/strong>It was constant blocking and tackling. Just the constant, so it was Nancy, blocking and tackle, blocking and tackling. Wasn’t just delivering more resources, was stopping those resources from being cut and building coalitions that wouldn’t have otherwise existed without her. \u003c/p>\n",
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"\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Gavin Newsom: \u003c/strong>It was constant blocking and tackling. Just the constant, so it was Nancy, blocking and tackle, blocking and tackling. Wasn’t just delivering more resources, was stopping those resources from being cut and building coalitions that wouldn’t have otherwise existed without her. \u003c/p>\n"
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Scott Shafer: \u003c/strong>That reminded me of one of Pelosi’s biggest local accomplishments. The Presidio is an old army base on the northern edge of San Francisco, with towering eucalyptus groves and sweeping views of the Golden Gate Bridge. It was a U.S. Military base from the mid-1800s to 1994. After Congress voted to decommission it, there was a big debate about what to do with it. Some in Congress wanted to sell the prime real estate to private developers. In the 90s, Pelosi got Congress on board to turn it into a thriving park with restaurants, businesses, and non-profits. And thanks to that public-private partnership structure Pelosi helped create, the park is now financially self-sufficient. We talked to Pelosi about it on Memorial Day this year when she spoke at an event honoring veterans. \u003c/p>\n",
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"\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Scott Shafer: \u003c/strong>That reminded me of one of Pelosi’s biggest local accomplishments. The Presidio is an old army base on the northern edge of San Francisco, with towering eucalyptus groves and sweeping views of the Golden Gate Bridge. It was a U.S. Military base from the mid-1800s to 1994. After Congress voted to decommission it, there was a big debate about what to do with it. Some in Congress wanted to sell the prime real estate to private developers. In the 90s, Pelosi got Congress on board to turn it into a thriving park with restaurants, businesses, and non-profits. And thanks to that public-private partnership structure Pelosi helped create, the park is now financially self-sufficient. We talked to Pelosi about it on Memorial Day this year when she spoke at an event honoring veterans. \u003c/p>\n"
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Nancy Pelosi: \u003c/strong>When I did my legislation to turn it from a post into a park, our motto was one that existed from the start, from 250 years ago, no shot fired in anger. So we always did it in the most nonpartisan, unifying way. And that’s what will protect the procedures we go forward. \u003c/p>\n",
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"\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Nancy Pelosi: \u003c/strong>When I did my legislation to turn it from a post into a park, our motto was one that existed from the start, from 250 years ago, no shot fired in anger. So we always did it in the most nonpartisan, unifying way. And that’s what will protect the procedures we go forward. \u003c/p>\n"
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Scott Shafer: \u003c/strong>In the early 90s, Pelosi was still relatively new to Washington, but she convinced even some Republican members of Congress to support her plan to preserve the land for the public and to have it pay for itself. Today, that legacy is under attack.\u003c/p>\n",
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"\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Scott Shafer: \u003c/strong>In the early 90s, Pelosi was still relatively new to Washington, but she convinced even some Republican members of Congress to support her plan to preserve the land for the public and to have it pay for itself. Today, that legacy is under attack.\u003c/p>\n"
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Archival: \u003c/strong>President Trump’s latest executive order is aimed directly at one of his political rivals’ favorite achievements, the Presidio Trust, established nearly three decades ago, largely because of the work of Congresswoman Nancy Pelosi.\u003c/p>\n",
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"\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Archival: \u003c/strong>President Trump’s latest executive order is aimed directly at one of his political rivals’ favorite achievements, the Presidio Trust, established nearly three decades ago, largely because of the work of Congresswoman Nancy Pelosi.\u003c/p>\n"
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Scott Shafer: \u003c/strong>Earlier this year, President Trump fired all six board members of the Presidio. But at the Memorial Day event, Pelosi was confident. The Trump administration can attack the Affordable Care Act. They can cut government programs. They can dismantle laws she spent months, even years, trying to pass Congress. But when it comes to her public park, The Presidio\u003c/p>\n",
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Nancy Pelosi: \u003c/strong>When we passed this legislation, we did it in a very wise and strong way. I feel that this procedure was protected by the legislation because it anticipated any kind of assault that it might have. So I’ll just leave it at that.\u003c/p>\n",
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"\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Nancy Pelosi: \u003c/strong>When we passed this legislation, we did it in a very wise and strong way. I feel that this procedure was protected by the legislation because it anticipated any kind of assault that it might have. So I’ll just leave it at that.\u003c/p>\n"
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Scott Shafer: \u003c/strong>After she spoke, a crowd formed around Pelosi. The fog had broken by then, and the sun was shining in the cemetery. Kids with their parents, veterans, constituents, all came up to thank her for her work and her years as their representative.\u003c/p>\n",
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"\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Scott Shafer: \u003c/strong>After she spoke, a crowd formed around Pelosi. The fog had broken by then, and the sun was shining in the cemetery. Kids with their parents, veterans, constituents, all came up to thank her for her work and her years as their representative.\u003c/p>\n"
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Presidio Memorial Day Ambi: \u003c/strong>Thank you, Madam. You’re an inspiration. Thank you. \u003c/p>\n",
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"\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Presidio Memorial Day Ambi: \u003c/strong>Thank you, Madam. You’re an inspiration. Thank you. \u003c/p>\n"
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Scott Shafer: \u003c/strong>At a time when people are very skeptical of political institutions or politicians, in San Francisco, Representative Nancy Pelosi is still pretty popular. I’m reflecting on my own career, decades following politics, and in many ways following the decline of our democracy. For Pelosi, the work is about building a better future, a better planet. Even though the results and legacy of her time in power will be studied and debated for years to come. This moment of gratitude, it reminded me that even now, when we’re so divided, government can still help people. The force that is Nancy Pelosi will soon be gone, and whatever comes next, well, that’s a tough act to follow.\u003c/p>\n",
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"\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Scott Shafer: \u003c/strong>At a time when people are very skeptical of political institutions or politicians, in San Francisco, Representative Nancy Pelosi is still pretty popular. I’m reflecting on my own career, decades following politics, and in many ways following the decline of our democracy. For Pelosi, the work is about building a better future, a better planet. Even though the results and legacy of her time in power will be studied and debated for years to come. This moment of gratitude, it reminded me that even now, when we’re so divided, government can still help people. The force that is Nancy Pelosi will soon be gone, and whatever comes next, well, that’s a tough act to follow.\u003c/p>\n"
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Scott Shafer: \u003c/strong>The Speaker is a production of KQED in San Francisco and distributed by NPR. It’s hosted and reported by me, Scott Schaefer. Co-reported and produced by Ariella Markowitz. It’s edited by Padmini Raghunath. Final mix and sound designed by Christopher Beal. Additional mixing help from Brendan Willard. Fact-checking by Mark Betancourt. Additional editing from Anna Sussman and Jen Chien, KQED’s director of podcasts. Original theme music composed by Cedric Wilson. Additional music from APM. Maha Sanad is KQED’s podcast engagement producer. Ethan Toven-Lindsey is KQED’s editor-in-chief. Special thanks to Paul Burnett, Nan Alamilla Boyd, and Todd Holmes, our partners from the Oral History Center at the University of California, Berkeley. Special thanks Ana de Almeida Amaral, Armando Arteaga, Jim Bennett, Izzy Bloom, Robert Chehosky, Brian Douglas, Annie Fruit, Rebecca Hopkins, Becca Kao, Sasha Khokha, Paul Lancour, John Lawrence, Marisa Lagos, Derek Larteau, Guy Marzorati, Victoria Mauleon, Katherine Monahan, Susan Page, Suzie Racho, Nicole Rodas, Katrina Schwartz, Zaldy Serrano, Renzo Santos, Katie Sprenger, and Molly Solomon. Some members of the KQED podcast team are represented by the Screen Actors Guild American Federation of Television and Radio Artists, San Francisco, Northern California Local. \u003c/p>\n",
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"content": "\u003cdiv class=\"post-body\">\u003cp>\n\u003cp>\u003ca href=\"#transcript\">View full episode transcript\u003c/a>\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>A local politician once called San Francisco politics a “knife fight in a phone booth” where centrist Democrats and progressives duke it out in close proximity. Out of that phone booth emerged Nancy Pelosi. In our series finale, we reckon with what her legacy will be – the fundraiser, the mentor, the fighter. In a moment when the Democratic Party is at a crossroads, how did Pelosi shape the destiny of the Democratic Party?\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003ch2 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"transcript\">Episode Transcript\u003c/h2>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>\u003cem>This is a computer-generated transcript. While our team has reviewed it, there may be errors.\u003c/em>\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Scott Shafer: \u003c/strong>Our team started working on this project in the lead up to the 2026 midterm election. Polls show that nationwide voters are ready to reject President Trump’s agenda and support Democrats again. But for the Democratic Party, things are shifting. Are we ready to change the party? This May, I went to a rally in San Francisco. The theme was change the Party. It was promoted by Saikat Chakrabarti, AOC’s former chief of staff. And at that time, one of the top three challengers in the race for the congressional seat, Nancy Pelosi, will be vacating. The venue was an event space in the city’s south of Market neighborhood. The room was packed, lots of energy, party atmosphere, a disco ball hung from the ceiling. The crowd skewed young and racially diverse. I wanted to hear what these attendees thought about the Democratic Party.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Change the Party Vox: \u003c/strong>And the theme has changed the party. Like, what does that mean to you? \u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Change the Party Vox: \u003c/strong>Change the party.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Change the Party Vox: \u003c/strong>How so?\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Change the Party Vox: \u003c/strong>Because the Democratic establishment is just as corrupt as the Republican establishment. They’re donor Democrats.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Change the Party Vox: \u003c/strong>Democrats are currently very stagnant and uninspired and they’re fighting for the wrong thing.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Scott Shafer: \u003c/strong>I also wanted to hear what people thought about Pelosi’s role in everything. \u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Change the Party Vox: \u003c/strong>And how does Nancy Pelosi fit into that?\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Change the Party Vox: \u003c/strong>She was able to whip the votes for important issues, but at the end of the day, she was part of the problem and the corporate establishment Democratic Party. \u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Change the Party Vox: \u003c/strong>If we look at what happened in New York with Mayor Mamdani, he spoke to actual real life issues that people are really dealing with on a daily basis. And he used that as sort of his core. And I don’t think that’s what Pelosi and the establishment Democrats have historically done. They speak more to their corporate base, their donor base. \u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Scott Shafer: \u003c/strong>As a politics reporter, I take in a lot of different perspectives. One day I’ll go to a rally and ask voters what they think. And then another, I’ll interview the most powerful man in California. Governor Gavin Newsom. I asked him the same question. What’s Pelosi’s legacy?\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Gavin Newsom: \u003c/strong>People need to study effectiveness, and they need to celebrate it, and they to celebrate some pragmatism, not just idealism.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Scott Shafer: \u003c/strong>Newsom’s had a front row seat to Pelosi’s work over the years. What does California, what does the Democratic Party lose in her retirement? And how do you get it back? \u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Gavin Newsom: \u003c/strong>Well, you lose, obviously, the wisdom, the temperance, the courage. I’m sorry everybody out there hates the establishment and incumbents. It kind of worked for us. Be careful what you wish for.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Scott Shafer: \u003c/strong>Like Pelosi, I’m also retiring this year. Now, just to be clear of the similarities and the there, there won’t be any buildings named after me, but we’re both leaving at a time of change for the Democratic Party, the institution Pelosi has devoted her life to.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Scott Shafer: \u003c/strong>What do you make of the rise? We’re seeing a lot of turmoil in the Democratic party in terms of candidates.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Nancy Pelosi: \u003c/strong>I disagree with your terminology. A lot of turmoil in the Democratic Party. There isn’t a lot of tumble in the party. There’s some people who’ve won their elections.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Scott Shafer: \u003c/strong>The way she sees it, there are places where more progressive candidates can win and others where they can’t. In the period of time I sat down with her the summer of 2026, she was laser focused on the midterm elections. How do you want people to remember your legacy? \u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Nancy Pelosi: \u003c/strong>Not so fast on the legacy. We have to win the house, which we will do. \u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Scott Shafer: \u003c/strong>As someone who watched Nancy Pelosi’s rise from that raucous first election in 1987 to the power broker that she is today, I wanted to really take this moment to examine Nancy Pelosi impact on the party she’s devoted her entire life to. Has her role as a fundraiser pushed the party away from its working class ideals? Or has Pelosi kicked down the doors for a more progressive crop of voices in Congress? I’m Scott Schaefer from KQED. This is The Speaker, today the question of Nancy Pelosi’s legacy in a moment of conflict.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Scott Shafer: \u003c/strong>Over the decades, Nancy Pelosi built tremendous influence in the Democratic party, leveraging trusting relationships and her history of success, political capital, as we sometimes call it. In 2024, something happened that would require her to spend some of that capital. President Biden took the stage that June to debate Republican candidate Donald Trump.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Joe Biden: \u003c/strong>Making sure that we’re able to make every single solitary person eligible for what I’ve been able to do with the COVID, excuse me, with dealing with everything we have to do with, look, if we finally beat Medicare. Thank you.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Scott Shafer: \u003c/strong>Biden’s performance in that debate caused a lot of Democrats to hit the panic button. Concerns about Biden’s cognitive ability and age inflamed already simmering tensions within the party around what its future should look like. And big donors were threatening to withhold their support as long as he was the nominee. And then Pelosi stepped in. She went on Morning Joe, the MSNBC show.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Morning Joe: \u003c/strong>Does he have your support to be the head of the Democratic second? \u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Morning Joe: \u003c/strong>As long as the president has the president, it’s up to the president to decide if he is going to run. We’re all encouraging him to make that decision because time is running short. \u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Scott Shafer: \u003c/strong>Biden had already decided he was running. This is basically Pelosi giving Biden a vote of no confidence. As close as she’d come to saying he should drop out of the race without saying so directly. The weeks dragged on. President Biden was still in the race. So behind the scenes, Pelosi knew she had to make a critical phone call.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Nancy Pelosi: \u003c/strong>I was not there to undo his decision, I just told him what I thought.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Scott Shafer: \u003c/strong>This would not be easy for her. They had been friends for decades. They’d worked hard with a narrow majority in the House to pass legislation.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Nancy Pelosi: \u003c/strong>Infrastructure Bill, CHIPS Act, CHIPs and Science Act, more for climate than any history of any country in the world, issues that related to our veterans, the PACT Act. He was really on roll.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Scott Shafer: \u003c/strong>But she knew the time had come to say something.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Nancy Pelosi: \u003c/strong>I never asked him not to run. All I said is, two things. One, presentation that is being made is not a winning one. The polls are not good on this. And you’ve accomplished so much. This is a winning agenda that you have. I don’t know. Let me talk to my polls, because they have the polls. I said, well, that’s interesting. But I’d like to have more pollsters around the table to compare. I don’t have any recommendations of who they should be. But just have some other points of view so that we can see where we are on this. Because too much is at stake. Donald Trump. Too much is a stake.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Scott Shafer: \u003c/strong>How hard was that conversation? I mean, you say you didn’t ask him not to run, but it was interpreted that way. And ultimately, there were others calling on him not to run. How hard is that given the relationship you’ve had with him?\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Nancy Pelosi: \u003c/strong>It was not a good thing. I mean, it was hard. I mean I’ve known him for decades. We’ve been friends a very long time. I love him. I think he was a great patriot. He was a Great President. All we wanted to do was to see the reality of when you take polls, it’s not about where you are. It’s about where the public is on issues and how your message is coming across. \u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Scott Shafer: \u003c/strong>On July 21st, 2024, President Biden dropped out of the race. Pelosi endorsed his replacement, Vice President Kamala Harris, who was the only person who could legally use Biden’s remaining campaign funds. Pelosi threw her weight into the race, raising more money for the Harris campaign. \u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Nancy Pelosi: \u003c/strong>I give Kamala Harris great credit for getting out the vote. She got out a big vote. \u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Scott Shafer: \u003c/strong>But even so.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Kamala Harris: \u003c/strong>The votes for President of the United States are as follows.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Scott Shafer: \u003c/strong>In her role as vice president, Harris oversaw the certification of the election results.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Kamala Harris: \u003c/strong>Donald J. Trump of the state of Florida has received 312 votes. Kamala D. Harris.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Hilary Braseth: \u003c/strong>Now, 2024 was a bit of an outlier in that, what we know on record, Kamala Harris far out-raised Donald Trump. She did not win.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Scott Shafer: \u003c/strong>Hilary Braseth is the executive director of Open Secrets. That’s a nonprofit dedicated to tracking money in U.S. Politics. She says 2024 was an outlier because \u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Hilary Braseth: \u003c/strong>If you raise more money than your opponent, the likelihood that you will win is roughly 80%. So it’s quite high.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Scott Shafer: \u003c/strong>And Nancy Pelosi, well, she’s famous for raising a lot of money for Democrats. \u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Hilary Braseth: \u003c/strong>She was the Speaker of the House for many years, and it’s no secret that she’s, with that title, also managed to raise a whole bunch of money.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Scott Shafer: \u003c/strong>Since 2000, she’s raised around $100 million directly and has helped the Democratic Party bring in around $1.25 billion total. To Brasif, Pelosi’s power comes in part from this fundraising ability. \u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Hilary Braseth: \u003c/strong>Members of Congress who are able to raise large sums of money is often seen as a proxy for how successful they may be in an election or how powerful they might be able to be once they are elected by virtue of having a war chest, we refer to it as, to transfer to other lower-ranking Democrats, which again fuels and reinforces the system of power. \u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Scott Shafer: \u003c/strong>Like in Nancy Pelosi’s case, she raises a ton of money, but she doesn’t need it for herself, right?\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Hilary Braseth: \u003c/strong>And then she can transfer it to lower ranking members. So it’s powerful, right? She gets to decide who gets to receive this money that then produces a system of currying favor from lower ranking Democrats. And you have the party machinery here.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Scott Shafer: \u003c/strong>Pelosi’s strength as a fundraiser is more important than ever. This is an extremely consequential midterm election at a time when voters aren’t particularly excited about Democrats. As of February, Pelosi had about $9 million in a personal war chest, ready to deploy for congressional races around the country. \u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Hilary Braseth: \u003c/strong>She’s built strong relationships with heavy hitters when it comes to political donors. It also means that she’s had largely the backing of her party as somebody who’s been able to bring in very large sums of money.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Scott Shafer: \u003c/strong>But that’s also contributed to image problems and the rise of what progressive critics call corporate Democrats. \u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Barack Obama: \u003c/strong>Last week, the Supreme Court reversed a century of law that I believe will open the floodgates for special interests.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Scott Shafer: \u003c/strong>Since the Supreme Court’s Citizens United decision in 2010, money has poured into our political system. It allowed corporations, interest groups, and wealthy individuals to spend an unlimited amount of money funding political ads and other campaign activities. They often do this through political action committees, or PACs, and their supercharged cousins, super PACs. And this happens on both sides of the aisle. One of Pelosi’s political mantras is just win. She used the phrase in an interview once. She was asked about Democrats criticizing her to score political points in more conservative districts. Her answer, basically, go ahead, do whatever it takes to win the election. Times have changed in terms of political giving. Today, some of the largest contributors to PACs and campaigns have ties to Silicon Valley. Even today. As data centers and AI attract bipartisan criticism, Pelosi doesn’t discourage Democrats from taking tech contributions, insisting that support does not have to compromise their values. \u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Nancy Pelosi: \u003c/strong>I mean, candidates call me and say, tech is coming in for me. I don’t want it, but they’re coming in for me because they don’t like the opponent, and I’m afraid that other tech will come in for them. But tech money is different from fossil fuel money, and it’s different from gun money, because there are differences of opinion.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Scott Shafer: \u003c/strong>As California tech CEOs ingratiate themselves with Trump, Pelosi seems to draw a distinction between tech money and other corporate money. \u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Nancy Pelosi: \u003c/strong>Now, the tech community is a relatively new phenomenon in terms of… \u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Scott Shafer: \u003c/strong>But it’s corporate money.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Nancy Pelosi: \u003c/strong>Yeah, no, but the tech money is on both sides of the issues. Some of the tech-money that’s saying we should have a better, fairer immigration system and the rest of that. I’m not here to protect them, but all the businesses are the same. I mean, I don’t want to paint everybody with the same brush, but they all want lower their taxes and lower their regulation. \u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Scott Shafer: \u003c/strong>But when I ask Pelosi if she thinks the Democratic Party is too reliant on corporate donations, she bristles.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Nancy Pelosi: \u003c/strong>I completely, totally disagree that the Democratic Party is dominated by corporate money. It isn’t. And certainly the Democrats vote for gun violence prevention. The Republicans do not. Their Democrats vote to protect the environment. The other people are in the pocket of the fossil fuel industry as well as the gun industry. So it is a big difference. But we haven’t made that clear. And every poll shows, oh, they think we’re both sort of the same. \u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Scott Shafer: \u003c/strong>Right now, Pelosi’s eye is firmly on taking back the House. She’s traveling the country to raise money for Democrats, trying to flip seats from red to blue. She’s weighing in on a few non-House seats as well. For example, the Senate race in Michigan. Pelosi endorsed Haley Stevens, a fellow House member, the more centrist establishment Democrat. Stevens lost the primary to Abdul Al Sayed, the candidate who supports Medicare for All. And opposes unconditional military aid for Israel. But Pelosi sees the field like a chessboard. There are some districts and states she thinks the party will struggle to win with a progressive agenda. \u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Nancy Pelosi: \u003c/strong>I don’t know about Michigan. I don’t know what’s gonna happen there in the Senate. But I’ll tell you, the more left the candidate, the harder to win the general in Michigan, in Michigan.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Scott Shafer: \u003c/strong>But with the primaries over and the field of candidates set, Pelosi has hit the road to help Democrats win in November.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Nancy Pelosi: \u003c/strong>Will be a path to winning the White House. What’s happening right now is contrary to anything our founders had in mind for our country, contrary to the Constitution of the United States. And I just, well, we just win, baby. That’s just the whole thing. And win big. \u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Scott Shafer: \u003c/strong>On the night of October 28th, 2022, just before the midterm elections, someone broke into the Pelosi home in San Francisco. The intruder, David DePapp, found Nancy Pelosi’s husband, Paul, in bed. He demanded to know, where’s Nancy? When Paul told him she wasn’t home, he said he’d wait for her. Paul managed to call the police from the bathroom. Police body cam footage from the officers who responded. Revealed DePapp and Paul Pelosi, wearing boxer shorts, struggling for a hammer. Police told DePap to put the hammer down. He said no and swung it at Paul, hitting him in the head, fracturing his skull. Later, authorities found zip ties at the scene and rope in DePaps backpack. According to a federal charging document, DePapa was planning on holding Nancy Pelosi hostage to break her kneecaps if she didn’t answer his questions honestly. Paul was 82 years old. He needed emergency surgery to repair his fractured skull and was in the hospital for several days. Nancy remembers sitting with her family in the ICU. In episode one, we talked about how many years earlier, as a teenager, Alexandra gave her mother permission to run for Congress. \u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Nancy Pelosi: \u003c/strong>Then she said, get a life.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Scott Shafer: \u003c/strong>But that night in the ICU, Alexandra had a very different take.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Nancy Pelosi: \u003c/strong>After daddy got hurt, she said, if I knew this was at the end of the road, I would never have given you my permission. And that’s too big a price to pay. \u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Scott Shafer: \u003c/strong>Were you surprised that Alexandra said what she did?\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Nancy Pelosi: \u003c/strong>No, I wasn’t surprised. No, this is our dad, our pop. Pop is what the grandchildren call him. No, that was terrible, terrible thing.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Scott Shafer: \u003c/strong>It was the cruelty after the attacks that really got to her.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Nancy Pelosi: \u003c/strong>It’s not only that, though. It’s all the things that people say along the way. I don’t even know how to refer to the person in the White House anymore. It’s just beyond. But he was making a joke of the whole thing. His kids were making a joke of the thing.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Scott Shafer: \u003c/strong>Two days after the attack on Paul, Donald Trump Jr. Retweeted a meme, a hammer and white underwear that said, got my Paul Pelosi Halloween costume ready. He wasn’t the only one. \u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Nancy Pelosi: \u003c/strong>That Charlie Kirk or whatever his name was wasn’t there anybody who’s patriotic enough to spend to save to bail out this guy And what was that jerk’s name, Tesla. \u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Scott Shafer: \u003c/strong>Oh, Elon Musk.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Scott Shafer: \u003c/strong>Pelosi probably knows Elon Musk’s name, but in my experience, when she throws shade, she pretends she doesn’t know someone.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Nancy Pelosi: \u003c/strong>Elon Musk, he made terrible statements, too. They’re just very sick people, but that is trauma. I mean, physical is life or death. Trauma is with you for a long time to come, and that is very traumatizing to a family, to have that kind of assault.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Scott Shafer: \u003c/strong>Our producer, Ariella, talked to another one of Pelosi’s daughters.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Ariella Markowitz: \u003c/strong>Were you surprised when your mother decided to run for reelection after the attack?\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Christine Pelosi: \u003c/strong>No, I wasn’t surprised because we had the political work that was going to be done. \u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Scott Shafer: \u003c/strong>That’s Christine Pelosi.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Christine Pelosi: \u003c/strong>It was really particular that they should go out and live their lives and not live in fear. What were they supposed to do? Stay home and stay inside their house and not go out and be with people, not be in the community that they built together for 50 years in San Francisco because of something like that? I think the opposite.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Scott Shafer: \u003c/strong>But Christine thinks it’s bigger than that.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Christine Pelosi: \u003c/strong>I think a lot of women of her generation who were living the unlived lives of their mother. Her father was not supportive of her mother becoming a lawyer. There was a lot work that women tried to do but weren’t rewarded for. It was the men groomed for politics, not women. So I think for my mother, what she wanted for herself and for women of her generation, certainly of the next generation and the one after that, is for people to break through all of that and not be held back.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Scott Shafer: \u003c/strong>Less than two weeks after the attack on Paul, Republicans took back control of the House. Pelosi stepped down as leader of the house Democrats, but it wasn’t because of the attack on her husband. She was keeping a promise she made four years earlier, self-imposing a term limit response to the desire for new leadership among some in her caucus. In her speech after the election, she talked about how violence can undermine democracy.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Nancy Pelosi: \u003c/strong>Indeed, American democracy is majestic, but it is fragile. Many of us here have witnessed its fragility firsthand, tragically, in this chamber. And so democracy must be forever defended from forces that wish it harm.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Scott Shafer: \u003c/strong>The political environment had gotten increasingly dangerous. Pelosi worries that the attacks on her and the events on January 6th, 2021 will discourage other women from entering politics.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Nancy Pelosi: \u003c/strong>Over the years, the attacks that were made on me, the women were saying, I could never do that. But you don’t want other people not running for office because they saw something happen. When women succeed, America succeeds. I firmly believe that. And I speak to women, I say to them all the time, know your power in this, you are so needed. \u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Scott Shafer: \u003c/strong>In our last episode, we heard from Ilhan Omar, the representative from Minnesota’s Fifth District, one of the squad of four progressive lawmakers elected in 2018. She and Pelosi sometimes disagree. For example, on Medicare for All, she supports it. Pelosi does not. But when Omar first got to Congress. I talked to her quite often. She called a lot. So often, her staff would joke that Auntie Nancy’s calling.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Ilhan Omar: \u003c/strong>And I think she was mostly nervous for me and what I would be dealing with as someone who carried unique identities that were under attack in our country. I really thought that it was super kind of her to pay that much attention to me and what I might need, not just in terms of serving, but just mentally as well. \u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Scott Shafer: \u003c/strong>Before Omar was sworn in in 2018, she was worried about one thing in particular. This ban that existed on head coverings. Omar wears religious head covering. Head coverings of any kind weren’t allowed on the house floor at the time she was elected. So she brought it up to Pelosi.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Ilhan Omar: \u003c/strong>She did her… You know, mom assurance thing of like, no, that’s not gonna happen and we’re gonna fix it to my surprise. She worked with me to have the rule change have my name attached to it.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Scott Shafer: \u003c/strong>Ariella asked her\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Ariella Markowitz: \u003c/strong>Were you surprised she took care of it, or?\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Ilhan Omar: \u003c/strong>Yeah, and that she was thoughtful, that she also wanted me to be the one who proposed the change\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Scott Shafer: \u003c/strong>Pelosi was right to be worried. The vitriol has only escalated since Omar was first elected. Omar was born in Somalia, but became a U.S. Citizen when she was a teenager. She’s also Muslim. Omar is often attacked by President Trump. At a rally in 2019, you can hear the crowd yelling, send her back before he speaks.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Donald Trump: \u003c/strong>So, Representative Omar blamed the United States. For the terrorist attacks on our country, saying that…\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Scott Shafer: \u003c/strong>And the rhetoric has only intensified in President Trump’s second term. \u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Donald Trump: \u003c/strong>\u003cem> \u003c/em>Ilhan Omar is garbage. She’s garbage. Her friends are garbage.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Scott Shafer: \u003c/strong>Two months after Trump made these comments, she was attacked at a town hall meeting during the ICE surge in Minneapolis. During protests against that surge, federal agents killed two U.S. Citizens, Renee Good and Alex Preti. Omar was calling for the resignation of the head of DHS at that point. \u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Ilhan Omar: \u003c/strong>And DHS Secretary Kristi Noem must resign or face impeachment.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Press Conference Archival: \u003c/strong>Whoa, whoa, whoa!\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Scott Shafer: \u003c/strong>A man lunged and sprayed her with a liquid that turned out to be a mixture of water and vinegar. Omar finished the town hall after the man was tackled and removed by security. In that sense, her toughness, she can relate to Nancy Pelosi. She grew up with brothers.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Ilhan Omar: \u003c/strong>Her dad was very much instrumental in her life and the way that she thinks about life and the ways that she think about strength and courage. And I grew up with brothers and my dad really is the reason I am who I am today. And I think we have a similar energy that shaped us.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Scott Shafer: \u003c/strong>Even though they disagree about how to fix America’s health care system and other policies too, Pelosi’s steeliness through it all is something Omar admires. It is important. \u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Ilhan Omar: \u003c/strong>Make sure people who see you as an inspiration don’t see you backing down. Because it will inspire them to stand up to police as well.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Scott Shafer: \u003c/strong>While we were in D.C., Areola went to the annual California Congressional Transportation Reception. That sounds like fun, doesn’t it? I know. It was packed with politicians and workers from California public transportation projects. Pelosi was there, along with a freshman member of Congress.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Lateefah Simon: \u003c/strong>The Bay Area is very special because we throw down, we throw down hard. \u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Scott Shafer: \u003c/strong>Lateefah Simon represents California’s 12th District, right across the bay from Pelosi’s San Francisco seat. Like Representative Ilhan Omar, there are policies she disagrees with Pelosi on, but when Ariella asked her about Pelosi at the event, she lit up.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Lateefah Simon: \u003c/strong>And I call her Ms Pelosi. I grew up in San Francisco and in Oakland. She spent so much time with freshmen and I gotta say, a lot of time with me really training me on how this place works. Now, she’s clear that I’m kind of like an ultra progressive. Like I’m a no war, anti-war organizer who grew up doing justice reform. What did that mentorship mean to you? Just like, how did, how do you think, what did she teach you? When I was running. She was very clear to me, I don’t want to talk politics with you, Latif, I want to talk about where you’re going to send your daughter to school. How are you going to be with family? You’re going leave your elderly mother. She’s so clear that our first obligation is to community and family. You know, I sit with her almost weekly and I ask her questions about particular bills and she gives me her her direct thoughts. And sometimes I’ll say, Miss Pelosi, I’m not going to vote that way. And yet… Yeah, she always says, vote your district. What are your hopes for the future of the Democratic Party as she’s stepping down? I remember how Nancy phrases the demand of the moment, and she always equates it with the children. So as a disabled woman, I’m always remembering that, that this is not about power. It must be about service. We’re up against Armageddon in some ways, I feel like, it’s David and Goliath. But I come from, you know, the Bay Area, where we’re ruthless in our own politic about what we believe, what is morally consequential. And I’m glad that I actually came into the Coliseum, not the Dome. Some people call it the DOME. It’s a Coliseium. We’re fighting for the lifeblood of our democracy. And I am so blessed that I have that lens to be able to say, well, no one’s going to push me around. I’ve seen the Nancy Pelosi’s. Hands. I’m stronger because of it.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Scott Shafer: \u003c/strong>When Pelosi first got to Congress in 1987, there were 13 Democratic women in the House. Now, there are 95. Pelosi helped many of them win their seats. But in many ways, politics is still a man’s club. For women to survive and build a career, you have to be ready to fight. And now, many women in Congress have a template. Nancy Pelosi.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Scott Shafer: \u003c/strong>Many have pointed out that Pelosi’s political acumen came from Baltimore, her home city in Maryland. But, I really see San Francisco in her. A local politician once described San Francisco politics as a knife fight in a phone booth, a fierce battle that often becomes personal because the city is relatively small and the political spectrum runs from liberal to further left. Surviving the city’s political cauldron, often battles between progressives and centrists, forces politicians to learn how to navigate the many interests, labor, business, environmentalists, LGBTQ. Racial and ethnic groups, political clubs. California Governor Gavin Newsom sees Pelosi as a pure product of these dynamics.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Gavin Newsom: \u003c/strong>There’s that cross-pollination that was old San Francisco, the Moscone’s and the Burton’s, the Brown’s, and, you know, the machine.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Scott Shafer: \u003c/strong>Newsom grew up in a well-connected family. Nancy Pelosi was basically his aunt through marriage. His uncle was Paul Pelosi’s brother. He grew up with her coming to Thanksgiving or Christmas. Newsom said he didn’t really know she was a political player when he was growing up in San Francisco, but as he entered politics, city supervisor, mayor of San Francisco and eventually governor, he got closer to Pelosi. And as Newsom sees the party change today,\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Gavin Newsom: \u003c/strong>I’m literally mesmerized by the punditry about this DSA. I’m like, have you guys ever been out west, never been in the Bay Area, never paid attention to San Francisco politics? This is like decades, this is what we do. This is the Harry Britt versus the Brown Pelosi machine. \u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Scott Shafer: \u003c/strong>That dynamic between centrist and progressive Democrats is still shaping the party. But to Pelosi, knowing each side of the party through and through, her body in both camps, as former San Francisco mayor Willie Brown put it, I see that as her strength. \u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Nancy Pelosi: \u003c/strong>Tomorrow’s another day. You know, that’s what I always say to them. When you have like a weaver at the loom and we would weave this and sometimes people couldn’t be in the design and we’d say, okay, if you’re not in the designed, don’t go criticize the design because this is the consensus of the democratic caucus. This is what everybody’s put in and this is a consensus, but don’t criticize it because tomorrow was another day\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Scott Shafer: \u003c/strong>Pelosi’s time in elected office is winding down, but the monuments to her legacy are starting to be built. Across the San Francisco Bay Area, you can find markers of Pelosi’s impact and influence. The AIDS Memorial Grove in Golden Gate Park, at the University of California at Berkeley, the new Nancy Pelosi Institute for Representative Democracy. I’ve been reflecting a lot about how life will be different when I’m no longer covering politics. When people stop saying things like, oh, I heard you on the radio or on a podcast. Now that Pelosi’s time in office is almost up, I wanted to ask her, what are you gonna miss most about not being, when you leave Congress?\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Nancy Pelosi: \u003c/strong>Nobody in San Francisco or California ever has Potomac fever. I don’t know. I’ll miss some of my friends, but I’ll see them. I’m excited about going to Berkeley and having the UC Berkeley Nancy Pelosi Institute for Representative Democracy.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Scott Shafer: \u003c/strong>You’re not gonna miss like just being in the mix all the time. No.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Nancy Pelosi: \u003c/strong>I didn’t go to stay that long. It’s just one thing led to another. You run for leadership, and then you’re leadership, then you become speaker, and it’s those. No, that’s being in the mix. I was in the mixed. Been that, done that. Yeah, I mean, I was first woman speaker of the House. This was a very big deal, and I won it back again. So no, I wouldn’t miss it at all.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Scott Shafer: \u003c/strong>Pelosi says she won’t miss being in the mix, but she’s still active. In our last interview, she told me she was in five states in one weekend, campaigning for the midterms, raising money, doing everything she can to win, and she is confident.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Nancy Pelosi: \u003c/strong>What gives you hope? The fact that we’re gonna win this election gives me hope because we will.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Scott Shafer: \u003c/strong>But if there’s one thing I know as a journalist, it’s this. When someone claims to be certain, it’s our job to keep asking questions.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Scott Shafer: \u003c/strong>I’ve often said the things Nancy Pelosi is best at are the things very few people see. Governor Gavin Newsom said something similar.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Gavin Newsom: \u003c/strong>It was constant blocking and tackling. Just the constant, so it was Nancy, blocking and tackle, blocking and tackling. Wasn’t just delivering more resources, was stopping those resources from being cut and building coalitions that wouldn’t have otherwise existed without her. \u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Scott Shafer: \u003c/strong>That reminded me of one of Pelosi’s biggest local accomplishments. The Presidio is an old army base on the northern edge of San Francisco, with towering eucalyptus groves and sweeping views of the Golden Gate Bridge. It was a U.S. Military base from the mid-1800s to 1994. After Congress voted to decommission it, there was a big debate about what to do with it. Some in Congress wanted to sell the prime real estate to private developers. In the 90s, Pelosi got Congress on board to turn it into a thriving park with restaurants, businesses, and non-profits. And thanks to that public-private partnership structure Pelosi helped create, the park is now financially self-sufficient. We talked to Pelosi about it on Memorial Day this year when she spoke at an event honoring veterans. \u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Nancy Pelosi: \u003c/strong>When I did my legislation to turn it from a post into a park, our motto was one that existed from the start, from 250 years ago, no shot fired in anger. So we always did it in the most nonpartisan, unifying way. And that’s what will protect the procedures we go forward. \u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Scott Shafer: \u003c/strong>In the early 90s, Pelosi was still relatively new to Washington, but she convinced even some Republican members of Congress to support her plan to preserve the land for the public and to have it pay for itself. Today, that legacy is under attack.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Archival: \u003c/strong>President Trump’s latest executive order is aimed directly at one of his political rivals’ favorite achievements, the Presidio Trust, established nearly three decades ago, largely because of the work of Congresswoman Nancy Pelosi.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Scott Shafer: \u003c/strong>Earlier this year, President Trump fired all six board members of the Presidio. But at the Memorial Day event, Pelosi was confident. The Trump administration can attack the Affordable Care Act. They can cut government programs. They can dismantle laws she spent months, even years, trying to pass Congress. But when it comes to her public park, The Presidio\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Nancy Pelosi: \u003c/strong>When we passed this legislation, we did it in a very wise and strong way. I feel that this procedure was protected by the legislation because it anticipated any kind of assault that it might have. So I’ll just leave it at that.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Scott Shafer: \u003c/strong>After she spoke, a crowd formed around Pelosi. The fog had broken by then, and the sun was shining in the cemetery. Kids with their parents, veterans, constituents, all came up to thank her for her work and her years as their representative.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Presidio Memorial Day Ambi: \u003c/strong>Thank you, Madam. You’re an inspiration. Thank you. \u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Scott Shafer: \u003c/strong>At a time when people are very skeptical of political institutions or politicians, in San Francisco, Representative Nancy Pelosi is still pretty popular. I’m reflecting on my own career, decades following politics, and in many ways following the decline of our democracy. For Pelosi, the work is about building a better future, a better planet. Even though the results and legacy of her time in power will be studied and debated for years to come. This moment of gratitude, it reminded me that even now, when we’re so divided, government can still help people. The force that is Nancy Pelosi will soon be gone, and whatever comes next, well, that’s a tough act to follow.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Scott Shafer: \u003c/strong>The Speaker is a production of KQED in San Francisco and distributed by NPR. It’s hosted and reported by me, Scott Schaefer. Co-reported and produced by Ariella Markowitz. It’s edited by Padmini Raghunath. Final mix and sound designed by Christopher Beal. Additional mixing help from Brendan Willard. Fact-checking by Mark Betancourt. Additional editing from Anna Sussman and Jen Chien, KQED’s director of podcasts. Original theme music composed by Cedric Wilson. Additional music from APM. Maha Sanad is KQED’s podcast engagement producer. Ethan Toven-Lindsey is KQED’s editor-in-chief. Special thanks to Paul Burnett, Nan Alamilla Boyd, and Todd Holmes, our partners from the Oral History Center at the University of California, Berkeley. Special thanks Ana de Almeida Amaral, Armando Arteaga, Jim Bennett, Izzy Bloom, Robert Chehosky, Brian Douglas, Annie Fruit, Rebecca Hopkins, Becca Kao, Sasha Khokha, Paul Lancour, John Lawrence, Marisa Lagos, Derek Larteau, Guy Marzorati, Victoria Mauleon, Katherine Monahan, Susan Page, Suzie Racho, Nicole Rodas, Katrina Schwartz, Zaldy Serrano, Renzo Santos, Katie Sprenger, and Molly Solomon. Some members of the KQED podcast team are represented by the Screen Actors Guild American Federation of Television and Radio Artists, San Francisco, Northern California Local. \u003c/p>\n\u003c/div>\u003c/p>",
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"slug": "dropbox-near-me-san-francisco-bay-area-find-my-polling-place-election-day-voter-guide-california-midterm-elections-2026-vote-for-governor",
"title": "Election 2026: Where Can I Drop Off My Midterm Ballot — or Vote Early?",
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"headTitle": "Election 2026: Where Can I Drop Off My Midterm Ballot — or Vote Early? | KQED",
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"content": "\n\u003cp>California voters: \u003ca href=\"https://www.kqed.org/voterguide\">the midterm elections are here\u003c/a>. And if you’re registered to vote, your ballot will be on its way in the next few days if it hasn’t already arrived — ahead of Election Day itself on Nov. 3.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>Wondering where to drop off your completed mail-in ballot in the Bay Area? Or where you can vote in person and find a polling place near you? What about if you prefer to vote on Election Day itself?\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>Keep reading for everything you need to know about submitting your vote in the California midterm elections. \u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Jump straight to:\u003c/strong>\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n\u003cli>\u003cstrong>\u003ca href=\"#ballot-drop-off\">How to find your closest voting location or ballot drop-off\u003c/a>\u003c/strong>\u003c/li>\n\n\n\n\u003cli>\u003cstrong>\u003ca href=\"#in-person\">How to find your polling place on Election Day\u003c/a>\u003c/strong>\u003c/li>\n\n\n\n\u003cli>\u003cstrong>\u003ca href=\"#county\">How to contact your county directly about voting\u003c/a>\u003c/strong>\u003c/li>\n\u003c/ul>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>If you’re concerned you might have made a mistake when filling out your ballot, you can \u003ca href=\"https://www.kqed.org/news/12103115/california-midterms-elections-2026-vote-for-governor-ballot-signature-how-to-correct-mistake\">read our guide to addressing common errors on your ballot \u003c/a>(\u003cem>before\u003c/em> you mail it) — and find out how to get a fresh ballot or vote in person if you really messed up.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003ch2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Can I drop off my ballot in a drop box or at a voting location?\u003c/h2>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>Once you complete your mail-in ballot, you can drop it off at an official drop box instead of \u003ca href=\"https://www.kqed.org/news/12103028/should-you-use-usps-to-mail-your-midterm-ballot-heres-what-california-election-officials-say\">mailing it via a U.S. Postal Service collection box\u003c/a>. These secure drop boxes will \u003ca href=\"https://www.sos.ca.gov/elections/upcoming-elections/general-election-november-3-2026\">open by Oct.5.\u003c/a> Once you’ve placed your ballot into one of these drop boxes, it’ll then be taken straight to your county elections office.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>You can also hand-deliver your ballot to any open voting location. \u003ca href=\"https://www.sos.ca.gov/elections/upcoming-elections/general-election-november-3-2026\">The first vote centers open \u003c/a>Oct. 24 in certain counties, with more early voting locations opening Oct. 31.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cfigure class=\"wp-block-image size-full\">\u003cimg loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"1999\" height=\"1333\" src=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/10/014_Oakland_ItzelDiazandFamily_09092021_qed-06c984cf.jpg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-12103658\" srcset=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/10/014_Oakland_ItzelDiazandFamily_09092021_qed-06c984cf.jpg 1999w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/10/014_Oakland_ItzelDiazandFamily_09092021_qed-06c984cf-160x107.jpg 160w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/10/014_Oakland_ItzelDiazandFamily_09092021_qed-06c984cf-1536x1024.jpg 1536w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 1999px) 100vw, 1999px\" />\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">Itzel Diaz drops off her ballot for California’s gubernatorial recall election at a ballot dropbox in Fruitvale on Sept. 9, 2021. (Beth LaBerge/KQED)\u003c/figcaption>\u003c/figure>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>Submitting your ballot by hand this way is the \u003ca href=\"https://www.kqed.org/news/12103028/should-you-use-usps-to-mail-your-midterm-ballot-heres-what-california-election-officials-say\">top recommendation\u003c/a> of Kim Alexander, president and founder of the non-partisan California Voter Foundation. If you live in \u003ca href=\"https://calvoter.org/content/sign-scan-and-go\">one of the California counties\u003c/a> which has adopted the “Sign & Go” system — which in the Bay Area are Alameda, Contra Costa, Marin and Napa — you can complete your ballot at at home, and then bring it to a participating vote center and sign the voter roster under penalty of perjury (just as you would for in-person voting) to submit it in person. \u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>And if you live in a county which has adopted “Sign, Scan & Go”, like San Mateo, you can do all of the above and then scan your ballot yourself to have your vote recorded immediately at the voting site. \u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>You can also, of course, fill your ballot out in-person \u003cem>at \u003c/em>a voting location, and submit it directly there and then. \u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>A few reasons the effort to hand-deliver your completed ballot instead of mailing it might be worth it:\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n\u003cli>\u003cstrong>Peace of mind:\u003c/strong> There’s a satisfaction that comes with knowing your ballot should now travel straight to your county elections office rather than going through USPS collection and sorting for delivery\u003c/li>\n\n\n\n\u003cli>\u003cstrong>Timing:\u003c/strong> If it’s Election Day itself, using a drop box or a voting location to drop off your ballot is the best way to be sure it’ll reach your county elections office in time to be counted\u003c/li>\n\n\n\n\u003cli>\u003cstrong>Assistance:\u003c/strong> If you drop off your ballot at a voting location during operating hours and you have a few lingering questions about your ballot or the process, chances are good that you’ll find someone there to help answer them.\u003c/li>\n\u003c/ul>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>Regardless of how you deliver it, you can \u003ca href=\"https://california.ballottrax.net/voter/\">sign up to track your ballot’s progress with the “Where’s My Ballot?” online tool\u003c/a> and be reassured it’s on its way to being counted.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003ch2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Can’t I just mail my ballot through the Postal Service?\u003c/h2>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>Yes, you can mail your completed ballot via the U.S. Postal Service at any regular collection box — but it’s best to do this early. \u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>The envelope is postage paid, so it doesn’t require a stamp, and it’ll be counted as long as it’s\u003ca href=\"https://www.sos.ca.gov/elections\"> postmarked by Election Day and arrives at your county registrar’s office by Nov. 3\u003c/a>.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>Be aware that when it comes to using USPS, in the last two statewide elections, Secretary of State Shirley Weber and Attorney General Rob Bonta urged any voters planning to mail in their ballots \u003ca href=\"https://oag.ca.gov/news/press-releases/attorney-general-bonta-and-secretary-state-weber-sacramento-vote-early-june\">at \u003cem>least \u003c/em>a week before Election Day\u003c/a> — to account for \u003ca href=\"https://www.kqed.org/news/12103028/should-you-use-usps-to-mail-your-midterm-ballot-heres-what-california-election-officials-say\">changes in the way USPS is collected\u003c/a> and postmarked in many areas. \u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\u003cp>If it’s Election Day itself, for peace of mind that your ballot will reach your county elections office in time to be counted, you should drop off your ballot in an official drop box or voting location instead of using USPS (see above).\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>If you can’t do that, Weber’s office is recommending you \u003ca href=\"https://www.sos.ca.gov/elections/voter-registration/vote-mail\">“get a hand-stamped postmark\u003c/a> from a postal employee inside a United States Post Office” rather than simply dropping it in a USPS collection box on Election Day. \u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>And if you really have to use a collection box, be \u003cem>very\u003c/em> sure you don’t miss the last collection time for that specific mailbox (which at many locations is 5 p.m. or earlier). You also shouldn’t drop off your ballot on Election Day at a post office that’s already closed — since doing either of these things will mean your ballot will not be postmarked on Election Day and it won’t be counted when it reaches your county’s election office.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>\u003ca href=\"https://www.kqed.org/news/12103028/should-you-use-usps-to-mail-your-midterm-ballot-heres-what-california-election-officials-say\">Read more about what California election officials say about using USPS this election season.\u003c/a>\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003ch2 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"in-person\">Where can I vote in person on Election Day?\u003c/h2>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>On Election Day, in-person voting is still available at every county registrar’s office (also known as your county’s elections office) in the Bay Area. If you’re a San Francisco voter, this location will be City Hall. \u003ca href=\"https://www.sos.ca.gov/elections/voting-resources/county-elections-offices\">Find your county registrar’s office and opening hours.\u003c/a>\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>Check your mail-in ballot to see where you can vote and whether you’ve been assigned a specific polling place.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cfigure class=\"wp-block-image size-full\">\u003cimg loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"2000\" height=\"1333\" src=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/10/004_Oakland_ItzelDiazandFamily_09092021_qed-1-b4fd4fcf.jpg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-12103661\" srcset=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/10/004_Oakland_ItzelDiazandFamily_09092021_qed-1-b4fd4fcf.jpg 2000w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/10/004_Oakland_ItzelDiazandFamily_09092021_qed-1-b4fd4fcf-160x107.jpg 160w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/10/004_Oakland_ItzelDiazandFamily_09092021_qed-1-b4fd4fcf-1536x1024.jpg 1536w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 2000px) 100vw, 2000px\" />\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">Porfirio Diaz fills out his mail-in ballot for California’s gubernatorial recall election at his home in Oakland on Sept. 9, 2021. (Beth LaBerge/KQED)\u003c/figcaption>\u003c/figure>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>If you live in San Francisco, Contra Costa or Solano counties:\u003c/strong>\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>You are assigned a specific polling place, though Contra Costa County election officials say they can process your ballot no matter where you show up to vote.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>But even if you live in a county that assigns you a particular polling place, you can still vote at \u003ca href=\"https://www.sos.ca.gov/elections/voting-resources/county-elections-offices\">your county registrar’s office\u003c/a>.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>If you live in Alameda, Marin, Napa, San Mateo, Santa Clara or Sonoma counties:\u003c/strong>\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>You can vote at any voting location — known as Vote Centers — including your county registrar’s office.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>You can \u003ca href=\"https://caearlyvoting.sos.ca.gov/\">find your voting location through the state’s lookup tool\u003c/a>.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Do I need to bring my ballot with me?\u003c/strong>\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>If you’d like to cast a ballot in person, it’s a good idea to bring the blank ballot you were mailed, as some counties may require you to vote provisionally if you don’t bring it. If you’re issued a new ballot when you vote in person, any ballot you left at home will be canceled.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>Provisional votes are subject to extra checks — confirming that you’re actually registered to vote in California, or that you didn’t already complete and mail your ballot — and this extra layer of confirmation takes time. That means that although your vote will eventually be counted, it might not be tallied on Election Day itself.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003ch2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">I still need to register to vote. What should I do? Can I do this on Election Day?\u003c/h2>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>The official deadline to \u003ca href=\"https://www.sos.ca.gov/elections/voter-registration/\">register online to vote \u003c/a>is Monday, Oct. 19.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>Remember, if you’ve changed your name or want to change the political party choice you previously registered to vote with or you moved address, you’ll need to \u003ca href=\"https://www.sos.ca.gov/elections/voter-registration/\">re-register\u003c/a>.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cfigure class=\"wp-block-image size-full\">\u003cimg loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"2121\" height=\"1414\" src=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2024/10/GettyImages-2042927844.jpg\" alt=\"Two Black women standing and looking at a clipboard over a table and signs that say "Vote" with other people waiting in line behind the woman with the red shirt.\" class=\"wp-image-12010427\" srcset=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2024/10/GettyImages-2042927844.jpg 2121w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2024/10/GettyImages-2042927844-800x533.jpg 800w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2024/10/GettyImages-2042927844-1020x680.jpg 1020w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2024/10/GettyImages-2042927844-160x107.jpg 160w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2024/10/GettyImages-2042927844-1536x1024.jpg 1536w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2024/10/GettyImages-2042927844-2048x1365.jpg 2048w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2024/10/GettyImages-2042927844-1920x1280.jpg 1920w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 2121px) 100vw, 2121px\" />\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">The official deadline to \u003ca href=\"https://www.sos.ca.gov/elections/voter-registration/\">register online to vote \u003c/a>is Monday, Oct. 19. (Drazen Zigic via iStock/Getty Images Plus)\u003c/figcaption>\u003c/figure>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>But if you miss the deadline to register, don’t panic: After Oct. 19, you can still complete the \u003ca href=\"https://www.sos.ca.gov/elections/voter-registration/same-day-reg/\">same-day voter registration\u003c/a> process (also known as “conditional voting”) and request your ballot in person at your county elections office or polling location. This system enables you to fill out and submit your ballot then and there, up until when polls close at 8 p.m. on Election Day.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>In addition to voter registration, many voting locations also offer replacement ballots, accessible voting machines and language assistance.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003ch2 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"ballot-drop-off\">How can I find my voting location or ballot drop-off?\u003c/h2>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>Secure drop boxes \u003ca href=\"https://www.sos.ca.gov/elections/upcoming-elections/general-election-november-3-2026\">open by Oct. 5, and the first vote centers open \u003c/a>Oct. 24 in certain counties, with more early voting locations opening Oct. 31.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>Visit the \u003ca href=\"https://caearlyvoting.sos.ca.gov/\">state of California lookup tool\u003c/a>, where you can:\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n\u003cli>Enter your county (adding your city or ZIP code will give more localized results, but it’s optional)\u003c/li>\n\n\n\n\u003cli>Check the “Early Voting” and/or “Drop Off Location” boxes\u003c/li>\n\n\n\n\u003cli>Hit “Search” to see all the early voting and drop-off locations in that area.\u003c/li>\n\u003c/ul>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>Remember that in-person voting hours may differ by location, and some locations may not be open every day.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003ch2 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"county\">How can I contact my county directly about voting?\u003c/h2>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>Across the Bay Area, elections officials are encouraging voters to reach out — early — with any questions or concerns. Here’s the contact information for your county:\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n\u003cli>\u003ca href=\"https://acvote.alamedacountyca.gov/index\">\u003cstrong>Alameda\u003c/strong>\u003c/a>: For information about voting by mail, registration and polling place lookup, call 510-267-8683\u003c/li>\n\n\n\n\u003cli>\u003ca href=\"https://www.contracostavote.gov/elections/\">\u003cstrong>Contra Costa\u003c/strong>\u003c/a>: Call 925-335-7800 or email voter.services@vote.cccounty.us\u003c/li>\n\n\n\n\u003cli>\u003ca href=\"https://www.marincounty.org/depts/rv\">\u003cstrong>Marin\u003c/strong>\u003c/a>: Call 415-473-6456 or go to the Marin County elections webpage to \u003ca href=\"https://www.marincounty.org/depts/rv/contact-us\">send a form email\u003c/a>\u003c/li>\n\n\n\n\u003cli>\u003ca href=\"https://www.countyofnapa.org/396/Elections\">\u003cstrong>Napa\u003c/strong>\u003c/a>: Call 707-253-4321 or email the elections office at elections@countyofnapa.org\u003c/li>\n\n\n\n\u003cli>\u003ca href=\"https://sfelections.sfgov.org\">\u003cstrong>San Francisco\u003c/strong>\u003c/a>: Call 415-554-4375 or email sfvote@sfgov.org\u003c/li>\n\n\n\n\u003cli>\u003ca href=\"https://www.smcacre.org/elections\">\u003cstrong>San Mateo\u003c/strong>\u003c/a>: Call 888-762-8683 or email registrar@smcacre.org\u003c/li>\n\n\n\n\u003cli>\u003ca href=\"https://www.sccgov.org/sites/rov/Pages/Registrar-of-Voters.aspx\">\u003cstrong>Santa Clara\u003c/strong>\u003c/a>: Call toll-free at 866-430-VOTE (8683) or email registrar@rov.sccgov.org\u003c/li>\n\n\n\n\u003cli>\u003ca href=\"https://www.solanocounty.com/depts/rov/default.asp\">\u003cstrong>Solano\u003c/strong>\u003c/a>\u003cstrong>: \u003c/strong>Call 707-784-6675 or 888-933-VOTE (8683). You can also email elections@solanocounty.com\u003c/li>\n\n\n\n\u003cli>\u003ca href=\"https://sonomacounty.ca.gov/CRA/Registrar-of-Voters/\">\u003cstrong>Sonoma\u003c/strong>\u003c/a>: Call 707-565-6800 or toll-free at 800-750-8683\u003c/li>\n\u003c/ul>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>The state also has a full list of \u003ca href=\"https://www.sos.ca.gov/elections/voting-resources/county-elections-offices/\">every county elections office in California\u003c/a>.\u003c/p>\n",
"blocks": [
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>California voters: \u003ca href=\"https://www.kqed.org/voterguide\">the midterm elections are here\u003c/a>. And if you’re registered to vote, your ballot will be on its way in the next few days if it hasn’t already arrived — ahead of Election Day itself on Nov. 3.\u003c/p>\n",
"innerContent": [
"\n\u003cp>California voters: \u003ca href=\"https://www.kqed.org/voterguide\">the midterm elections are here\u003c/a>. And if you’re registered to vote, your ballot will be on its way in the next few days if it hasn’t already arrived — ahead of Election Day itself on Nov. 3.\u003c/p>\n"
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>Wondering where to drop off your completed mail-in ballot in the Bay Area? Or where you can vote in person and find a polling place near you? What about if you prefer to vote on Election Day itself?\u003c/p>\n",
"innerContent": [
"\n\u003cp>Wondering where to drop off your completed mail-in ballot in the Bay Area? Or where you can vote in person and find a polling place near you? What about if you prefer to vote on Election Day itself?\u003c/p>\n"
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>Keep reading for everything you need to know about submitting your vote in the California midterm elections. \u003c/p>\n",
"innerContent": [
"\n\u003cp>Keep reading for everything you need to know about submitting your vote in the California midterm elections. \u003c/p>\n"
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Jump straight to:\u003c/strong>\u003c/p>\n",
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"\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Jump straight to:\u003c/strong>\u003c/p>\n"
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cli>\u003cstrong>\u003ca href=\"#ballot-drop-off\">How to find your closest voting location or ballot drop-off\u003c/a>\u003c/strong>\u003c/li>\n",
"innerContent": [
"\n\u003cli>\u003cstrong>\u003ca href=\"#ballot-drop-off\">How to find your closest voting location or ballot drop-off\u003c/a>\u003c/strong>\u003c/li>\n"
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cli>\u003cstrong>\u003ca href=\"#in-person\">How to find your polling place on Election Day\u003c/a>\u003c/strong>\u003c/li>\n",
"innerContent": [
"\n\u003cli>\u003cstrong>\u003ca href=\"#in-person\">How to find your polling place on Election Day\u003c/a>\u003c/strong>\u003c/li>\n"
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cli>\u003cstrong>\u003ca href=\"#county\">How to contact your county directly about voting\u003c/a>\u003c/strong>\u003c/li>\n",
"innerContent": [
"\n\u003cli>\u003cstrong>\u003ca href=\"#county\">How to contact your county directly about voting\u003c/a>\u003c/strong>\u003c/li>\n"
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>If you’re concerned you might have made a mistake when filling out your ballot, you can \u003ca href=\"https://www.kqed.org/news/12103115/california-midterms-elections-2026-vote-for-governor-ballot-signature-how-to-correct-mistake\">read our guide to addressing common errors on your ballot \u003c/a>(\u003cem>before\u003c/em> you mail it) — and find out how to get a fresh ballot or vote in person if you really messed up.\u003c/p>\n",
"innerContent": [
"\n\u003cp>If you’re concerned you might have made a mistake when filling out your ballot, you can \u003ca href=\"https://www.kqed.org/news/12103115/california-midterms-elections-2026-vote-for-governor-ballot-signature-how-to-correct-mistake\">read our guide to addressing common errors on your ballot \u003c/a>(\u003cem>before\u003c/em> you mail it) — and find out how to get a fresh ballot or vote in person if you really messed up.\u003c/p>\n"
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{
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"attrs": {
"text": "Can I drop off my ballot in a drop box or at a voting location?",
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003ch2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Can I drop off my ballot in a drop box or at a voting location?\u003c/h2>\n",
"innerContent": [
"\n\u003ch2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Can I drop off my ballot in a drop box or at a voting location?\u003c/h2>\n"
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>Once you complete your mail-in ballot, you can drop it off at an official drop box instead of \u003ca href=\"https://www.kqed.org/news/12103028/should-you-use-usps-to-mail-your-midterm-ballot-heres-what-california-election-officials-say\">mailing it via a U.S. Postal Service collection box\u003c/a>. These secure drop boxes will \u003ca href=\"https://www.sos.ca.gov/elections/upcoming-elections/general-election-november-3-2026\">open by Oct.5.\u003c/a> Once you’ve placed your ballot into one of these drop boxes, it’ll then be taken straight to your county elections office.\u003c/p>\n",
"innerContent": [
"\n\u003cp>Once you complete your mail-in ballot, you can drop it off at an official drop box instead of \u003ca href=\"https://www.kqed.org/news/12103028/should-you-use-usps-to-mail-your-midterm-ballot-heres-what-california-election-officials-say\">mailing it via a U.S. Postal Service collection box\u003c/a>. These secure drop boxes will \u003ca href=\"https://www.sos.ca.gov/elections/upcoming-elections/general-election-november-3-2026\">open by Oct.5.\u003c/a> Once you’ve placed your ballot into one of these drop boxes, it’ll then be taken straight to your county elections office.\u003c/p>\n"
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>You can also hand-deliver your ballot to any open voting location. \u003ca href=\"https://www.sos.ca.gov/elections/upcoming-elections/general-election-november-3-2026\">The first vote centers open \u003c/a>Oct. 24 in certain counties, with more early voting locations opening Oct. 31.\u003c/p>\n",
"innerContent": [
"\n\u003cp>You can also hand-deliver your ballot to any open voting location. \u003ca href=\"https://www.sos.ca.gov/elections/upcoming-elections/general-election-november-3-2026\">The first vote centers open \u003c/a>Oct. 24 in certain counties, with more early voting locations opening Oct. 31.\u003c/p>\n"
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cfigure class=\"wp-block-image size-full\">\u003cimg src=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/10/014_Oakland_ItzelDiazandFamily_09092021_qed-06c984cf.jpg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-12103658\" srcset=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/10/014_Oakland_ItzelDiazandFamily_09092021_qed-06c984cf.jpg 1999w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/10/014_Oakland_ItzelDiazandFamily_09092021_qed-06c984cf-160x107.jpg 160w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/10/014_Oakland_ItzelDiazandFamily_09092021_qed-06c984cf-1536x1024.jpg 1536w\" sizes=\"(min-width: 992px) min(100vw, 1536px), (min-width: 768px) min(100vw, 1280px), min(100vw, 1020px)\"/>\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">Itzel Diaz drops off her ballot for California’s gubernatorial recall election at a ballot dropbox in Fruitvale on Sept. 9, 2021.\u003ccite class=\"wp-inline-image-credit\"> (Beth LaBerge/KQED)\u003c/cite>\u003c/figcaption>\u003c/figure>\n",
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"\n\u003cfigure class=\"wp-block-image size-full\">\u003cimg src=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/10/014_Oakland_ItzelDiazandFamily_09092021_qed-06c984cf.jpg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-12103658\"/>\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">Itzel Diaz drops off her ballot for California’s gubernatorial recall election at a ballot dropbox in Fruitvale on Sept. 9, 2021.\u003ccite class=\"wp-inline-image-credit\"> (Beth LaBerge/KQED)\u003c/cite>\u003c/figcaption>\u003c/figure>\n"
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>Submitting your ballot by hand this way is the \u003ca href=\"https://www.kqed.org/news/12103028/should-you-use-usps-to-mail-your-midterm-ballot-heres-what-california-election-officials-say\">top recommendation\u003c/a> of Kim Alexander, president and founder of the non-partisan California Voter Foundation. If you live in \u003ca href=\"https://calvoter.org/content/sign-scan-and-go\">one of the California counties\u003c/a> which has adopted the “Sign & Go” system — which in the Bay Area are Alameda, Contra Costa, Marin and Napa — you can complete your ballot at at home, and then bring it to a participating vote center and sign the voter roster under penalty of perjury (just as you would for in-person voting) to submit it in person. \u003c/p>\n",
"innerContent": [
"\n\u003cp>Submitting your ballot by hand this way is the \u003ca href=\"https://www.kqed.org/news/12103028/should-you-use-usps-to-mail-your-midterm-ballot-heres-what-california-election-officials-say\">top recommendation\u003c/a> of Kim Alexander, president and founder of the non-partisan California Voter Foundation. If you live in \u003ca href=\"https://calvoter.org/content/sign-scan-and-go\">one of the California counties\u003c/a> which has adopted the “Sign & Go” system — which in the Bay Area are Alameda, Contra Costa, Marin and Napa — you can complete your ballot at at home, and then bring it to a participating vote center and sign the voter roster under penalty of perjury (just as you would for in-person voting) to submit it in person. \u003c/p>\n"
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>And if you live in a county which has adopted “Sign, Scan & Go”, like San Mateo, you can do all of the above and then scan your ballot yourself to have your vote recorded immediately at the voting site. \u003c/p>\n",
"innerContent": [
"\n\u003cp>And if you live in a county which has adopted “Sign, Scan & Go”, like San Mateo, you can do all of the above and then scan your ballot yourself to have your vote recorded immediately at the voting site. \u003c/p>\n"
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>You can also, of course, fill your ballot out in-person \u003cem>at \u003c/em>a voting location, and submit it directly there and then. \u003c/p>\n",
"innerContent": [
"\n\u003cp>You can also, of course, fill your ballot out in-person \u003cem>at \u003c/em>a voting location, and submit it directly there and then. \u003c/p>\n"
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>A few reasons the effort to hand-deliver your completed ballot instead of mailing it might be worth it:\u003c/p>\n",
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"\n\u003cp>A few reasons the effort to hand-deliver your completed ballot instead of mailing it might be worth it:\u003c/p>\n"
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"Peace of mind: There’s a satisfaction that comes with knowing your ballot should now travel straight to your county elections office rather than going through USPS collection and sorting for delivery",
"Timing: If it’s Election Day itself, using a drop box or a voting location to drop off your ballot is the best way to be sure it’ll reach your county elections office in time to be counted",
"Assistance: If you drop off your ballot at a voting location during operating hours and you have a few lingering questions about your ballot or the process, chances are good that you’ll find someone there to help answer them."
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cli>\u003cstrong>Peace of mind:\u003c/strong> There’s a satisfaction that comes with knowing your ballot should now travel straight to your county elections office rather than going through USPS collection and sorting for delivery\u003c/li>\n",
"innerContent": [
"\n\u003cli>\u003cstrong>Peace of mind:\u003c/strong> There’s a satisfaction that comes with knowing your ballot should now travel straight to your county elections office rather than going through USPS collection and sorting for delivery\u003c/li>\n"
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cli>\u003cstrong>Timing:\u003c/strong> If it’s Election Day itself, using a drop box or a voting location to drop off your ballot is the best way to be sure it’ll reach your county elections office in time to be counted\u003c/li>\n",
"innerContent": [
"\n\u003cli>\u003cstrong>Timing:\u003c/strong> If it’s Election Day itself, using a drop box or a voting location to drop off your ballot is the best way to be sure it’ll reach your county elections office in time to be counted\u003c/li>\n"
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cli>\u003cstrong>Assistance:\u003c/strong> If you drop off your ballot at a voting location during operating hours and you have a few lingering questions about your ballot or the process, chances are good that you’ll find someone there to help answer them.\u003c/li>\n",
"innerContent": [
"\n\u003cli>\u003cstrong>Assistance:\u003c/strong> If you drop off your ballot at a voting location during operating hours and you have a few lingering questions about your ballot or the process, chances are good that you’ll find someone there to help answer them.\u003c/li>\n"
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>Regardless of how you deliver it, you can \u003ca href=\"https://california.ballottrax.net/voter/\">sign up to track your ballot’s progress with the “Where’s My Ballot?” online tool\u003c/a> and be reassured it’s on its way to being counted.\u003c/p>\n",
"innerContent": [
"\n\u003cp>Regardless of how you deliver it, you can \u003ca href=\"https://california.ballottrax.net/voter/\">sign up to track your ballot’s progress with the “Where’s My Ballot?” online tool\u003c/a> and be reassured it’s on its way to being counted.\u003c/p>\n"
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"blockName": "core/heading",
"attrs": {
"text": "Can’t I just mail my ballot through the Postal Service?",
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003ch2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Can’t I just mail my ballot through the Postal Service?\u003c/h2>\n",
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>Yes, you can mail your completed ballot via the U.S. Postal Service at any regular collection box — but it’s best to do this early. \u003c/p>\n",
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"\n\u003cp>Yes, you can mail your completed ballot via the U.S. Postal Service at any regular collection box — but it’s best to do this early. \u003c/p>\n"
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>The envelope is postage paid, so it doesn’t require a stamp, and it’ll be counted as long as it’s\u003ca href=\"https://www.sos.ca.gov/elections\"> postmarked by Election Day and arrives at your county registrar’s office by Nov. 3\u003c/a>.\u003c/p>\n",
"innerContent": [
"\n\u003cp>The envelope is postage paid, so it doesn’t require a stamp, and it’ll be counted as long as it’s\u003ca href=\"https://www.sos.ca.gov/elections\"> postmarked by Election Day and arrives at your county registrar’s office by Nov. 3\u003c/a>.\u003c/p>\n"
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>Be aware that when it comes to using USPS, in the last two statewide elections, Secretary of State Shirley Weber and Attorney General Rob Bonta urged any voters planning to mail in their ballots \u003ca href=\"https://oag.ca.gov/news/press-releases/attorney-general-bonta-and-secretary-state-weber-sacramento-vote-early-june\">at \u003cem>least \u003c/em>a week before Election Day\u003c/a> — to account for \u003ca href=\"https://www.kqed.org/news/12103028/should-you-use-usps-to-mail-your-midterm-ballot-heres-what-california-election-officials-say\">changes in the way USPS is collected\u003c/a> and postmarked in many areas. \u003c/p>\n",
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"\n\u003cp>Be aware that when it comes to using USPS, in the last two statewide elections, Secretary of State Shirley Weber and Attorney General Rob Bonta urged any voters planning to mail in their ballots \u003ca href=\"https://oag.ca.gov/news/press-releases/attorney-general-bonta-and-secretary-state-weber-sacramento-vote-early-june\">at \u003cem>least \u003c/em>a week before Election Day\u003c/a> — to account for \u003ca href=\"https://www.kqed.org/news/12103028/should-you-use-usps-to-mail-your-midterm-ballot-heres-what-california-election-officials-say\">changes in the way USPS is collected\u003c/a> and postmarked in many areas. \u003c/p>\n"
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>If it’s Election Day itself, for peace of mind that your ballot will reach your county elections office in time to be counted, you should drop off your ballot in an official drop box or voting location instead of using USPS (see above).\u003c/p>\n",
"innerContent": [
"\n\u003cp>If it’s Election Day itself, for peace of mind that your ballot will reach your county elections office in time to be counted, you should drop off your ballot in an official drop box or voting location instead of using USPS (see above).\u003c/p>\n"
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>If you can’t do that, Weber’s office is recommending you \u003ca href=\"https://www.sos.ca.gov/elections/voter-registration/vote-mail\">“get a hand-stamped postmark\u003c/a> from a postal employee inside a United States Post Office” rather than simply dropping it in a USPS collection box on Election Day. \u003c/p>\n",
"innerContent": [
"\n\u003cp>If you can’t do that, Weber’s office is recommending you \u003ca href=\"https://www.sos.ca.gov/elections/voter-registration/vote-mail\">“get a hand-stamped postmark\u003c/a> from a postal employee inside a United States Post Office” rather than simply dropping it in a USPS collection box on Election Day. \u003c/p>\n"
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>And if you really have to use a collection box, be \u003cem>very\u003c/em> sure you don’t miss the last collection time for that specific mailbox (which at many locations is 5 p.m. or earlier). You also shouldn’t drop off your ballot on Election Day at a post office that’s already closed — since doing either of these things will mean your ballot will not be postmarked on Election Day and it won’t be counted when it reaches your county’s election office.\u003c/p>\n",
"innerContent": [
"\n\u003cp>And if you really have to use a collection box, be \u003cem>very\u003c/em> sure you don’t miss the last collection time for that specific mailbox (which at many locations is 5 p.m. or earlier). You also shouldn’t drop off your ballot on Election Day at a post office that’s already closed — since doing either of these things will mean your ballot will not be postmarked on Election Day and it won’t be counted when it reaches your county’s election office.\u003c/p>\n"
],
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"blockName": "core/paragraph",
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>\u003ca href=\"https://www.kqed.org/news/12103028/should-you-use-usps-to-mail-your-midterm-ballot-heres-what-california-election-officials-say\">Read more about what California election officials say about using USPS this election season.\u003c/a>\u003c/p>\n",
"innerContent": [
"\n\u003cp>\u003ca href=\"https://www.kqed.org/news/12103028/should-you-use-usps-to-mail-your-midterm-ballot-heres-what-california-election-officials-say\">Read more about what California election officials say about using USPS this election season.\u003c/a>\u003c/p>\n"
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{
"blockName": "core/heading",
"attrs": {
"text": "Where can I vote in person on Election Day?",
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003ch2 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"in-person\">Where can I vote in person on Election Day?\u003c/h2>\n",
"innerContent": [
"\n\u003ch2 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"in-person\">Where can I vote in person on Election Day?\u003c/h2>\n"
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>On Election Day, in-person voting is still available at every county registrar’s office (also known as your county’s elections office) in the Bay Area. If you’re a San Francisco voter, this location will be City Hall. \u003ca href=\"https://www.sos.ca.gov/elections/voting-resources/county-elections-offices\">Find your county registrar’s office and opening hours.\u003c/a>\u003c/p>\n",
"innerContent": [
"\n\u003cp>On Election Day, in-person voting is still available at every county registrar’s office (also known as your county’s elections office) in the Bay Area. If you’re a San Francisco voter, this location will be City Hall. \u003ca href=\"https://www.sos.ca.gov/elections/voting-resources/county-elections-offices\">Find your county registrar’s office and opening hours.\u003c/a>\u003c/p>\n"
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>Check your mail-in ballot to see where you can vote and whether you’ve been assigned a specific polling place.\u003c/p>\n",
"innerContent": [
"\n\u003cp>Check your mail-in ballot to see where you can vote and whether you’ve been assigned a specific polling place.\u003c/p>\n"
],
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"srcset": "https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/10/004_Oakland_ItzelDiazandFamily_09092021_qed-1-b4fd4fcf.jpg 2000w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/10/004_Oakland_ItzelDiazandFamily_09092021_qed-1-b4fd4fcf-160x107.jpg 160w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/10/004_Oakland_ItzelDiazandFamily_09092021_qed-1-b4fd4fcf-1536x1024.jpg 1536w",
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cfigure class=\"wp-block-image size-full\">\u003cimg src=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/10/004_Oakland_ItzelDiazandFamily_09092021_qed-1-b4fd4fcf.jpg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-12103661\" srcset=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/10/004_Oakland_ItzelDiazandFamily_09092021_qed-1-b4fd4fcf.jpg 2000w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/10/004_Oakland_ItzelDiazandFamily_09092021_qed-1-b4fd4fcf-160x107.jpg 160w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/10/004_Oakland_ItzelDiazandFamily_09092021_qed-1-b4fd4fcf-1536x1024.jpg 1536w\" sizes=\"(min-width: 992px) min(100vw, 1536px), (min-width: 768px) min(100vw, 1280px), min(100vw, 1020px)\"/>\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">Porfirio Diaz fills out his mail-in ballot for California’s gubernatorial recall election at his home in Oakland on Sept. 9, 2021.\u003ccite class=\"wp-inline-image-credit\"> (Beth LaBerge/KQED)\u003c/cite>\u003c/figcaption>\u003c/figure>\n",
"innerContent": [
"\n\u003cfigure class=\"wp-block-image size-full\">\u003cimg src=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/10/004_Oakland_ItzelDiazandFamily_09092021_qed-1-b4fd4fcf.jpg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-12103661\"/>\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">Porfirio Diaz fills out his mail-in ballot for California’s gubernatorial recall election at his home in Oakland on Sept. 9, 2021.\u003ccite class=\"wp-inline-image-credit\"> (Beth LaBerge/KQED)\u003c/cite>\u003c/figcaption>\u003c/figure>\n"
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>If you live in San Francisco, Contra Costa or Solano counties:\u003c/strong>\u003c/p>\n",
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"\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>If you live in San Francisco, Contra Costa or Solano counties:\u003c/strong>\u003c/p>\n"
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>You are assigned a specific polling place, though Contra Costa County election officials say they can process your ballot no matter where you show up to vote.\u003c/p>\n",
"innerContent": [
"\n\u003cp>You are assigned a specific polling place, though Contra Costa County election officials say they can process your ballot no matter where you show up to vote.\u003c/p>\n"
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>But even if you live in a county that assigns you a particular polling place, you can still vote at \u003ca href=\"https://www.sos.ca.gov/elections/voting-resources/county-elections-offices\">your county registrar’s office\u003c/a>.\u003c/p>\n",
"innerContent": [
"\n\u003cp>But even if you live in a county that assigns you a particular polling place, you can still vote at \u003ca href=\"https://www.sos.ca.gov/elections/voting-resources/county-elections-offices\">your county registrar’s office\u003c/a>.\u003c/p>\n"
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>If you live in Alameda, Marin, Napa, San Mateo, Santa Clara or Sonoma counties:\u003c/strong>\u003c/p>\n",
"innerContent": [
"\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>If you live in Alameda, Marin, Napa, San Mateo, Santa Clara or Sonoma counties:\u003c/strong>\u003c/p>\n"
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>You can vote at any voting location — known as Vote Centers — including your county registrar’s office.\u003c/p>\n",
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"\n\u003cp>You can vote at any voting location — known as Vote Centers — including your county registrar’s office.\u003c/p>\n"
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>You can \u003ca href=\"https://caearlyvoting.sos.ca.gov/\">find your voting location through the state’s lookup tool\u003c/a>.\u003c/p>\n",
"innerContent": [
"\n\u003cp>You can \u003ca href=\"https://caearlyvoting.sos.ca.gov/\">find your voting location through the state’s lookup tool\u003c/a>.\u003c/p>\n"
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Do I need to bring my ballot with me?\u003c/strong>\u003c/p>\n",
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"\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Do I need to bring my ballot with me?\u003c/strong>\u003c/p>\n"
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>If you’d like to cast a ballot in person, it’s a good idea to bring the blank ballot you were mailed, as some counties may require you to vote provisionally if you don’t bring it. If you’re issued a new ballot when you vote in person, any ballot you left at home will be canceled.\u003c/p>\n",
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"\n\u003cp>If you’d like to cast a ballot in person, it’s a good idea to bring the blank ballot you were mailed, as some counties may require you to vote provisionally if you don’t bring it. If you’re issued a new ballot when you vote in person, any ballot you left at home will be canceled.\u003c/p>\n"
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>Provisional votes are subject to extra checks — confirming that you’re actually registered to vote in California, or that you didn’t already complete and mail your ballot — and this extra layer of confirmation takes time. That means that although your vote will eventually be counted, it might not be tallied on Election Day itself.\u003c/p>\n",
"innerContent": [
"\n\u003cp>Provisional votes are subject to extra checks — confirming that you’re actually registered to vote in California, or that you didn’t already complete and mail your ballot — and this extra layer of confirmation takes time. That means that although your vote will eventually be counted, it might not be tallied on Election Day itself.\u003c/p>\n"
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"blockName": "core/heading",
"attrs": {
"text": "I still need to register to vote. What should I do? Can I do this on Election Day?",
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003ch2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">I still need to register to vote. What should I do? Can I do this on Election Day?\u003c/h2>\n",
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>The official deadline to \u003ca href=\"https://www.sos.ca.gov/elections/voter-registration/\">register online to vote \u003c/a>is Monday, Oct. 19.\u003c/p>\n",
"innerContent": [
"\n\u003cp>The official deadline to \u003ca href=\"https://www.sos.ca.gov/elections/voter-registration/\">register online to vote \u003c/a>is Monday, Oct. 19.\u003c/p>\n"
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>Remember, if you’ve changed your name or want to change the political party choice you previously registered to vote with or you moved address, you’ll need to \u003ca href=\"https://www.sos.ca.gov/elections/voter-registration/\">re-register\u003c/a>.\u003c/p>\n",
"innerContent": [
"\n\u003cp>Remember, if you’ve changed your name or want to change the political party choice you previously registered to vote with or you moved address, you’ll need to \u003ca href=\"https://www.sos.ca.gov/elections/voter-registration/\">re-register\u003c/a>.\u003c/p>\n"
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cfigure class=\"wp-block-image size-full\">\u003cimg src=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2024/10/GettyImages-2042927844.jpg\" alt=\"Two Black women standing and looking at a clipboard over a table and signs that say "Vote" with other people waiting in line behind the woman with the red shirt.\" class=\"wp-image-12010427\" srcset=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2024/10/GettyImages-2042927844.jpg 2121w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2024/10/GettyImages-2042927844-800x533.jpg 800w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2024/10/GettyImages-2042927844-1020x680.jpg 1020w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2024/10/GettyImages-2042927844-160x107.jpg 160w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2024/10/GettyImages-2042927844-1536x1024.jpg 1536w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2024/10/GettyImages-2042927844-2048x1365.jpg 2048w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2024/10/GettyImages-2042927844-1920x1280.jpg 1920w\" sizes=\"(min-width: 992px) min(100vw, 1536px), (min-width: 768px) min(100vw, 1280px), min(100vw, 1020px)\"/>\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">The official deadline to \u003ca href=\"https://www.sos.ca.gov/elections/voter-registration/\">register online to vote \u003c/a>is Monday, Oct. 19.\u003ccite class=\"wp-inline-image-credit\"> (Drazen Zigic via iStock/Getty Images Plus)\u003c/cite>\u003c/figcaption>\u003c/figure>\n",
"innerContent": [
"\n\u003cfigure class=\"wp-block-image size-full\">\u003cimg src=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2024/10/GettyImages-2042927844.jpg\" alt=\"Two Black women standing and looking at a clipboard over a table and signs that say "Vote" with other people waiting in line behind the woman with the red shirt.\" class=\"wp-image-12010427\"/>\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">The official deadline to \u003ca href=\"https://www.sos.ca.gov/elections/voter-registration/\">register online to vote \u003c/a>is Monday, Oct. 19.\u003ccite class=\"wp-inline-image-credit\"> (Drazen Zigic via iStock/Getty Images Plus)\u003c/cite>\u003c/figcaption>\u003c/figure>\n"
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>But if you miss the deadline to register, don’t panic: After Oct. 19, you can still complete the \u003ca href=\"https://www.sos.ca.gov/elections/voter-registration/same-day-reg/\">same-day voter registration\u003c/a> process (also known as “conditional voting”) and request your ballot in person at your county elections office or polling location. This system enables you to fill out and submit your ballot then and there, up until when polls close at 8 p.m. on Election Day.\u003c/p>\n",
"innerContent": [
"\n\u003cp>But if you miss the deadline to register, don’t panic: After Oct. 19, you can still complete the \u003ca href=\"https://www.sos.ca.gov/elections/voter-registration/same-day-reg/\">same-day voter registration\u003c/a> process (also known as “conditional voting”) and request your ballot in person at your county elections office or polling location. This system enables you to fill out and submit your ballot then and there, up until when polls close at 8 p.m. on Election Day.\u003c/p>\n"
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>In addition to voter registration, many voting locations also offer replacement ballots, accessible voting machines and language assistance.\u003c/p>\n",
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"\n\u003cp>In addition to voter registration, many voting locations also offer replacement ballots, accessible voting machines and language assistance.\u003c/p>\n"
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{
"blockName": "core/heading",
"attrs": {
"text": "How can I find my voting location or ballot drop-off?",
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003ch2 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"ballot-drop-off\">How can I find my voting location or ballot drop-off?\u003c/h2>\n",
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>Secure drop boxes \u003ca href=\"https://www.sos.ca.gov/elections/upcoming-elections/general-election-november-3-2026\">open by Oct. 5, and the first vote centers open \u003c/a>Oct. 24 in certain counties, with more early voting locations opening Oct. 31.\u003c/p>\n",
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"\n\u003cp>Secure drop boxes \u003ca href=\"https://www.sos.ca.gov/elections/upcoming-elections/general-election-november-3-2026\">open by Oct. 5, and the first vote centers open \u003c/a>Oct. 24 in certain counties, with more early voting locations opening Oct. 31.\u003c/p>\n"
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>Visit the \u003ca href=\"https://caearlyvoting.sos.ca.gov/\">state of California lookup tool\u003c/a>, where you can:\u003c/p>\n",
"innerContent": [
"\n\u003cp>Visit the \u003ca href=\"https://caearlyvoting.sos.ca.gov/\">state of California lookup tool\u003c/a>, where you can:\u003c/p>\n"
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"Enter your county (adding your city or ZIP code will give more localized results, but it’s optional)",
"Check the “Early Voting” and/or “Drop Off Location” boxes",
"Hit “Search” to see all the early voting and drop-off locations in that area."
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cli>Enter your county (adding your city or ZIP code will give more localized results, but it’s optional)\u003c/li>\n",
"innerContent": [
"\n\u003cli>Enter your county (adding your city or ZIP code will give more localized results, but it’s optional)\u003c/li>\n"
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cli>Check the “Early Voting” and/or “Drop Off Location” boxes\u003c/li>\n",
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"\n\u003cli>Check the “Early Voting” and/or “Drop Off Location” boxes\u003c/li>\n"
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cli>Hit “Search” to see all the early voting and drop-off locations in that area.\u003c/li>\n",
"innerContent": [
"\n\u003cli>Hit “Search” to see all the early voting and drop-off locations in that area.\u003c/li>\n"
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>Remember that in-person voting hours may differ by location, and some locations may not be open every day.\u003c/p>\n",
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"\n\u003cp>Remember that in-person voting hours may differ by location, and some locations may not be open every day.\u003c/p>\n"
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"blockName": "core/heading",
"attrs": {
"text": "How can I contact my county directly about voting?",
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003ch2 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"county\">How can I contact my county directly about voting?\u003c/h2>\n",
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>Across the Bay Area, elections officials are encouraging voters to reach out — early — with any questions or concerns. Here’s the contact information for your county:\u003c/p>\n",
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"Alameda: For information about voting by mail, registration and polling place lookup, call 510-267-8683",
"Contra Costa: Call 925-335-7800 or email voter.services@vote.cccounty.us",
"Marin: Call 415-473-6456 or go to the Marin County elections webpage to send a form email",
"Napa: Call 707-253-4321 or email the elections office at elections@countyofnapa.org",
"San Francisco: Call 415-554-4375 or email sfvote@sfgov.org",
"San Mateo: Call 888-762-8683 or email registrar@smcacre.org",
"Santa Clara: Call toll-free at 866-430-VOTE (8683) or email registrar@rov.sccgov.org",
"Solano: Call 707-784-6675 or 888-933-VOTE (8683). You can also email elections@solanocounty.com",
"Sonoma: Call 707-565-6800 or toll-free at 800-750-8683"
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cli>\u003ca href=\"https://acvote.alamedacountyca.gov/index\">\u003cstrong>Alameda\u003c/strong>\u003c/a>: For information about voting by mail, registration and polling place lookup, call 510-267-8683\u003c/li>\n",
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"\n\u003cli>\u003ca href=\"https://acvote.alamedacountyca.gov/index\">\u003cstrong>Alameda\u003c/strong>\u003c/a>: For information about voting by mail, registration and polling place lookup, call 510-267-8683\u003c/li>\n"
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cli>\u003ca href=\"https://www.contracostavote.gov/elections/\">\u003cstrong>Contra Costa\u003c/strong>\u003c/a>: Call 925-335-7800 or email voter.services@vote.cccounty.us\u003c/li>\n",
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"\n\u003cli>\u003ca href=\"https://www.contracostavote.gov/elections/\">\u003cstrong>Contra Costa\u003c/strong>\u003c/a>: Call 925-335-7800 or email voter.services@vote.cccounty.us\u003c/li>\n"
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cli>\u003ca href=\"https://www.marincounty.org/depts/rv\">\u003cstrong>Marin\u003c/strong>\u003c/a>: Call 415-473-6456 or go to the Marin County elections webpage to \u003ca href=\"https://www.marincounty.org/depts/rv/contact-us\">send a form email\u003c/a>\u003c/li>\n",
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"\n\u003cli>\u003ca href=\"https://www.marincounty.org/depts/rv\">\u003cstrong>Marin\u003c/strong>\u003c/a>: Call 415-473-6456 or go to the Marin County elections webpage to \u003ca href=\"https://www.marincounty.org/depts/rv/contact-us\">send a form email\u003c/a>\u003c/li>\n"
]
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cli>\u003ca href=\"https://www.countyofnapa.org/396/Elections\">\u003cstrong>Napa\u003c/strong>\u003c/a>: Call 707-253-4321 or email the elections office at elections@countyofnapa.org\u003c/li>\n",
"innerContent": [
"\n\u003cli>\u003ca href=\"https://www.countyofnapa.org/396/Elections\">\u003cstrong>Napa\u003c/strong>\u003c/a>: Call 707-253-4321 or email the elections office at elections@countyofnapa.org\u003c/li>\n"
]
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cli>\u003ca href=\"https://sfelections.sfgov.org\">\u003cstrong>San Francisco\u003c/strong>\u003c/a>: Call 415-554-4375 or email sfvote@sfgov.org\u003c/li>\n",
"innerContent": [
"\n\u003cli>\u003ca href=\"https://sfelections.sfgov.org\">\u003cstrong>San Francisco\u003c/strong>\u003c/a>: Call 415-554-4375 or email sfvote@sfgov.org\u003c/li>\n"
]
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cli>\u003ca href=\"https://www.smcacre.org/elections\">\u003cstrong>San Mateo\u003c/strong>\u003c/a>: Call 888-762-8683 or email registrar@smcacre.org\u003c/li>\n",
"innerContent": [
"\n\u003cli>\u003ca href=\"https://www.smcacre.org/elections\">\u003cstrong>San Mateo\u003c/strong>\u003c/a>: Call 888-762-8683 or email registrar@smcacre.org\u003c/li>\n"
]
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cli>\u003ca href=\"https://www.sccgov.org/sites/rov/Pages/Registrar-of-Voters.aspx\">\u003cstrong>Santa Clara\u003c/strong>\u003c/a>: Call toll-free at 866-430-VOTE (8683) or email registrar@rov.sccgov.org\u003c/li>\n",
"innerContent": [
"\n\u003cli>\u003ca href=\"https://www.sccgov.org/sites/rov/Pages/Registrar-of-Voters.aspx\">\u003cstrong>Santa Clara\u003c/strong>\u003c/a>: Call toll-free at 866-430-VOTE (8683) or email registrar@rov.sccgov.org\u003c/li>\n"
]
},
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cli>\u003ca href=\"https://www.solanocounty.com/depts/rov/default.asp\">\u003cstrong>Solano\u003c/strong>\u003c/a>\u003cstrong>: \u003c/strong>Call 707-784-6675 or 888-933-VOTE (8683). You can also email elections@solanocounty.com\u003c/li>\n",
"innerContent": [
"\n\u003cli>\u003ca href=\"https://www.solanocounty.com/depts/rov/default.asp\">\u003cstrong>Solano\u003c/strong>\u003c/a>\u003cstrong>: \u003c/strong>Call 707-784-6675 or 888-933-VOTE (8683). You can also email elections@solanocounty.com\u003c/li>\n"
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cli>\u003ca href=\"https://sonomacounty.ca.gov/CRA/Registrar-of-Voters/\">\u003cstrong>Sonoma\u003c/strong>\u003c/a>: Call 707-565-6800 or toll-free at 800-750-8683\u003c/li>\n",
"innerContent": [
"\n\u003cli>\u003ca href=\"https://sonomacounty.ca.gov/CRA/Registrar-of-Voters/\">\u003cstrong>Sonoma\u003c/strong>\u003c/a>: Call 707-565-6800 or toll-free at 800-750-8683\u003c/li>\n"
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>The state also has a full list of \u003ca href=\"https://www.sos.ca.gov/elections/voting-resources/county-elections-offices/\">every county elections office in California\u003c/a>.\u003c/p>\n",
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"\n\u003cp>The state also has a full list of \u003ca href=\"https://www.sos.ca.gov/elections/voting-resources/county-elections-offices/\">every county elections office in California\u003c/a>.\u003c/p>\n"
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"excerpt": "Where to find a ballot drop box near you in the Bay Area, whether you should use USPS to mail your primary ballot and how you can vote early.",
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"content": "\u003cdiv class=\"post-body\">\u003cp>\n\u003cp>California voters: \u003ca href=\"https://www.kqed.org/voterguide\">the midterm elections are here\u003c/a>. And if you’re registered to vote, your ballot will be on its way in the next few days if it hasn’t already arrived — ahead of Election Day itself on Nov. 3.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>Wondering where to drop off your completed mail-in ballot in the Bay Area? Or where you can vote in person and find a polling place near you? What about if you prefer to vote on Election Day itself?\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>Keep reading for everything you need to know about submitting your vote in the California midterm elections. \u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Jump straight to:\u003c/strong>\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n\u003cli>\u003cstrong>\u003ca href=\"#ballot-drop-off\">How to find your closest voting location or ballot drop-off\u003c/a>\u003c/strong>\u003c/li>\n\n\n\n\u003cli>\u003cstrong>\u003ca href=\"#in-person\">How to find your polling place on Election Day\u003c/a>\u003c/strong>\u003c/li>\n\n\n\n\u003cli>\u003cstrong>\u003ca href=\"#county\">How to contact your county directly about voting\u003c/a>\u003c/strong>\u003c/li>\n\u003c/ul>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>If you’re concerned you might have made a mistake when filling out your ballot, you can \u003ca href=\"https://www.kqed.org/news/12103115/california-midterms-elections-2026-vote-for-governor-ballot-signature-how-to-correct-mistake\">read our guide to addressing common errors on your ballot \u003c/a>(\u003cem>before\u003c/em> you mail it) — and find out how to get a fresh ballot or vote in person if you really messed up.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003ch2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Can I drop off my ballot in a drop box or at a voting location?\u003c/h2>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>Once you complete your mail-in ballot, you can drop it off at an official drop box instead of \u003ca href=\"https://www.kqed.org/news/12103028/should-you-use-usps-to-mail-your-midterm-ballot-heres-what-california-election-officials-say\">mailing it via a U.S. Postal Service collection box\u003c/a>. These secure drop boxes will \u003ca href=\"https://www.sos.ca.gov/elections/upcoming-elections/general-election-november-3-2026\">open by Oct.5.\u003c/a> Once you’ve placed your ballot into one of these drop boxes, it’ll then be taken straight to your county elections office.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>You can also hand-deliver your ballot to any open voting location. \u003ca href=\"https://www.sos.ca.gov/elections/upcoming-elections/general-election-november-3-2026\">The first vote centers open \u003c/a>Oct. 24 in certain counties, with more early voting locations opening Oct. 31.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cfigure class=\"wp-block-image size-full\">\u003cimg loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"1999\" height=\"1333\" src=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/10/014_Oakland_ItzelDiazandFamily_09092021_qed-06c984cf.jpg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-12103658\" srcset=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/10/014_Oakland_ItzelDiazandFamily_09092021_qed-06c984cf.jpg 1999w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/10/014_Oakland_ItzelDiazandFamily_09092021_qed-06c984cf-160x107.jpg 160w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/10/014_Oakland_ItzelDiazandFamily_09092021_qed-06c984cf-1536x1024.jpg 1536w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 1999px) 100vw, 1999px\" />\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">Itzel Diaz drops off her ballot for California’s gubernatorial recall election at a ballot dropbox in Fruitvale on Sept. 9, 2021. (Beth LaBerge/KQED)\u003c/figcaption>\u003c/figure>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>Submitting your ballot by hand this way is the \u003ca href=\"https://www.kqed.org/news/12103028/should-you-use-usps-to-mail-your-midterm-ballot-heres-what-california-election-officials-say\">top recommendation\u003c/a> of Kim Alexander, president and founder of the non-partisan California Voter Foundation. If you live in \u003ca href=\"https://calvoter.org/content/sign-scan-and-go\">one of the California counties\u003c/a> which has adopted the “Sign & Go” system — which in the Bay Area are Alameda, Contra Costa, Marin and Napa — you can complete your ballot at at home, and then bring it to a participating vote center and sign the voter roster under penalty of perjury (just as you would for in-person voting) to submit it in person. \u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>And if you live in a county which has adopted “Sign, Scan & Go”, like San Mateo, you can do all of the above and then scan your ballot yourself to have your vote recorded immediately at the voting site. \u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>You can also, of course, fill your ballot out in-person \u003cem>at \u003c/em>a voting location, and submit it directly there and then. \u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>A few reasons the effort to hand-deliver your completed ballot instead of mailing it might be worth it:\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n\u003cli>\u003cstrong>Peace of mind:\u003c/strong> There’s a satisfaction that comes with knowing your ballot should now travel straight to your county elections office rather than going through USPS collection and sorting for delivery\u003c/li>\n\n\n\n\u003cli>\u003cstrong>Timing:\u003c/strong> If it’s Election Day itself, using a drop box or a voting location to drop off your ballot is the best way to be sure it’ll reach your county elections office in time to be counted\u003c/li>\n\n\n\n\u003cli>\u003cstrong>Assistance:\u003c/strong> If you drop off your ballot at a voting location during operating hours and you have a few lingering questions about your ballot or the process, chances are good that you’ll find someone there to help answer them.\u003c/li>\n\u003c/ul>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>Regardless of how you deliver it, you can \u003ca href=\"https://california.ballottrax.net/voter/\">sign up to track your ballot’s progress with the “Where’s My Ballot?” online tool\u003c/a> and be reassured it’s on its way to being counted.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003ch2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Can’t I just mail my ballot through the Postal Service?\u003c/h2>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>Yes, you can mail your completed ballot via the U.S. Postal Service at any regular collection box — but it’s best to do this early. \u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>The envelope is postage paid, so it doesn’t require a stamp, and it’ll be counted as long as it’s\u003ca href=\"https://www.sos.ca.gov/elections\"> postmarked by Election Day and arrives at your county registrar’s office by Nov. 3\u003c/a>.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>Be aware that when it comes to using USPS, in the last two statewide elections, Secretary of State Shirley Weber and Attorney General Rob Bonta urged any voters planning to mail in their ballots \u003ca href=\"https://oag.ca.gov/news/press-releases/attorney-general-bonta-and-secretary-state-weber-sacramento-vote-early-june\">at \u003cem>least \u003c/em>a week before Election Day\u003c/a> — to account for \u003ca href=\"https://www.kqed.org/news/12103028/should-you-use-usps-to-mail-your-midterm-ballot-heres-what-california-election-officials-say\">changes in the way USPS is collected\u003c/a> and postmarked in many areas. \u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\u003cp>If it’s Election Day itself, for peace of mind that your ballot will reach your county elections office in time to be counted, you should drop off your ballot in an official drop box or voting location instead of using USPS (see above).\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>If you can’t do that, Weber’s office is recommending you \u003ca href=\"https://www.sos.ca.gov/elections/voter-registration/vote-mail\">“get a hand-stamped postmark\u003c/a> from a postal employee inside a United States Post Office” rather than simply dropping it in a USPS collection box on Election Day. \u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>And if you really have to use a collection box, be \u003cem>very\u003c/em> sure you don’t miss the last collection time for that specific mailbox (which at many locations is 5 p.m. or earlier). You also shouldn’t drop off your ballot on Election Day at a post office that’s already closed — since doing either of these things will mean your ballot will not be postmarked on Election Day and it won’t be counted when it reaches your county’s election office.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>\u003ca href=\"https://www.kqed.org/news/12103028/should-you-use-usps-to-mail-your-midterm-ballot-heres-what-california-election-officials-say\">Read more about what California election officials say about using USPS this election season.\u003c/a>\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003ch2 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"in-person\">Where can I vote in person on Election Day?\u003c/h2>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>On Election Day, in-person voting is still available at every county registrar’s office (also known as your county’s elections office) in the Bay Area. If you’re a San Francisco voter, this location will be City Hall. \u003ca href=\"https://www.sos.ca.gov/elections/voting-resources/county-elections-offices\">Find your county registrar’s office and opening hours.\u003c/a>\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>Check your mail-in ballot to see where you can vote and whether you’ve been assigned a specific polling place.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cfigure class=\"wp-block-image size-full\">\u003cimg loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"2000\" height=\"1333\" src=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/10/004_Oakland_ItzelDiazandFamily_09092021_qed-1-b4fd4fcf.jpg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-12103661\" srcset=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/10/004_Oakland_ItzelDiazandFamily_09092021_qed-1-b4fd4fcf.jpg 2000w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/10/004_Oakland_ItzelDiazandFamily_09092021_qed-1-b4fd4fcf-160x107.jpg 160w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/10/004_Oakland_ItzelDiazandFamily_09092021_qed-1-b4fd4fcf-1536x1024.jpg 1536w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 2000px) 100vw, 2000px\" />\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">Porfirio Diaz fills out his mail-in ballot for California’s gubernatorial recall election at his home in Oakland on Sept. 9, 2021. (Beth LaBerge/KQED)\u003c/figcaption>\u003c/figure>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>If you live in San Francisco, Contra Costa or Solano counties:\u003c/strong>\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>You are assigned a specific polling place, though Contra Costa County election officials say they can process your ballot no matter where you show up to vote.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>But even if you live in a county that assigns you a particular polling place, you can still vote at \u003ca href=\"https://www.sos.ca.gov/elections/voting-resources/county-elections-offices\">your county registrar’s office\u003c/a>.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>If you live in Alameda, Marin, Napa, San Mateo, Santa Clara or Sonoma counties:\u003c/strong>\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>You can vote at any voting location — known as Vote Centers — including your county registrar’s office.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>You can \u003ca href=\"https://caearlyvoting.sos.ca.gov/\">find your voting location through the state’s lookup tool\u003c/a>.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Do I need to bring my ballot with me?\u003c/strong>\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>If you’d like to cast a ballot in person, it’s a good idea to bring the blank ballot you were mailed, as some counties may require you to vote provisionally if you don’t bring it. If you’re issued a new ballot when you vote in person, any ballot you left at home will be canceled.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>Provisional votes are subject to extra checks — confirming that you’re actually registered to vote in California, or that you didn’t already complete and mail your ballot — and this extra layer of confirmation takes time. That means that although your vote will eventually be counted, it might not be tallied on Election Day itself.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003ch2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">I still need to register to vote. What should I do? Can I do this on Election Day?\u003c/h2>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>The official deadline to \u003ca href=\"https://www.sos.ca.gov/elections/voter-registration/\">register online to vote \u003c/a>is Monday, Oct. 19.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>Remember, if you’ve changed your name or want to change the political party choice you previously registered to vote with or you moved address, you’ll need to \u003ca href=\"https://www.sos.ca.gov/elections/voter-registration/\">re-register\u003c/a>.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cfigure class=\"wp-block-image size-full\">\u003cimg loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"2121\" height=\"1414\" src=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2024/10/GettyImages-2042927844.jpg\" alt=\"Two Black women standing and looking at a clipboard over a table and signs that say "Vote" with other people waiting in line behind the woman with the red shirt.\" class=\"wp-image-12010427\" srcset=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2024/10/GettyImages-2042927844.jpg 2121w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2024/10/GettyImages-2042927844-800x533.jpg 800w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2024/10/GettyImages-2042927844-1020x680.jpg 1020w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2024/10/GettyImages-2042927844-160x107.jpg 160w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2024/10/GettyImages-2042927844-1536x1024.jpg 1536w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2024/10/GettyImages-2042927844-2048x1365.jpg 2048w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2024/10/GettyImages-2042927844-1920x1280.jpg 1920w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 2121px) 100vw, 2121px\" />\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">The official deadline to \u003ca href=\"https://www.sos.ca.gov/elections/voter-registration/\">register online to vote \u003c/a>is Monday, Oct. 19. (Drazen Zigic via iStock/Getty Images Plus)\u003c/figcaption>\u003c/figure>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>But if you miss the deadline to register, don’t panic: After Oct. 19, you can still complete the \u003ca href=\"https://www.sos.ca.gov/elections/voter-registration/same-day-reg/\">same-day voter registration\u003c/a> process (also known as “conditional voting”) and request your ballot in person at your county elections office or polling location. This system enables you to fill out and submit your ballot then and there, up until when polls close at 8 p.m. on Election Day.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>In addition to voter registration, many voting locations also offer replacement ballots, accessible voting machines and language assistance.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003ch2 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"ballot-drop-off\">How can I find my voting location or ballot drop-off?\u003c/h2>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>Secure drop boxes \u003ca href=\"https://www.sos.ca.gov/elections/upcoming-elections/general-election-november-3-2026\">open by Oct. 5, and the first vote centers open \u003c/a>Oct. 24 in certain counties, with more early voting locations opening Oct. 31.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>Visit the \u003ca href=\"https://caearlyvoting.sos.ca.gov/\">state of California lookup tool\u003c/a>, where you can:\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n\u003cli>Enter your county (adding your city or ZIP code will give more localized results, but it’s optional)\u003c/li>\n\n\n\n\u003cli>Check the “Early Voting” and/or “Drop Off Location” boxes\u003c/li>\n\n\n\n\u003cli>Hit “Search” to see all the early voting and drop-off locations in that area.\u003c/li>\n\u003c/ul>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>Remember that in-person voting hours may differ by location, and some locations may not be open every day.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003ch2 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"county\">How can I contact my county directly about voting?\u003c/h2>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>Across the Bay Area, elections officials are encouraging voters to reach out — early — with any questions or concerns. Here’s the contact information for your county:\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n\u003cli>\u003ca href=\"https://acvote.alamedacountyca.gov/index\">\u003cstrong>Alameda\u003c/strong>\u003c/a>: For information about voting by mail, registration and polling place lookup, call 510-267-8683\u003c/li>\n\n\n\n\u003cli>\u003ca href=\"https://www.contracostavote.gov/elections/\">\u003cstrong>Contra Costa\u003c/strong>\u003c/a>: Call 925-335-7800 or email voter.services@vote.cccounty.us\u003c/li>\n\n\n\n\u003cli>\u003ca href=\"https://www.marincounty.org/depts/rv\">\u003cstrong>Marin\u003c/strong>\u003c/a>: Call 415-473-6456 or go to the Marin County elections webpage to \u003ca href=\"https://www.marincounty.org/depts/rv/contact-us\">send a form email\u003c/a>\u003c/li>\n\n\n\n\u003cli>\u003ca href=\"https://www.countyofnapa.org/396/Elections\">\u003cstrong>Napa\u003c/strong>\u003c/a>: Call 707-253-4321 or email the elections office at elections@countyofnapa.org\u003c/li>\n\n\n\n\u003cli>\u003ca href=\"https://sfelections.sfgov.org\">\u003cstrong>San Francisco\u003c/strong>\u003c/a>: Call 415-554-4375 or email sfvote@sfgov.org\u003c/li>\n\n\n\n\u003cli>\u003ca href=\"https://www.smcacre.org/elections\">\u003cstrong>San Mateo\u003c/strong>\u003c/a>: Call 888-762-8683 or email registrar@smcacre.org\u003c/li>\n\n\n\n\u003cli>\u003ca href=\"https://www.sccgov.org/sites/rov/Pages/Registrar-of-Voters.aspx\">\u003cstrong>Santa Clara\u003c/strong>\u003c/a>: Call toll-free at 866-430-VOTE (8683) or email registrar@rov.sccgov.org\u003c/li>\n\n\n\n\u003cli>\u003ca href=\"https://www.solanocounty.com/depts/rov/default.asp\">\u003cstrong>Solano\u003c/strong>\u003c/a>\u003cstrong>: \u003c/strong>Call 707-784-6675 or 888-933-VOTE (8683). You can also email elections@solanocounty.com\u003c/li>\n\n\n\n\u003cli>\u003ca href=\"https://sonomacounty.ca.gov/CRA/Registrar-of-Voters/\">\u003cstrong>Sonoma\u003c/strong>\u003c/a>: Call 707-565-6800 or toll-free at 800-750-8683\u003c/li>\n\u003c/ul>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>The state also has a full list of \u003ca href=\"https://www.sos.ca.gov/elections/voting-resources/county-elections-offices/\">every county elections office in California\u003c/a>.\u003c/p>\n\u003c/div>\u003c/p>",
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"slug": "san-francisco-ballots-spoiled",
"title": "SF Voters: Did Your Midterm Ballot Arrive Torn? Here’s What to Do",
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"headTitle": "SF Voters: Did Your Midterm Ballot Arrive Torn? Here’s What to Do | KQED",
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"content": "\n\u003cp>Counties began sending \u003ca href=\"https://www.kqed.org/voterguide/\">midterm election ballots\u003c/a> to every registered Bay Area voter this week — but some San Franciscans are \u003ca href=\"https://missionlocal.org/2026/10/san-francisco-ballot-torn-envelope/\">reporting \u003c/a>their ballots have arrived in envelopes that are torn or damaged.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>In \u003ca href=\"https://www.sf.gov/news-the-department-of-elections-provides-guidance-on-vote-by-mail-ballot-envelopes-for-the-november-3-2026-consolidated-general-election\">a public advisory\u003c/a>, posted Wednesday to the San Francisco Department of Elections website, the agency’s director John Arntz told voters that “tears in the outer mailing envelopes” wouldn’t affect their ability to use their ballots to vote in the Nov. 3 election, “as long as all four ballot cards and the ballot return envelope are intact.” \u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>However, some voters in the city are reporting that the ballot cards inside their envelopes have also arrived damaged. One of them, KQED News reporter \u003ca href=\"https://www.kqed.org/author/sjohnson\">Sydney Johnson\u003c/a>, said she and her partner had received ballots that were torn on both the outer envelopes, and her internal return envelope was also ripped.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>If you’re concerned your San Francisco ballot materials have also been damaged, \u003cstrong>\u003ca href=\"#what-to-do\">jump to what you should do now\u003c/a>.\u003c/strong>\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003ch2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">What happened to these ballots?\u003c/h2>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>Arntz attributed the damage to issues at the United States Postal Service, “which indicated that the tears occurred as some envelopes moved through its processing equipment.” \u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>In an email to KQED, USPS spokesperson Kristina Uppal said that the damage to some San Francisco ballot envelopes was due to their “thickness,” meaning a “small number of envelopes may have experienced damage during machine processing.”\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cfigure class=\"wp-block-image size-full\">\u003cimg loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"2000\" height=\"1333\" src=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/10/261008-SF-Ballot-Damaged-02-KQED-9e84a5a9.jpg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-12103502\" srcset=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/10/261008-SF-Ballot-Damaged-02-KQED-9e84a5a9.jpg 2000w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/10/261008-SF-Ballot-Damaged-02-KQED-9e84a5a9-160x107.jpg 160w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/10/261008-SF-Ballot-Damaged-02-KQED-9e84a5a9-1536x1024.jpg 1536w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 2000px) 100vw, 2000px\" />\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">A damaged San Francisco midterm ballot that was delivered to KQED reporter Sydney Johnson this week. (Sydney Johnson/KQED)\u003c/figcaption>\u003c/figure>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>“Upon observing the issue, USPS switched to manual processing for the remaining vote-by-mail packets,” Arntz said.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>“We sincerely apologize for any inconvenience this may have caused and remain fully committed to delivering every election mail piece safely and on time,” Uppal said.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>Election officials have sent out \u003ca href=\"https://www.sf.gov/news-the-department-of-elections-mails-vote-by-mail-ballots-to-locally-registered-voters-for-the-november-3-2026-consolidated-general-election\">more than 500,000 vote-by-mail ballots \u003c/a>to San Francisco voters, although it’s not yet clear just how many have been affected. \u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003ch2 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"what-to-do\">If you’re a San Francisco voter who’s worried about your ballot, here’s what to do\u003c/h2>\n\n\n\n\u003ch3 class=\"wp-block-heading\">First, check your ballot envelope and the contents inside \u003c/h3>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>Arntz said that if you spot any tearing in your San Francisco ballot envelope, you should (carefully) open the envelope to check it contains the following:\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n\u003cli>All four ballot cards\u003c/li>\n\n\n\n\u003cli>A ballot return envelope\u003c/li>\n\n\n\n\u003cli>An insert with voting instructions\u003c/li>\n\u003c/ul>\n\n\n\n\u003cfigure class=\"wp-block-image size-full\">\u003cimg loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"2000\" height=\"1333\" src=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/08/251030-BayAreaVoters-06-BL_qed.jpg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-12095745\" srcset=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/08/251030-BayAreaVoters-06-BL_qed.jpg 2000w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/08/251030-BayAreaVoters-06-BL_qed-160x107.jpg 160w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/08/251030-BayAreaVoters-06-BL_qed-1536x1024.jpg 1536w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 2000px) 100vw, 2000px\" />\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">A voter is given a sticker after dropping his ballot at City Hall in San Francisco on Oct. 30, 2025, ahead of the statewide special election. (Beth LaBerge/KQED)\u003c/figcaption>\u003c/figure>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>“If all four ballot cards and the ballot return envelope are intact, voters can mark their ballots and return them using the ballot return envelope provided,” Arntz said.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>Elsewhere, Arntz has \u003ca href=\"https://www.kron4.com/news/politics/sf-voters-receive-damaged-ballot-envelopes-officials-offer-simple-explanation/\">described \u003c/a>the outer envelope as “just a package to give the ballot to people.” In other words, once your ballot has arrived, you don’t actually use that outer envelope again in any of the voting process — which is why its damage won’t stop you from voting.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003ch3 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Was anything damaged inside? Get a new ballot\u003c/h3>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>If the \u003cem>contents \u003c/em>of your ballot show any sign of damage, you can request a new ballot from the San Francisco Department of Elections.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>People across all Bay Area counties request new ballots all the time, often because they’ve made a mistake (or just spilled coffee on them), so there’s already a process to request yours. You can do that by:\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n\u003cli>Calling the SF Department of Elections at 415-558-6100\u003c/li>\n\n\n\n\u003cli>Emailing them at \u003ca href=\"mailto:sfvote@sfgov.org\">sfvote@sfgov.org\u003c/a>\u003c/li>\n\n\n\n\u003cli>Logging into the SF Elections \u003ca href=\"https://sfelections.org/tools/portal/\">Voter Portal\u003c/a>\u003c/li>\n\n\n\n\u003cli>Going to the SF Department of Elections in person during opening hours (located in Room 48 at San Francisco City Hall, open Mon-Fri 8 a.m—5 p.m., closed weekends and on Oct. 12)\u003c/li>\n\u003c/ul>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>You can also take your damaged ballot to \u003ca href=\"https://www.sf.gov/vote-in-person\">your assigned polling place\u003c/a> on Election Day, Nov. 3, and vote in person at any time until 8 p.m.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003ch2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Should I be worried about mail-in voting this election season?\u003c/h2>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>The issues with some San Francisco ballots arrive on the heels of President Donald Trump’s multiple attacks on voting by mail this year — a system which he has claimed, without evidence, is rife with fraud. \u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\u003cp>The Trump administration’s efforts to limit voting by mail include an \u003ca href=\"https://www.whitehouse.gov/presidential-actions/2026/03/ensuring-citizenship-verification-and-integrity-in-federal-elections/\">executive order \u003c/a>attempting to give USPS the role of deciding who receives mail ballots, to a push for Congress to require photo identification at the polls.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>And while these moves have failed so far, and are not in place this election season, USPS has also made some new changes to its mail collection process. \u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>These changes have resulted in slower service that particularly affects voters in rural areas, who will have their mail picked up later — with big consequences for ballots, which must be postmarked by Election Day itself in order to be counted. \u003ca href=\"https://www.kqed.org/news/12103028/should-you-use-usps-to-mail-your-midterm-ballot-heres-what-california-election-officials-say\">Read more about these changes to USPS services.\u003c/a>\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>In the last two statewide elections, Secretary of State Shirley Weber and Attorney General Rob Bonta urged voters planning to use USPS to mail in their ballots \u003ca href=\"https://oag.ca.gov/news/press-releases/attorney-general-bonta-and-secretary-state-weber-sacramento-vote-early-june\">at least a week before Election Day\u003c/a>, to account for those USPS changes — and to get a \u003ca href=\"https://www.sos.ca.gov/elections/voter-registration/vote-mail\">hand-stamped postmark\u003c/a> from an employee inside a post office, if mailing their ballot on Election Day itself is their only option, rather than simply dropping it in a USPS collection box.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>Some election officials are steering voters away from using USPS entirely, including Sonoma County’s registrar of voters Evelyn Mendez, who told KQED that the county was “not really encouraging people to use the USPS to get their ballot here.” \u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>Instead, Mendez said, voters should use secure county collection boxes, which are now open 24/7 through 8 p.m. on Election Day and bypass USPS entirely, making sure ballots reach the county’s election offices directly.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>\u003ca href=\"https://www.kqed.org/news/12103028/should-you-use-usps-to-mail-your-midterm-ballot-heres-what-california-election-officials-say\">Read more about how to ensure your mail-in ballot is counted this election season.\u003c/a>\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>\u003cem>KQED’s \u003c/em>\u003ca href=\"https://www.kqed.org/author/ibloom\">\u003cem>Izzy Bloom\u003c/em>\u003c/a>\u003cem> contributed to this report.\u003c/em>\u003c/p>\n",
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"\n\u003cp>Counties began sending \u003ca href=\"https://www.kqed.org/voterguide/\">midterm election ballots\u003c/a> to every registered Bay Area voter this week — but some San Franciscans are \u003ca href=\"https://missionlocal.org/2026/10/san-francisco-ballot-torn-envelope/\">reporting \u003c/a>their ballots have arrived in envelopes that are torn or damaged.\u003c/p>\n"
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>In \u003ca href=\"https://www.sf.gov/news-the-department-of-elections-provides-guidance-on-vote-by-mail-ballot-envelopes-for-the-november-3-2026-consolidated-general-election\">a public advisory\u003c/a>, posted Wednesday to the San Francisco Department of Elections website, the agency’s director John Arntz told voters that “tears in the outer mailing envelopes” wouldn’t affect their ability to use their ballots to vote in the Nov. 3 election, “as long as all four ballot cards and the ballot return envelope are intact.” \u003c/p>\n",
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"\n\u003cp>In \u003ca href=\"https://www.sf.gov/news-the-department-of-elections-provides-guidance-on-vote-by-mail-ballot-envelopes-for-the-november-3-2026-consolidated-general-election\">a public advisory\u003c/a>, posted Wednesday to the San Francisco Department of Elections website, the agency’s director John Arntz told voters that “tears in the outer mailing envelopes” wouldn’t affect their ability to use their ballots to vote in the Nov. 3 election, “as long as all four ballot cards and the ballot return envelope are intact.” \u003c/p>\n"
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>However, some voters in the city are reporting that the ballot cards inside their envelopes have also arrived damaged. One of them, KQED News reporter \u003ca href=\"https://www.kqed.org/author/sjohnson\">Sydney Johnson\u003c/a>, said she and her partner had received ballots that were torn on both the outer envelopes, and her internal return envelope was also ripped.\u003c/p>\n",
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"\n\u003cp>However, some voters in the city are reporting that the ballot cards inside their envelopes have also arrived damaged. One of them, KQED News reporter \u003ca href=\"https://www.kqed.org/author/sjohnson\">Sydney Johnson\u003c/a>, said she and her partner had received ballots that were torn on both the outer envelopes, and her internal return envelope was also ripped.\u003c/p>\n"
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>If you’re concerned your San Francisco ballot materials have also been damaged, \u003cstrong>\u003ca href=\"#what-to-do\">jump to what you should do now\u003c/a>.\u003c/strong>\u003c/p>\n",
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"\n\u003cp>If you’re concerned your San Francisco ballot materials have also been damaged, \u003cstrong>\u003ca href=\"#what-to-do\">jump to what you should do now\u003c/a>.\u003c/strong>\u003c/p>\n"
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>Arntz attributed the damage to issues at the United States Postal Service, “which indicated that the tears occurred as some envelopes moved through its processing equipment.” \u003c/p>\n",
"innerContent": [
"\n\u003cp>Arntz attributed the damage to issues at the United States Postal Service, “which indicated that the tears occurred as some envelopes moved through its processing equipment.” \u003c/p>\n"
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>In an email to KQED, USPS spokesperson Kristina Uppal said that the damage to some San Francisco ballot envelopes was due to their “thickness,” meaning a “small number of envelopes may have experienced damage during machine processing.”\u003c/p>\n",
"innerContent": [
"\n\u003cp>In an email to KQED, USPS spokesperson Kristina Uppal said that the damage to some San Francisco ballot envelopes was due to their “thickness,” meaning a “small number of envelopes may have experienced damage during machine processing.”\u003c/p>\n"
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cfigure class=\"wp-block-image size-full\">\u003cimg src=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/10/261008-SF-Ballot-Damaged-02-KQED-9e84a5a9.jpg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-12103502\" srcset=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/10/261008-SF-Ballot-Damaged-02-KQED-9e84a5a9.jpg 2000w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/10/261008-SF-Ballot-Damaged-02-KQED-9e84a5a9-160x107.jpg 160w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/10/261008-SF-Ballot-Damaged-02-KQED-9e84a5a9-1536x1024.jpg 1536w\" sizes=\"(min-width: 992px) min(100vw, 1536px), (min-width: 768px) min(100vw, 1280px), min(100vw, 1020px)\"/>\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">A damaged San Francisco midterm ballot that was delivered to KQED reporter Sydney Johnson this week.\u003ccite class=\"wp-inline-image-credit\"> (Sydney Johnson/KQED)\u003c/cite>\u003c/figcaption>\u003c/figure>\n",
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"\n\u003cfigure class=\"wp-block-image size-full\">\u003cimg src=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/10/261008-SF-Ballot-Damaged-02-KQED-9e84a5a9.jpg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-12103502\"/>\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">A damaged San Francisco midterm ballot that was delivered to KQED reporter Sydney Johnson this week.\u003ccite class=\"wp-inline-image-credit\"> (Sydney Johnson/KQED)\u003c/cite>\u003c/figcaption>\u003c/figure>\n"
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>“Upon observing the issue, USPS switched to manual processing for the remaining vote-by-mail packets,” Arntz said.\u003c/p>\n",
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"\n\u003cp>“Upon observing the issue, USPS switched to manual processing for the remaining vote-by-mail packets,” Arntz said.\u003c/p>\n"
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>“We sincerely apologize for any inconvenience this may have caused and remain fully committed to delivering every election mail piece safely and on time,” Uppal said.\u003c/p>\n",
"innerContent": [
"\n\u003cp>“We sincerely apologize for any inconvenience this may have caused and remain fully committed to delivering every election mail piece safely and on time,” Uppal said.\u003c/p>\n"
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>Election officials have sent out \u003ca href=\"https://www.sf.gov/news-the-department-of-elections-mails-vote-by-mail-ballots-to-locally-registered-voters-for-the-november-3-2026-consolidated-general-election\">more than 500,000 vote-by-mail ballots \u003c/a>to San Francisco voters, although it’s not yet clear just how many have been affected. \u003c/p>\n",
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"\n\u003cp>Election officials have sent out \u003ca href=\"https://www.sf.gov/news-the-department-of-elections-mails-vote-by-mail-ballots-to-locally-registered-voters-for-the-november-3-2026-consolidated-general-election\">more than 500,000 vote-by-mail ballots \u003c/a>to San Francisco voters, although it’s not yet clear just how many have been affected. \u003c/p>\n"
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>Arntz said that if you spot any tearing in your San Francisco ballot envelope, you should (carefully) open the envelope to check it contains the following:\u003c/p>\n",
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"\n\u003cp>Arntz said that if you spot any tearing in your San Francisco ballot envelope, you should (carefully) open the envelope to check it contains the following:\u003c/p>\n"
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cfigure class=\"wp-block-image size-full\">\u003cimg src=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/08/251030-BayAreaVoters-06-BL_qed.jpg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-12095745\" srcset=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/08/251030-BayAreaVoters-06-BL_qed.jpg 2000w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/08/251030-BayAreaVoters-06-BL_qed-160x107.jpg 160w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/08/251030-BayAreaVoters-06-BL_qed-1536x1024.jpg 1536w\" sizes=\"(min-width: 992px) min(100vw, 1536px), (min-width: 768px) min(100vw, 1280px), min(100vw, 1020px)\"/>\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">A voter is given a sticker after dropping his ballot at City Hall in San Francisco on Oct. 30, 2025, ahead of the statewide special election.\u003ccite class=\"wp-inline-image-credit\"> (Beth LaBerge/KQED)\u003c/cite>\u003c/figcaption>\u003c/figure>\n",
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"\n\u003cfigure class=\"wp-block-image size-full\">\u003cimg src=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/08/251030-BayAreaVoters-06-BL_qed.jpg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-12095745\"/>\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">A voter is given a sticker after dropping his ballot at City Hall in San Francisco on Oct. 30, 2025, ahead of the statewide special election.\u003ccite class=\"wp-inline-image-credit\"> (Beth LaBerge/KQED)\u003c/cite>\u003c/figcaption>\u003c/figure>\n"
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>“If all four ballot cards and the ballot return envelope are intact, voters can mark their ballots and return them using the ballot return envelope provided,” Arntz said.\u003c/p>\n",
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"\n\u003cp>“If all four ballot cards and the ballot return envelope are intact, voters can mark their ballots and return them using the ballot return envelope provided,” Arntz said.\u003c/p>\n"
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>Elsewhere, Arntz has \u003ca href=\"https://www.kron4.com/news/politics/sf-voters-receive-damaged-ballot-envelopes-officials-offer-simple-explanation/\">described \u003c/a>the outer envelope as “just a package to give the ballot to people.” In other words, once your ballot has arrived, you don’t actually use that outer envelope again in any of the voting process — which is why its damage won’t stop you from voting.\u003c/p>\n",
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"\n\u003cp>Elsewhere, Arntz has \u003ca href=\"https://www.kron4.com/news/politics/sf-voters-receive-damaged-ballot-envelopes-officials-offer-simple-explanation/\">described \u003c/a>the outer envelope as “just a package to give the ballot to people.” In other words, once your ballot has arrived, you don’t actually use that outer envelope again in any of the voting process — which is why its damage won’t stop you from voting.\u003c/p>\n"
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"text": "Was anything damaged inside? Get a new ballot"
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003ch3 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Was anything damaged inside? Get a new ballot\u003c/h3>\n",
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>If the \u003cem>contents \u003c/em>of your ballot show any sign of damage, you can request a new ballot from the San Francisco Department of Elections.\u003c/p>\n",
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"\n\u003cp>If the \u003cem>contents \u003c/em>of your ballot show any sign of damage, you can request a new ballot from the San Francisco Department of Elections.\u003c/p>\n"
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>People across all Bay Area counties request new ballots all the time, often because they’ve made a mistake (or just spilled coffee on them), so there’s already a process to request yours. You can do that by:\u003c/p>\n",
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"\n\u003cp>People across all Bay Area counties request new ballots all the time, often because they’ve made a mistake (or just spilled coffee on them), so there’s already a process to request yours. You can do that by:\u003c/p>\n"
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"Calling the SF Department of Elections at 415-558-6100",
"Emailing them at sfvote@sfgov.org",
"Logging into the SF Elections Voter Portal",
"Going to the SF Department of Elections in person during opening hours (located in Room 48 at San Francisco City Hall, open Mon-Fri 8 a.m—5 p.m., closed weekends and on Oct. 12)"
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cli>Calling the SF Department of Elections at 415-558-6100\u003c/li>\n",
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"\n\u003cli>Calling the SF Department of Elections at 415-558-6100\u003c/li>\n"
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cli>Emailing them at \u003ca href=\"mailto:sfvote@sfgov.org\">sfvote@sfgov.org\u003c/a>\u003c/li>\n",
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"\n\u003cli>Emailing them at \u003ca href=\"mailto:sfvote@sfgov.org\">sfvote@sfgov.org\u003c/a>\u003c/li>\n"
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cli>Logging into the SF Elections \u003ca href=\"https://sfelections.org/tools/portal/\">Voter Portal\u003c/a>\u003c/li>\n",
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cli>Going to the SF Department of Elections in person during opening hours (located in Room 48 at San Francisco City Hall, open Mon-Fri 8 a.m—5 p.m., closed weekends and on Oct. 12)\u003c/li>\n",
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>You can also take your damaged ballot to \u003ca href=\"https://www.sf.gov/vote-in-person\">your assigned polling place\u003c/a> on Election Day, Nov. 3, and vote in person at any time until 8 p.m.\u003c/p>\n",
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"\n\u003cp>You can also take your damaged ballot to \u003ca href=\"https://www.sf.gov/vote-in-person\">your assigned polling place\u003c/a> on Election Day, Nov. 3, and vote in person at any time until 8 p.m.\u003c/p>\n"
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"attrs": {
"text": "Should I be worried about mail-in voting this election season?",
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>The issues with some San Francisco ballots arrive on the heels of President Donald Trump’s multiple attacks on voting by mail this year — a system which he has claimed, without evidence, is rife with fraud. \u003c/p>\n",
"innerContent": [
"\n\u003cp>The issues with some San Francisco ballots arrive on the heels of President Donald Trump’s multiple attacks on voting by mail this year — a system which he has claimed, without evidence, is rife with fraud. \u003c/p>\n"
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>The Trump administration’s efforts to limit voting by mail include an \u003ca href=\"https://www.whitehouse.gov/presidential-actions/2026/03/ensuring-citizenship-verification-and-integrity-in-federal-elections/\">executive order \u003c/a>attempting to give USPS the role of deciding who receives mail ballots, to a push for Congress to require photo identification at the polls.\u003c/p>\n",
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"\n\u003cp>The Trump administration’s efforts to limit voting by mail include an \u003ca href=\"https://www.whitehouse.gov/presidential-actions/2026/03/ensuring-citizenship-verification-and-integrity-in-federal-elections/\">executive order \u003c/a>attempting to give USPS the role of deciding who receives mail ballots, to a push for Congress to require photo identification at the polls.\u003c/p>\n"
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>And while these moves have failed so far, and are not in place this election season, USPS has also made some new changes to its mail collection process. \u003c/p>\n",
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"\n\u003cp>And while these moves have failed so far, and are not in place this election season, USPS has also made some new changes to its mail collection process. \u003c/p>\n"
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>These changes have resulted in slower service that particularly affects voters in rural areas, who will have their mail picked up later — with big consequences for ballots, which must be postmarked by Election Day itself in order to be counted. \u003ca href=\"https://www.kqed.org/news/12103028/should-you-use-usps-to-mail-your-midterm-ballot-heres-what-california-election-officials-say\">Read more about these changes to USPS services.\u003c/a>\u003c/p>\n",
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"\n\u003cp>These changes have resulted in slower service that particularly affects voters in rural areas, who will have their mail picked up later — with big consequences for ballots, which must be postmarked by Election Day itself in order to be counted. \u003ca href=\"https://www.kqed.org/news/12103028/should-you-use-usps-to-mail-your-midterm-ballot-heres-what-california-election-officials-say\">Read more about these changes to USPS services.\u003c/a>\u003c/p>\n"
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>In the last two statewide elections, Secretary of State Shirley Weber and Attorney General Rob Bonta urged voters planning to use USPS to mail in their ballots \u003ca href=\"https://oag.ca.gov/news/press-releases/attorney-general-bonta-and-secretary-state-weber-sacramento-vote-early-june\">at least a week before Election Day\u003c/a>, to account for those USPS changes — and to get a \u003ca href=\"https://www.sos.ca.gov/elections/voter-registration/vote-mail\">hand-stamped postmark\u003c/a> from an employee inside a post office, if mailing their ballot on Election Day itself is their only option, rather than simply dropping it in a USPS collection box.\u003c/p>\n",
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"\n\u003cp>In the last two statewide elections, Secretary of State Shirley Weber and Attorney General Rob Bonta urged voters planning to use USPS to mail in their ballots \u003ca href=\"https://oag.ca.gov/news/press-releases/attorney-general-bonta-and-secretary-state-weber-sacramento-vote-early-june\">at least a week before Election Day\u003c/a>, to account for those USPS changes — and to get a \u003ca href=\"https://www.sos.ca.gov/elections/voter-registration/vote-mail\">hand-stamped postmark\u003c/a> from an employee inside a post office, if mailing their ballot on Election Day itself is their only option, rather than simply dropping it in a USPS collection box.\u003c/p>\n"
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>Some election officials are steering voters away from using USPS entirely, including Sonoma County’s registrar of voters Evelyn Mendez, who told KQED that the county was “not really encouraging people to use the USPS to get their ballot here.” \u003c/p>\n",
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"\n\u003cp>Some election officials are steering voters away from using USPS entirely, including Sonoma County’s registrar of voters Evelyn Mendez, who told KQED that the county was “not really encouraging people to use the USPS to get their ballot here.” \u003c/p>\n"
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>Instead, Mendez said, voters should use secure county collection boxes, which are now open 24/7 through 8 p.m. on Election Day and bypass USPS entirely, making sure ballots reach the county’s election offices directly.\u003c/p>\n",
"innerContent": [
"\n\u003cp>Instead, Mendez said, voters should use secure county collection boxes, which are now open 24/7 through 8 p.m. on Election Day and bypass USPS entirely, making sure ballots reach the county’s election offices directly.\u003c/p>\n"
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>\u003ca href=\"https://www.kqed.org/news/12103028/should-you-use-usps-to-mail-your-midterm-ballot-heres-what-california-election-officials-say\">Read more about how to ensure your mail-in ballot is counted this election season.\u003c/a>\u003c/p>\n",
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"\n\u003cp>\u003ca href=\"https://www.kqed.org/news/12103028/should-you-use-usps-to-mail-your-midterm-ballot-heres-what-california-election-officials-say\">Read more about how to ensure your mail-in ballot is counted this election season.\u003c/a>\u003c/p>\n"
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>\u003cem>KQED’s \u003c/em>\u003ca href=\"https://www.kqed.org/author/ibloom\">\u003cem>Izzy Bloom\u003c/em>\u003c/a>\u003cem> contributed to this report.\u003c/em>\u003c/p>\n",
"innerContent": [
"\n\u003cp>\u003cem>KQED’s \u003c/em>\u003ca href=\"https://www.kqed.org/author/ibloom\">\u003cem>Izzy Bloom\u003c/em>\u003c/a>\u003cem> contributed to this report.\u003c/em>\u003c/p>\n"
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"excerpt": "If you’re one of the San Francisco voters whose ballot arrived ripped, here’s how to know if it’s still usable — and when you need a new one.",
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"content": "\u003cdiv class=\"post-body\">\u003cp>\n\u003cp>Counties began sending \u003ca href=\"https://www.kqed.org/voterguide/\">midterm election ballots\u003c/a> to every registered Bay Area voter this week — but some San Franciscans are \u003ca href=\"https://missionlocal.org/2026/10/san-francisco-ballot-torn-envelope/\">reporting \u003c/a>their ballots have arrived in envelopes that are torn or damaged.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>In \u003ca href=\"https://www.sf.gov/news-the-department-of-elections-provides-guidance-on-vote-by-mail-ballot-envelopes-for-the-november-3-2026-consolidated-general-election\">a public advisory\u003c/a>, posted Wednesday to the San Francisco Department of Elections website, the agency’s director John Arntz told voters that “tears in the outer mailing envelopes” wouldn’t affect their ability to use their ballots to vote in the Nov. 3 election, “as long as all four ballot cards and the ballot return envelope are intact.” \u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>However, some voters in the city are reporting that the ballot cards inside their envelopes have also arrived damaged. One of them, KQED News reporter \u003ca href=\"https://www.kqed.org/author/sjohnson\">Sydney Johnson\u003c/a>, said she and her partner had received ballots that were torn on both the outer envelopes, and her internal return envelope was also ripped.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>If you’re concerned your San Francisco ballot materials have also been damaged, \u003cstrong>\u003ca href=\"#what-to-do\">jump to what you should do now\u003c/a>.\u003c/strong>\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003ch2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">What happened to these ballots?\u003c/h2>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>Arntz attributed the damage to issues at the United States Postal Service, “which indicated that the tears occurred as some envelopes moved through its processing equipment.” \u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>In an email to KQED, USPS spokesperson Kristina Uppal said that the damage to some San Francisco ballot envelopes was due to their “thickness,” meaning a “small number of envelopes may have experienced damage during machine processing.”\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cfigure class=\"wp-block-image size-full\">\u003cimg loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"2000\" height=\"1333\" src=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/10/261008-SF-Ballot-Damaged-02-KQED-9e84a5a9.jpg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-12103502\" srcset=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/10/261008-SF-Ballot-Damaged-02-KQED-9e84a5a9.jpg 2000w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/10/261008-SF-Ballot-Damaged-02-KQED-9e84a5a9-160x107.jpg 160w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/10/261008-SF-Ballot-Damaged-02-KQED-9e84a5a9-1536x1024.jpg 1536w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 2000px) 100vw, 2000px\" />\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">A damaged San Francisco midterm ballot that was delivered to KQED reporter Sydney Johnson this week. (Sydney Johnson/KQED)\u003c/figcaption>\u003c/figure>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>“Upon observing the issue, USPS switched to manual processing for the remaining vote-by-mail packets,” Arntz said.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>“We sincerely apologize for any inconvenience this may have caused and remain fully committed to delivering every election mail piece safely and on time,” Uppal said.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>Election officials have sent out \u003ca href=\"https://www.sf.gov/news-the-department-of-elections-mails-vote-by-mail-ballots-to-locally-registered-voters-for-the-november-3-2026-consolidated-general-election\">more than 500,000 vote-by-mail ballots \u003c/a>to San Francisco voters, although it’s not yet clear just how many have been affected. \u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003ch2 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"what-to-do\">If you’re a San Francisco voter who’s worried about your ballot, here’s what to do\u003c/h2>\n\n\n\n\u003ch3 class=\"wp-block-heading\">First, check your ballot envelope and the contents inside \u003c/h3>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>Arntz said that if you spot any tearing in your San Francisco ballot envelope, you should (carefully) open the envelope to check it contains the following:\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n\u003cli>All four ballot cards\u003c/li>\n\n\n\n\u003cli>A ballot return envelope\u003c/li>\n\n\n\n\u003cli>An insert with voting instructions\u003c/li>\n\u003c/ul>\n\n\n\n\u003cfigure class=\"wp-block-image size-full\">\u003cimg loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"2000\" height=\"1333\" src=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/08/251030-BayAreaVoters-06-BL_qed.jpg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-12095745\" srcset=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/08/251030-BayAreaVoters-06-BL_qed.jpg 2000w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/08/251030-BayAreaVoters-06-BL_qed-160x107.jpg 160w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/08/251030-BayAreaVoters-06-BL_qed-1536x1024.jpg 1536w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 2000px) 100vw, 2000px\" />\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">A voter is given a sticker after dropping his ballot at City Hall in San Francisco on Oct. 30, 2025, ahead of the statewide special election. (Beth LaBerge/KQED)\u003c/figcaption>\u003c/figure>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>“If all four ballot cards and the ballot return envelope are intact, voters can mark their ballots and return them using the ballot return envelope provided,” Arntz said.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>Elsewhere, Arntz has \u003ca href=\"https://www.kron4.com/news/politics/sf-voters-receive-damaged-ballot-envelopes-officials-offer-simple-explanation/\">described \u003c/a>the outer envelope as “just a package to give the ballot to people.” In other words, once your ballot has arrived, you don’t actually use that outer envelope again in any of the voting process — which is why its damage won’t stop you from voting.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003ch3 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Was anything damaged inside? Get a new ballot\u003c/h3>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>If the \u003cem>contents \u003c/em>of your ballot show any sign of damage, you can request a new ballot from the San Francisco Department of Elections.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>People across all Bay Area counties request new ballots all the time, often because they’ve made a mistake (or just spilled coffee on them), so there’s already a process to request yours. You can do that by:\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n\u003cli>Calling the SF Department of Elections at 415-558-6100\u003c/li>\n\n\n\n\u003cli>Emailing them at \u003ca href=\"mailto:sfvote@sfgov.org\">sfvote@sfgov.org\u003c/a>\u003c/li>\n\n\n\n\u003cli>Logging into the SF Elections \u003ca href=\"https://sfelections.org/tools/portal/\">Voter Portal\u003c/a>\u003c/li>\n\n\n\n\u003cli>Going to the SF Department of Elections in person during opening hours (located in Room 48 at San Francisco City Hall, open Mon-Fri 8 a.m—5 p.m., closed weekends and on Oct. 12)\u003c/li>\n\u003c/ul>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>You can also take your damaged ballot to \u003ca href=\"https://www.sf.gov/vote-in-person\">your assigned polling place\u003c/a> on Election Day, Nov. 3, and vote in person at any time until 8 p.m.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003ch2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Should I be worried about mail-in voting this election season?\u003c/h2>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>The issues with some San Francisco ballots arrive on the heels of President Donald Trump’s multiple attacks on voting by mail this year — a system which he has claimed, without evidence, is rife with fraud. \u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\u003cp>The Trump administration’s efforts to limit voting by mail include an \u003ca href=\"https://www.whitehouse.gov/presidential-actions/2026/03/ensuring-citizenship-verification-and-integrity-in-federal-elections/\">executive order \u003c/a>attempting to give USPS the role of deciding who receives mail ballots, to a push for Congress to require photo identification at the polls.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>And while these moves have failed so far, and are not in place this election season, USPS has also made some new changes to its mail collection process. \u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>These changes have resulted in slower service that particularly affects voters in rural areas, who will have their mail picked up later — with big consequences for ballots, which must be postmarked by Election Day itself in order to be counted. \u003ca href=\"https://www.kqed.org/news/12103028/should-you-use-usps-to-mail-your-midterm-ballot-heres-what-california-election-officials-say\">Read more about these changes to USPS services.\u003c/a>\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>In the last two statewide elections, Secretary of State Shirley Weber and Attorney General Rob Bonta urged voters planning to use USPS to mail in their ballots \u003ca href=\"https://oag.ca.gov/news/press-releases/attorney-general-bonta-and-secretary-state-weber-sacramento-vote-early-june\">at least a week before Election Day\u003c/a>, to account for those USPS changes — and to get a \u003ca href=\"https://www.sos.ca.gov/elections/voter-registration/vote-mail\">hand-stamped postmark\u003c/a> from an employee inside a post office, if mailing their ballot on Election Day itself is their only option, rather than simply dropping it in a USPS collection box.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>Some election officials are steering voters away from using USPS entirely, including Sonoma County’s registrar of voters Evelyn Mendez, who told KQED that the county was “not really encouraging people to use the USPS to get their ballot here.” \u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>Instead, Mendez said, voters should use secure county collection boxes, which are now open 24/7 through 8 p.m. on Election Day and bypass USPS entirely, making sure ballots reach the county’s election offices directly.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>\u003ca href=\"https://www.kqed.org/news/12103028/should-you-use-usps-to-mail-your-midterm-ballot-heres-what-california-election-officials-say\">Read more about how to ensure your mail-in ballot is counted this election season.\u003c/a>\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>\u003cem>KQED’s \u003c/em>\u003ca href=\"https://www.kqed.org/author/ibloom\">\u003cem>Izzy Bloom\u003c/em>\u003c/a>\u003cem> contributed to this report.\u003c/em>\u003c/p>\n\u003c/div>\u003c/p>",
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"slug": "california-midterms-elections-2026-vote-for-governor-ballot-signature-how-to-correct-mistake",
"title": "Midterms 2026: Read This Before You Fill Out Your California Ballot (or Need to Correct a Mistake)",
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"headTitle": "Midterms 2026: Read This Before You Fill Out Your California Ballot (or Need to Correct a Mistake) | KQED",
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"content": "\n\u003cp>It’s time to vote in the \u003ca href=\"https://www.kqed.org/news/tag/california\">California\u003c/a> 2026 midterm election — which includes your chance to decide who’ll be the state’s next governor. \u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>If you’re a registered California voter, your ballot is on its way in the next few days, if it hasn’t already arrived. Your last day to vote will be Election Day itself, Nov. 3.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>But what if you’re unsure of how to fill that ballot out according to how you want to vote? Or what to do if you’ve made a mistake on it?\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>Read on to learn how to fill out your ballot when it arrives, how important your signature is, and your options if you need to start again with a fresh ballot.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n\u003cli>\u003cstrong>Jump to: \u003ca href=\"#mistake\">I messed up my ballot. What should I do? \u003c/a>\u003c/strong>\u003c/li>\n\u003c/ul>\n\n\n\n\u003ch2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">First of all: Am I registered to vote?\u003c/h2>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>The official deadline to \u003ca href=\"https://www.sos.ca.gov/elections/voter-registration/\">register online to vote \u003c/a>is Monday, Oct. 19.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>So if you’re unsure whether you’re already registered to vote or can’t remember which party preference you already have, \u003ca href=\"https://voterstatus.sos.ca.gov/\">check your voter registration details\u003c/a> ASAP.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\u003cdiv class=\"wp-block-image\">\n\u003cfigure class=\"aligncenter size-full\">\u003cimg loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"2000\" height=\"1275\" src=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/09/YouthVoterGetty.jpg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-12102009\" srcset=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/09/YouthVoterGetty.jpg 2000w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/09/YouthVoterGetty-160x102.jpg 160w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/09/YouthVoterGetty-1536x979.jpg 1536w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 2000px) 100vw, 2000px\" />\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">Potential young voters get information at a voter registration desk at Voter Fest 2024, an event designed to engage young voters and historically underserved communities on Oct. 22, 2024, at Cal State Los Angeles. (Frederic J. Brown/AFP via Getty Images)\u003c/figcaption>\u003c/figure>\n\u003c/div>\n\n\n\u003cp>Remember, if you’ve changed your name or want to change the political party choice you previously registered to vote with, or you’ve moved address, you’ll need to \u003ca href=\"https://www.sos.ca.gov/elections/voter-registration/\">re-register\u003c/a>.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>Making sure you’re registered — and to the right address — is crucial for getting your ballot on time. \u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>And if you miss the deadline to register, don’t panic: That’s the last day to do it \u003cem>online\u003c/em>. After Oct. 19, you can still complete the \u003ca href=\"https://www.sos.ca.gov/elections/voter-registration/same-day-reg/\">same-day voter registration\u003c/a> process (also known as “conditional voting”) and receive your ballot in person at your county elections office or polling location, all the way up to 8 p.m. on Election Day itself.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003ch2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">What’s on my 2026 midterm elections ballot?\u003c/h2>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>Depending on which county you live in, your California ballot will present you with \u003ca href=\"https://www.kqed.org/voterguide\">a mix of races\u003c/a> to vote on.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003ch3 class=\"wp-block-heading\">The races for statewide offices include:\u003c/h3>\n\n\n\n\u003cul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n\u003cli>\u003ca href=\"https://www.kqed.org/voterguide/california/governor\">Governor\u003c/a>: Democrat Xavier Becerra and Republican Steve Hilton face off in a race to succeed Governor Gavin Newsom.\u003c/li>\n\n\n\n\u003cli>\u003ca href=\"https://www.kqed.org/voterguide/california/insurance-commissioner\">Insurance commissioner\u003c/a>: Wildfires and inflation have thrown California into an insurance crisis. Two Democrats, Ben Allen and Jane Kim, are running to become the insurance industry’s chief regulator.\u003c/li>\n\u003c/ul>\n\n\n\n\u003cfigure class=\"wp-block-gallery has-nested-images columns-default is-cropped wp-block-gallery-3 is-layout-flex wp-block-gallery-is-layout-flex\">\n\u003cfigure class=\"wp-block-image size-large\">\u003cimg loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"2000\" height=\"1333\" data-id=\"12078808\" src=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/04/SteveHiltonAP.jpg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-12078808\" srcset=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/04/SteveHiltonAP.jpg 2000w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/04/SteveHiltonAP-160x107.jpg 160w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/04/SteveHiltonAP-1536x1024.jpg 1536w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 2000px) 100vw, 2000px\" />\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">Steve Hilton speaks during the California gubernatorial candidate debate on Feb. 3, 2026, in San Francisco. (Laure Andrillon/AP Photo)\u003c/figcaption>\u003c/figure>\n\n\n\n\u003cfigure class=\"wp-block-image size-large\">\u003cimg loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"2000\" height=\"1333\" data-id=\"12086476\" src=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/06/Xavier-Becerra-Getty.jpg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-12086476\" srcset=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/06/Xavier-Becerra-Getty.jpg 2000w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/06/Xavier-Becerra-Getty-160x107.jpg 160w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/06/Xavier-Becerra-Getty-1536x1024.jpg 1536w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 2000px) 100vw, 2000px\" />\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">Xavier Becerra, a candidate for governor, speaks to supporters on election night on June 2, 2026. (David Crane/MediaNews Group/Los Angeles Daily News via Getty Images)\u003c/figcaption>\u003c/figure>\n\u003c/figure>\n\n\n\n\u003ch3 class=\"wp-block-heading\">A number of statewide propositions, including:\u003c/h3>\n\n\n\n\u003cul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n\u003cli>\u003ca href=\"https://www.kqed.org/voterguide/california/proposition-1\">Prop. 1\u003c/a>: Should California issue $11.25 billion in general obligation bonds for affordable housing, homebuying opportunities and veterans and homelessness programs?\u003c/li>\n\n\n\n\u003cli>\u003ca href=\"https://www.kqed.org/voterguide/california/proposition-39\">Prop 39\u003c/a>: Should Californians be required to show ID for in-person and mail-in voting? \u003c/li>\n\n\n\n\u003cli>\u003ca href=\"https://www.kqed.org/voterguide/california/proposition-40\">Prop 40: \u003c/a>Should California tax the wealth of billionaires to fund health care services?\u003c/li>\n\u003c/ul>\n\n\n\n\u003ch3 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Local measures and races \u003c/h3>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>These will depend on your Bay Area county or district. See \u003ca href=\"https://www.kqed.org/voterguide\">the KQED Voter Guide for more information\u003c/a> on what’s on your ballot this election season.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003ch2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">How do I return my ballot when I’ve completed it?\u003c/h2>\n\n\n\n\u003ch3 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Drop off your ballot in a secure ballot drop box\u003c/h3>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>These drop boxes \u003ca href=\"https://www.sos.ca.gov/elections/upcoming-elections/general-election-november-3-2026\">open by Oct. 5\u003c/a>, and once submitted, your ballot will be taken straight to your local county elections office.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>Some elections officials strongly recommend using these drop boxes over using USPS. “We’re not really encouraging people to use the USPS to get their ballot here,” said Evelyn Mendez, Sonoma County’s registrar of voters. \u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>Instead, Mendez tells voters to use county collection boxes because they skip the Postal Service altogether.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003ch3 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Return your ballot through the Postal Service \u003c/h3>\n\n\n\n\n\n\u003cp>The return postage is already paid for you. Keep in mind that the Postal Service must postmark your ballot envelope by the end of Election Day for your vote to count — and the last collection at many mailboxes is 5 p.m. \u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>However, in the last two statewide elections, Secretary of State Shirley Weber and Attorney General Rob Bonta urged any voters planning to use USPS to mail in their ballots \u003ca href=\"https://oag.ca.gov/news/press-releases/attorney-general-bonta-and-secretary-state-weber-sacramento-vote-early-june\">at \u003cem>least \u003c/em>a week before Election Day\u003c/a> — to account for \u003ca href=\"https://www.kqed.org/news/12103028/should-you-use-usps-to-mail-your-midterm-ballot-heres-what-california-election-officials-say\">changes in the way USPS is collected\u003c/a> and postmarked in many areas. \u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>And if you’re mailing your midterm ballot on Election Day itself, Weber’s office is recommending you \u003ca href=\"https://www.sos.ca.gov/elections/voter-registration/vote-mail\">“get a hand-stamped postmark\u003c/a> from a postal employee inside a United States Post Office” rather than simply dropping it in a USPS collection box.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003ch3 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Drop off your ballot in an open voting location\u003c/h3>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>\u003ca href=\"https://www.sos.ca.gov/elections/upcoming-elections/general-election-november-3-2026\">The first vote centers open \u003c/a>Oct. 24 in certain counties, with more early voting locations opening Oct. 31.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>Submitting your ballot by hand this way is the top recommendation of Kim Alexander, president and founder of the non-partisan California Voter Foundation. You can fill your ballot out in-person at a voting location, and submit it directly there and then. \u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>Or, if you live in \u003ca href=\"https://calvoter.org/content/sign-scan-and-go\">one of the California counties\u003c/a> which has adopted the “Sign & Go” system — in the Bay Area, that’s Alameda, Contra Costa, Marin and Napa — you can complete your ballot at your convenience at home, and then bring it to a participating vote center and sign the voter roster under penalty of perjury (just as you would for in-person voting) to submit it in person. And if you live in a county which has adopted “Sign, Scan & Go”, like San Mateo, you can do all of the above and then scan your ballot yourself to have your vote recorded immediately at the voting site. \u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003ch2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Do I \u003cem>have\u003c/em> to vote by mail?\u003c/h2>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>No. \u003ca href=\"https://www.sos.ca.gov/elections/voter-registration/vote-mail\">If you’re registered to vote, you’ll be receiving a mail-in ballot by default\u003c/a> for the 2026 midterms, without requesting it. But voting by mail is still just one option that’s open to you.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>You can still vote in person, either at an early voting location before Election Day or on Election Day, Nov. 3, itself. \u003ca href=\"https://caearlyvoting.sos.ca.gov/\">Early voting locations will open starting Oct. 24.\u003c/a>\u003c/p>\n\n\n\u003cdiv class=\"wp-block-image\">\n\u003cfigure class=\"aligncenter size-full\">\u003cimg loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"2000\" height=\"1333\" src=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2024/11/20241102_EARLYVOTINGMARIN_GC-5-KQED.jpg\" alt=\"A person puts a yellow ballot envelope in a ballot drop box.\" class=\"wp-image-12012711\" srcset=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2024/11/20241102_EARLYVOTINGMARIN_GC-5-KQED.jpg 2000w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2024/11/20241102_EARLYVOTINGMARIN_GC-5-KQED-800x533.jpg 800w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2024/11/20241102_EARLYVOTINGMARIN_GC-5-KQED-1020x680.jpg 1020w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2024/11/20241102_EARLYVOTINGMARIN_GC-5-KQED-160x107.jpg 160w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2024/11/20241102_EARLYVOTINGMARIN_GC-5-KQED-1536x1024.jpg 1536w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2024/11/20241102_EARLYVOTINGMARIN_GC-5-KQED-1920x1280.jpg 1920w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 2000px) 100vw, 2000px\" />\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">A voter drops off their mail-in ballot at a drop box outside of Novato City Hall on Nov. 2, 2024. (Gina Castro/KQED)\u003c/figcaption>\u003c/figure>\n\u003c/div>\n\n\n\u003ch2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">How do I fix a mistake on my ballot?\u003c/h2>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>It’s important to note that each county is slightly different in how they’d prefer you to address a mistake on your ballot, and will often provide specific details about corrections \u003cem>on\u003c/em> the ballot itself. If you have a specific question about your ballot that isn’t answered here, you can always contact your local registrar of voters for advice and instructions.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003ch3 class=\"wp-block-heading\">What if I have problems with my signature?\u003c/h3>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>When you’re done filling out your ballot, you must sign the envelope. But two big mistakes people make with their signatures are:\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n\u003cli>Forgetting to sign their ballot entirely.\u003c/li>\n\n\n\n\u003cli>Making a signature that doesn’t match the signature they made when they registered to vote.\u003c/li>\n\u003c/ul>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>Why \u003cem>wouldn’t\u003c/em> your signature match the one on file? If you registered to vote at a young age, maybe your signature has changed over time. Or perhaps you registered to vote at the DMV and provided your signature on a screen with a stylus, which doesn’t quite replicate how you’d make your signature with a pen on paper.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\u003cdiv class=\"wp-block-image\">\n\u003cfigure class=\"aligncenter size-full\">\u003cimg loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"1999\" height=\"1333\" src=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/06/251104-SCCVOTE-JG-05_qed.jpg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-12088632\" srcset=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/06/251104-SCCVOTE-JG-05_qed.jpg 1999w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/06/251104-SCCVOTE-JG-05_qed-160x107.jpg 160w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/06/251104-SCCVOTE-JG-05_qed-1536x1024.jpg 1536w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 1999px) 100vw, 1999px\" />\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">Edgardo Domingo fills out a ballot at a voting booth at the Vietnamese American Cultural Center in San José on Tuesday, Nov. 4, 2025. (Joseph Geha/KQED)\u003c/figcaption>\u003c/figure>\n\u003c/div>\n\n\n\u003cp>If you registered this way, one simple way to avoid any signature problems is to take a quick glance at the signature that’s on your driver’s license or state ID — because that’s the one you want your ballot signature to match.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>Even if you didn’t register at the DMV, that signature on your most recent license or state ID is still very likely the one to emulate. That’s because when you register to vote online, your county elections office electronically requests a copy of the signature the DMV \u003cem>currently\u003c/em> has for you, and this information is regularly updated.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>To further set your mind at rest, know that California isn’t an “exact match” state, and doesn’t demand voters’ signatures 100% replicate the signature that’s on file.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003ch3 class=\"wp-block-heading\">What if I just don’t know my ‘correct’ signature I’m registered to vote with?\u003c/h3>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>If you’re \u003cem>really\u003c/em> worried about the signature on your envelope not matching the signature you’re registered to vote with, there are two good solutions.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>One: If it’s on or before Oct. 19, you can \u003ca href=\"https://registertovote.ca.gov/\">reregister to vote with your current signature\u003c/a>, to be sure that the state now has your most recent one on file. If you are reregistering after Oct. 19, you’d need to complete the \u003ca href=\"https://www.sos.ca.gov/elections/voter-registration/same-day-reg/\">same-day voter registration\u003c/a> process (also known as “conditional voting”) and request your ballot in person at your county elections office or polling location.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\u003cp>In 2021, the California Voter Foundation’s Alexander, told us there’s another solution if you’re worried about your signature: Go vote in person, if you’re able.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>That’s because the signature goes only on your ballot’s \u003cem>envelope\u003c/em> — and if you’re voting in person, there’s no envelope, because that ballot then goes straight into the ballot box without needing that envelope at all.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>“So if you want that satisfaction of seeing your ballot drop in the box and know that it’s not going to get held up because of some signature issue, you can go and vote in person,” said Alexander.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003ch3 class=\"wp-block-heading\">I already mailed my ballot, but now I’m paranoid about my signature. What if I messed it up?\u003c/h3>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>Rest assured: There’s a whole system in place to help you correct your mistake.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>If your county’s election office detects a signature mismatch on your ballot, they’ll reach out to you via mail to verify and work with you to correct it, so that your ballot can be counted after all. It’s called “curing” a ballot.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>This system is also applied when it looks like a member of a voter’s family might have signed their ballot, instead of the voter. This happens a \u003cem>surprising\u003c/em> amount when one household has several voters who all receive a ballot in the mail.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>One way to get peace of mind: \u003ca href=\"https://california.ballottrax.net/voter/\">Sign up to track your ballot\u003c/a>, and you’ll find out about any issues with your ballot or your signature quickly.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003ch2 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"mistake\">I made a mistake on my ballot. How do I fix it?\u003c/h2>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>First, don’t panic. People make mistakes on ballots and find good ways to correct them.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>Counties give different directions to voters about what to do if they make a mistake (remember: Read the instructions!), but you can usually simply X out the choice you didn’t intend.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\u003cdiv class=\"wp-block-image\">\n\u003cfigure class=\"aligncenter size-full\">\u003cimg loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"2000\" height=\"1333\" src=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/06/20260602_PRIMARY2026CD4_GC-20-KQED.jpg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-12085889\" srcset=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/06/20260602_PRIMARY2026CD4_GC-20-KQED.jpg 2000w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/06/20260602_PRIMARY2026CD4_GC-20-KQED-160x107.jpg 160w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/06/20260602_PRIMARY2026CD4_GC-20-KQED-1536x1024.jpg 1536w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 2000px) 100vw, 2000px\" />\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">Voters cast their ballots at UC Davis in Davis on June 2, 2026. (Gina Castro for KQED)\u003c/figcaption>\u003c/figure>\n\u003c/div>\n\n\n\u003cp>The job of county elections officials — once they’ve verified your signature — is to make sure your ballot can be read correctly. If that means that your corrections on your ballot have resulted in readability issues, officials working in teams of two will actually remake it for you according to the intent you’ve signaled with your corrections.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>Some counties, like Alameda, ask that you actually contact them first if you make a serious mistake — including voting for the wrong candidate — so they can send you a replacement ballot. So, wherever you live, it’s a good idea to check with your local elections office first to see what \u003cem>they\u003c/em> recommend if you made a mistake.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>And remember, there’s always this option …\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003ch2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">What if I just want a new ballot?\u003c/h2>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>If you’ve made a big mistake on your ballot — too big to fix — your best plan of action may be to focus on getting a new one. And that’s totally OK. You can:\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n\u003cli>Call your county elections office and ask them to cancel that ballot and issue a new one to you.\u003c/li>\n\n\n\n\u003cli>Go to your county elections office with your spoiled ballot during business hours and vote right there at the counter.\u003c/li>\n\n\n\n\u003cli>Take advantage of the early voting options available in many counties.\u003c/li>\n\n\n\n\u003cli>Go to a voting site on Election Day, Nov. 3, turn in your spoiled ballot there and get a new ballot.\u003c/li>\n\u003c/ul>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>You can also do this if you’ve accidentally damaged your ballot in some way (coffee spills happen).\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003ch2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">I think I put the wrong date on my envelope\u003c/h2>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>First off, that date should be the date you signed your envelope — not your date of birth. \u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>But if you’re worried you messed up the date, don’t worry. Elections officials say that the date they’re \u003cem>really\u003c/em> looking for is the date that the ballot is postmarked, to make sure it was submitted on time.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\u003cdiv class=\"wp-block-image\">\n\u003cfigure class=\"aligncenter size-full\">\u003cimg loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"2000\" height=\"1333\" src=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/09/002_KQED_SanFrancisco_Election2020_MailinBallot_10122020_qed.jpg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-12099795\" srcset=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/09/002_KQED_SanFrancisco_Election2020_MailinBallot_10122020_qed.jpg 2000w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/09/002_KQED_SanFrancisco_Election2020_MailinBallot_10122020_qed-160x107.jpg 160w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/09/002_KQED_SanFrancisco_Election2020_MailinBallot_10122020_qed-1536x1024.jpg 1536w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 2000px) 100vw, 2000px\" />\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">A San Francisco official mail-in ballot for the Nov. 3, 2020 election. (Beth LaBerge/KQED)\u003c/figcaption>\u003c/figure>\n\u003c/div>\n\n\n\u003cp>Election officials will only truly scrutinize the date you’ve written if they receive your ballot \u003cem>after\u003c/em> Election Day.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>And if you haven’t mailed your envelope yet, it’s an easy fix: Just clearly cross out the incorrect date on the envelope and write in the correct one above it.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003ch2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">What if I use assistive technology to complete forms?\u003c/h2>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>Getting physical assistance with filling out your ballot from someone you trust is always fine, whether you’re voting at home or at a voting site. \u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>You just need to make sure your signature is your own and matches the one you’re registered to vote with.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\u003cdiv class=\"wp-block-image\">\n\u003cfigure class=\"aligncenter size-full\">\u003cimg loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"2000\" height=\"1333\" src=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2025/10/251030-BAYAREAVOTERS-32-BL-KQED.jpg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-12062371\" srcset=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2025/10/251030-BAYAREAVOTERS-32-BL-KQED.jpg 2000w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2025/10/251030-BAYAREAVOTERS-32-BL-KQED-160x107.jpg 160w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2025/10/251030-BAYAREAVOTERS-32-BL-KQED-1536x1024.jpg 1536w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 2000px) 100vw, 2000px\" />\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">Tessa King drops off a ballot at the City Hall Voting Center in San Francisco on Oct. 30, 2025, ahead of the statewide special election. (Beth LaBerge/KQED)\u003c/figcaption>\u003c/figure>\n\u003c/div>\n\n\n\u003cp>Disabled voters can also choose to use the \u003ca href=\"https://www.sos.ca.gov/elections/voting-resources/remote-accessible-vote-mail\">Remote Accessible Vote-by-Mail\u003c/a> system to vote privately and independently at home, using their usual assistive device on their home computer to fill out the ballot on their screen and then print and mail it.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>Every voting location in California is also equipped with an accessible voting unit. Here, voters with blindness or low vision or who have a disability that limits their dexterity, will be able to use the assistive device of their choice that allows them to vote privately and independently.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003ch2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">How can I make sure my mail-in ballot gets there on time? \u003c/h2>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>Remember, one big reason that ballots get disqualified in elections is that voters mail them too late: either too late on Election Day itself (after U.S. Postal Service mailboxes have already been collected), or after Election Day.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>To be counted in this election, your ballot must be postmarked on Election Day, Nov. 3, at the latest. Your ballot has seven days to reach your county elections office.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>So in this election, it’s as crucial as ever to make sure you have a plan for voting on time. And if you’re not voting in person, that means making sure you get your ballot into a USPS mailbox or into a secure voting drop box, at a polling location or your county elections office, by the time polls close on Nov. 3.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>Read more about why \u003ca href=\"https://www.kqed.org/news/12103028/should-you-use-usps-to-mail-your-midterm-ballot-heres-what-california-election-officials-say\">California election officials are urging voters to make sure their ballot arrives on time\u003c/a> – and why they’re urging caution around using USPS too close to Election Day.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003ch2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">A few other common ballot mistakes to watch out for …\u003c/h2>\n\n\n\n\u003ch3 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Make sure you’re filling out and signing the ballot and envelope with \u003cem>your\u003c/em> name on it: \u003c/h3>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>It’s common to see partners or roommates accidentally mix up their ballots. So make sure you’re signing the document that bears your name.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003ch3 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Make sure you use a black or blue pen: \u003c/h3>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>It reads better, and it doesn’t slow workers down when they have to check to see what voter intent was. (Don’t use a felt-tip or a Sharpie that bleeds through the paper and marks other pages on your ballot.)\u003c/p>\n\n\n\u003cdiv class=\"wp-block-image\">\n\u003cfigure class=\"aligncenter size-full\">\u003cimg loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"1999\" height=\"1333\" src=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/05/003_KQED_SanFrancisco_Election2020_TanyaYule_10092020_qed.jpg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-12084638\" srcset=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/05/003_KQED_SanFrancisco_Election2020_TanyaYule_10092020_qed.jpg 1999w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/05/003_KQED_SanFrancisco_Election2020_TanyaYule_10092020_qed-160x107.jpg 160w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/05/003_KQED_SanFrancisco_Election2020_TanyaYule_10092020_qed-1536x1024.jpg 1536w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 1999px) 100vw, 1999px\" />\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">Tanya Yule looks over a voting guide at her home in San Francisco on Oct. 9, 2020. (Beth LaBerge/KQED)\u003c/figcaption>\u003c/figure>\n\u003c/div>\n\n\n\u003ch3 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Don’t mail an empty envelope: \u003c/h3>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>It does happen. Keeping your envelope and your ballot together in your home might be a helpful way of avoiding this problem. And of course, when you’re ready to mail your ballot, make sure it’s actually inside the envelope before you seal it.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003ch3 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Don’t bother with a stamp: \u003c/h3>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>Your ballot envelope is postage-paid. You don’t need it.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003ch2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">My ballot is missing or hasn’t arrived. What should I do?\u003c/h2>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>If you’re reading this and you’re worried that your ballot hasn’t arrived yet, make sure you’re not worrying \u003cem>too \u003c/em>early, as the deadline for counties to \u003cem>start \u003c/em>sending out ballots is only Oct. 5.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>But if it gets to late October and your ballot still hasn’t materialized, don’t panic: You have options. Here’s what to do:\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003ch3 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Check that you’re actually registered to vote — and to the right address\u003c/h3>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>\u003ca href=\"https://voterstatus.sos.ca.gov/\">Input your details on the secretary of state’s voter status page\u003c/a> to check your registration status. This will show whether you’re actually registered to vote, and to which address. It should also show whether your ballot was mailed out.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>You can also use \u003ca href=\"https://california.ballottrax.net/voter/\">the Where’s My Ballot? tool\u003c/a> to check whether your ballot has been sent.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\u003cdiv class=\"wp-block-image\">\n\u003cfigure class=\"aligncenter size-full\">\u003cimg loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"2000\" height=\"1333\" src=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/08/251030-BayAreaVoters-06-BL_qed.jpg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-12095745\" srcset=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/08/251030-BayAreaVoters-06-BL_qed.jpg 2000w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/08/251030-BayAreaVoters-06-BL_qed-160x107.jpg 160w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/08/251030-BayAreaVoters-06-BL_qed-1536x1024.jpg 1536w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 2000px) 100vw, 2000px\" />\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">A voter is given a sticker after dropping his ballot at City Hall in San Francisco on Oct. 30, 2025, ahead of the statewide special election. (Beth LaBerge/KQED)\u003c/figcaption>\u003c/figure>\n\u003c/div>\n\n\n\u003ch3 class=\"wp-block-heading\">If you’re registered to the wrong address, you can update it before Oct. 19 \u003c/h3>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>If you update your voter registration and address using \u003ca href=\"https://voterstatus.sos.ca.gov/\">the secretary of state’s voter status page\u003c/a> before the Oct. 19 deadline to register online, your county will cancel the ballot that went to your old address and send you a new one.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>And if it turns out your ballot \u003cem>was \u003c/em>missing because your voter registration wasn’t updated, don’t feel bad — people move all the time and forget to update their registrations accordingly.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>The California Voter Foundation’s Alexander confirmed to KQED in 2021 that updating your address at the post office doesn’t, in fact, update your voter registration. The DMV, on the other hand, \u003cem>will\u003c/em> update your voter registration details if you update your address with them.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003ch3 class=\"wp-block-heading\">If your voter registration address was correct but your ballot never showed up, you still have options\u003c/h3>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>If it’s more than six days before Election Day, you can call your county elections office and ask them to send a new ballot. Find your county elections office in our contact list (below). \u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>Your county elections office won’t mail you a ballot six days or less before Election Day, because it can’t be sure it’ll reach you in time. So if you’re trying to get a ballot in the immediate run-up to Election Day, go to your county elections office in person and request one at the counter.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\u003cdiv class=\"wp-block-image\">\n\u003cfigure class=\"aligncenter size-full\">\u003cimg loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"2000\" height=\"1353\" src=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/06/CaliforniaElection2026Getty-e1781204236548.jpg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-12087079\"/>\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">An election worker processes mail-in ballots for the California state primary election at the Los Angeles County Ballot Processing Center on June 5, 2026, in City of Industry, California. (Justin Sullivan/Getty Images)\u003c/figcaption>\u003c/figure>\n\u003c/div>\n\n\n\u003cp>From Oct. 5, your county elections office will be open for early voting through Nov. 3, so you could also go there in person during opening hours and vote right there at the counter. More early voting locations will be opening throughout October.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>And remember, if you’re \u003cem>not\u003c/em> actually registered to vote, you always have the option of \u003ca href=\"https://www.sos.ca.gov/elections/voter-registration/same-day-reg\">same-day voter registration\u003c/a>, also known as conditional voter registration, at a voting location, where you can then fill out and submit your ballot, too.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003ch2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Contact your county directly\u003c/h2>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>Across the Bay Area, elections officials are encouraging voters to reach out — early — with any questions or concerns. Here’s the contact information for your county:\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n\u003cli>\u003ca href=\"https://acvote.alamedacountyca.gov/index\">\u003cstrong>Alameda\u003c/strong>\u003c/a>: For information about voting by mail, registration and polling place lookup, call 510-267-8683\u003c/li>\n\n\n\n\u003cli>\u003ca href=\"https://www.contracostavote.gov/elections/\">\u003cstrong>Contra Costa\u003c/strong>\u003c/a>: Call 925-335-7800 or email voter.services@vote.cccounty.us\u003c/li>\n\n\n\n\u003cli>\u003ca href=\"https://www.marincounty.org/depts/rv\">\u003cstrong>Marin\u003c/strong>\u003c/a>: Call 415-473-6456 or go to the Marin County elections webpage to \u003ca href=\"https://www.marincounty.org/depts/rv/contact-us\">send a form email\u003c/a>\u003c/li>\n\n\n\n\u003cli>\u003ca href=\"https://www.countyofnapa.org/396/Elections\">\u003cstrong>Napa\u003c/strong>\u003c/a>: Call 707-253-4321 or email the elections office at elections@countyofnapa.org\u003c/li>\n\n\n\n\u003cli>\u003ca href=\"https://sfelections.sfgov.org\">\u003cstrong>San Francisco\u003c/strong>\u003c/a>: Call 415-554-4375 or email sfvote@sfgov.org\u003c/li>\n\n\n\n\u003cli>\u003ca href=\"https://www.smcacre.org/elections\">\u003cstrong>San Mateo\u003c/strong>\u003c/a>: Call 888- 762-8683 or email registrar@smcacre.org\u003c/li>\n\n\n\n\u003cli>\u003ca href=\"https://www.sccgov.org/sites/rov/Pages/Registrar-of-Voters.aspx\">\u003cstrong>Santa Clara\u003c/strong>\u003c/a>: Call toll-free at 866-430-VOTE (8683) or email registrar@rov.sccgov.org\u003c/li>\n\n\n\n\u003cli>\u003ca href=\"https://www.solanocounty.com/depts/rov/default.asp\">\u003cstrong>Solano\u003c/strong>\u003c/a>\u003cstrong>: \u003c/strong>Call 707-784-6675 or (888) 933-VOTE (8683). You can also email elections@solanocounty.com\u003c/li>\n\n\n\n\u003cli>\u003ca href=\"https://sonomacounty.ca.gov/CRA/Registrar-of-Voters/\">\u003cstrong>Sonoma\u003c/strong>\u003c/a>: Call 707-565-6800 or toll-free at 800-750-8683\u003c/li>\n\u003c/ul>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>The state also has a full list of \u003ca href=\"https://www.sos.ca.gov/elections/voting-resources/county-elections-offices/\">every county elections office in California\u003c/a>.\u003c/p>\n",
"blocks": [
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>It’s time to vote in the \u003ca href=\"https://www.kqed.org/news/tag/california\">California\u003c/a> 2026 midterm election — which includes your chance to decide who’ll be the state’s next governor. \u003c/p>\n",
"innerContent": [
"\n\u003cp>It’s time to vote in the \u003ca href=\"https://www.kqed.org/news/tag/california\">California\u003c/a> 2026 midterm election — which includes your chance to decide who’ll be the state’s next governor. \u003c/p>\n"
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>If you’re a registered California voter, your ballot is on its way in the next few days, if it hasn’t already arrived. Your last day to vote will be Election Day itself, Nov. 3.\u003c/p>\n",
"innerContent": [
"\n\u003cp>If you’re a registered California voter, your ballot is on its way in the next few days, if it hasn’t already arrived. Your last day to vote will be Election Day itself, Nov. 3.\u003c/p>\n"
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>But what if you’re unsure of how to fill that ballot out according to how you want to vote? Or what to do if you’ve made a mistake on it?\u003c/p>\n",
"innerContent": [
"\n\u003cp>But what if you’re unsure of how to fill that ballot out according to how you want to vote? Or what to do if you’ve made a mistake on it?\u003c/p>\n"
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>Read on to learn how to fill out your ballot when it arrives, how important your signature is, and your options if you need to start again with a fresh ballot.\u003c/p>\n",
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"\n\u003cp>Read on to learn how to fill out your ballot when it arrives, how important your signature is, and your options if you need to start again with a fresh ballot.\u003c/p>\n"
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"Jump to: I messed up my ballot. What should I do? "
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cli>\u003cstrong>Jump to: \u003ca href=\"#mistake\">I messed up my ballot. What should I do? \u003c/a>\u003c/strong>\u003c/li>\n",
"innerContent": [
"\n\u003cli>\u003cstrong>Jump to: \u003ca href=\"#mistake\">I messed up my ballot. What should I do? \u003c/a>\u003c/strong>\u003c/li>\n"
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"blockName": "core/heading",
"attrs": {
"text": "First of all: Am I registered to vote?",
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003ch2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">First of all: Am I registered to vote?\u003c/h2>\n",
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>The official deadline to \u003ca href=\"https://www.sos.ca.gov/elections/voter-registration/\">register online to vote \u003c/a>is Monday, Oct. 19.\u003c/p>\n",
"innerContent": [
"\n\u003cp>The official deadline to \u003ca href=\"https://www.sos.ca.gov/elections/voter-registration/\">register online to vote \u003c/a>is Monday, Oct. 19.\u003c/p>\n"
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>So if you’re unsure whether you’re already registered to vote or can’t remember which party preference you already have, \u003ca href=\"https://voterstatus.sos.ca.gov/\">check your voter registration details\u003c/a> ASAP.\u003c/p>\n",
"innerContent": [
"\n\u003cp>So if you’re unsure whether you’re already registered to vote or can’t remember which party preference you already have, \u003ca href=\"https://voterstatus.sos.ca.gov/\">check your voter registration details\u003c/a> ASAP.\u003c/p>\n"
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cfigure class=\"wp-block-image aligncenter size-full\">\u003cimg src=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/09/YouthVoterGetty.jpg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-12102009\" srcset=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/09/YouthVoterGetty.jpg 2000w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/09/YouthVoterGetty-160x102.jpg 160w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/09/YouthVoterGetty-1536x979.jpg 1536w\" sizes=\"(min-width: 992px) min(100vw, 1536px), (min-width: 768px) min(100vw, 1280px), min(100vw, 1020px)\"/>\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">Potential young voters get information at a voter registration desk at Voter Fest 2024, an event designed to engage young voters and historically underserved communities on Oct. 22, 2024, at Cal State Los Angeles.\u003ccite class=\"wp-inline-image-credit\"> (Frederic J. Brown/AFP via Getty Images)\u003c/cite>\u003c/figcaption>\u003c/figure>\n",
"innerContent": [
"\n\u003cfigure class=\"wp-block-image aligncenter size-full\">\u003cimg src=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/09/YouthVoterGetty.jpg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-12102009\"/>\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">Potential young voters get information at a voter registration desk at Voter Fest 2024, an event designed to engage young voters and historically underserved communities on Oct. 22, 2024, at Cal State Los Angeles.\u003ccite class=\"wp-inline-image-credit\"> (Frederic J. Brown/AFP via Getty Images)\u003c/cite>\u003c/figcaption>\u003c/figure>\n"
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>Remember, if you’ve changed your name or want to change the political party choice you previously registered to vote with, or you’ve moved address, you’ll need to \u003ca href=\"https://www.sos.ca.gov/elections/voter-registration/\">re-register\u003c/a>.\u003c/p>\n",
"innerContent": [
"\n\u003cp>Remember, if you’ve changed your name or want to change the political party choice you previously registered to vote with, or you’ve moved address, you’ll need to \u003ca href=\"https://www.sos.ca.gov/elections/voter-registration/\">re-register\u003c/a>.\u003c/p>\n"
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>Making sure you’re registered — and to the right address — is crucial for getting your ballot on time. \u003c/p>\n",
"innerContent": [
"\n\u003cp>Making sure you’re registered — and to the right address — is crucial for getting your ballot on time. \u003c/p>\n"
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>And if you miss the deadline to register, don’t panic: That’s the last day to do it \u003cem>online\u003c/em>. After Oct. 19, you can still complete the \u003ca href=\"https://www.sos.ca.gov/elections/voter-registration/same-day-reg/\">same-day voter registration\u003c/a> process (also known as “conditional voting”) and receive your ballot in person at your county elections office or polling location, all the way up to 8 p.m. on Election Day itself.\u003c/p>\n",
"innerContent": [
"\n\u003cp>And if you miss the deadline to register, don’t panic: That’s the last day to do it \u003cem>online\u003c/em>. After Oct. 19, you can still complete the \u003ca href=\"https://www.sos.ca.gov/elections/voter-registration/same-day-reg/\">same-day voter registration\u003c/a> process (also known as “conditional voting”) and receive your ballot in person at your county elections office or polling location, all the way up to 8 p.m. on Election Day itself.\u003c/p>\n"
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{
"blockName": "core/heading",
"attrs": {
"text": "What’s on my 2026 midterm elections ballot?",
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003ch2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">What’s on my 2026 midterm elections ballot?\u003c/h2>\n",
"innerContent": [
"\n\u003ch2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">What’s on my 2026 midterm elections ballot?\u003c/h2>\n"
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>Depending on which county you live in, your California ballot will present you with \u003ca href=\"https://www.kqed.org/voterguide\">a mix of races\u003c/a> to vote on.\u003c/p>\n",
"innerContent": [
"\n\u003cp>Depending on which county you live in, your California ballot will present you with \u003ca href=\"https://www.kqed.org/voterguide\">a mix of races\u003c/a> to vote on.\u003c/p>\n"
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"text": "The races for statewide offices include:"
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003ch3 class=\"wp-block-heading\">The races for statewide offices include:\u003c/h3>\n",
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"Governor: Democrat Xavier Becerra and Republican Steve Hilton face off in a race to succeed Governor Gavin Newsom.",
"Insurance commissioner: Wildfires and inflation have thrown California into an insurance crisis. Two Democrats, Ben Allen and Jane Kim, are running to become the insurance industry’s chief regulator."
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cli>\u003ca href=\"https://www.kqed.org/voterguide/california/governor\">Governor\u003c/a>: Democrat Xavier Becerra and Republican Steve Hilton face off in a race to succeed Governor Gavin Newsom.\u003c/li>\n",
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"\n\u003cli>\u003ca href=\"https://www.kqed.org/voterguide/california/governor\">Governor\u003c/a>: Democrat Xavier Becerra and Republican Steve Hilton face off in a race to succeed Governor Gavin Newsom.\u003c/li>\n"
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cli>\u003ca href=\"https://www.kqed.org/voterguide/california/insurance-commissioner\">Insurance commissioner\u003c/a>: Wildfires and inflation have thrown California into an insurance crisis. Two Democrats, Ben Allen and Jane Kim, are running to become the insurance industry’s chief regulator.\u003c/li>\n",
"innerContent": [
"\n\u003cli>\u003ca href=\"https://www.kqed.org/voterguide/california/insurance-commissioner\">Insurance commissioner\u003c/a>: Wildfires and inflation have thrown California into an insurance crisis. Two Democrats, Ben Allen and Jane Kim, are running to become the insurance industry’s chief regulator.\u003c/li>\n"
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cfigure class=\"wp-block-gallery has-nested-images columns-default is-cropped\">\n\n\u003c/figure>\n",
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null,
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null,
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cfigure class=\"wp-block-image size-large\">\u003cimg src=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/04/SteveHiltonAP.jpg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-12078808\"/>\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">Steve Hilton speaks during the California gubernatorial candidate debate on Feb. 3, 2026, in San Francisco.\u003c/figcaption>\u003c/figure>\n",
"innerContent": [
"\n\u003cfigure class=\"wp-block-image size-large\">\u003cimg src=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/04/SteveHiltonAP.jpg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-12078808\"/>\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">Steve Hilton speaks during the California gubernatorial candidate debate on Feb. 3, 2026, in San Francisco.\u003c/figcaption>\u003c/figure>\n"
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cfigure class=\"wp-block-image size-large\">\u003cimg src=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/06/Xavier-Becerra-Getty.jpg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-12086476\"/>\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">Xavier Becerra, a candidate for governor, speaks to supporters on election night on June 2, 2026. \u003c/figcaption>\u003c/figure>\n",
"innerContent": [
"\n\u003cfigure class=\"wp-block-image size-large\">\u003cimg src=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/06/Xavier-Becerra-Getty.jpg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-12086476\"/>\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">Xavier Becerra, a candidate for governor, speaks to supporters on election night on June 2, 2026. \u003c/figcaption>\u003c/figure>\n"
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{
"blockName": "core/heading",
"attrs": {
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"text": "A number of statewide propositions, including:"
},
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"\n\u003ch3 class=\"wp-block-heading\">A number of statewide propositions, including:\u003c/h3>\n"
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"Prop. 1: Should California issue $11.25 billion in general obligation bonds for affordable housing, homebuying opportunities and veterans and homelessness programs?",
"Prop 39: Should Californians be required to show ID for in-person and mail-in voting? ",
"Prop 40: Should California tax the wealth of billionaires to fund health care services?"
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null,
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cli>\u003ca href=\"https://www.kqed.org/voterguide/california/proposition-1\">Prop. 1\u003c/a>: Should California issue $11.25 billion in general obligation bonds for affordable housing, homebuying opportunities and veterans and homelessness programs?\u003c/li>\n",
"innerContent": [
"\n\u003cli>\u003ca href=\"https://www.kqed.org/voterguide/california/proposition-1\">Prop. 1\u003c/a>: Should California issue $11.25 billion in general obligation bonds for affordable housing, homebuying opportunities and veterans and homelessness programs?\u003c/li>\n"
]
},
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cli>\u003ca href=\"https://www.kqed.org/voterguide/california/proposition-39\">Prop 39\u003c/a>: Should Californians be required to show ID for in-person and mail-in voting? \u003c/li>\n",
"innerContent": [
"\n\u003cli>\u003ca href=\"https://www.kqed.org/voterguide/california/proposition-39\">Prop 39\u003c/a>: Should Californians be required to show ID for in-person and mail-in voting? \u003c/li>\n"
]
},
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cli>\u003ca href=\"https://www.kqed.org/voterguide/california/proposition-40\">Prop 40: \u003c/a>Should California tax the wealth of billionaires to fund health care services?\u003c/li>\n",
"innerContent": [
"\n\u003cli>\u003ca href=\"https://www.kqed.org/voterguide/california/proposition-40\">Prop 40: \u003c/a>Should California tax the wealth of billionaires to fund health care services?\u003c/li>\n"
]
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},
{
"blockName": "core/heading",
"attrs": {
"level": 3,
"text": "Local measures and races "
},
"innerHTML": "\n\u003ch3 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Local measures and races \u003c/h3>\n",
"innerContent": [
"\n\u003ch3 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Local measures and races \u003c/h3>\n"
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>These will depend on your Bay Area county or district. See \u003ca href=\"https://www.kqed.org/voterguide\">the KQED Voter Guide for more information\u003c/a> on what’s on your ballot this election season.\u003c/p>\n",
"innerContent": [
"\n\u003cp>These will depend on your Bay Area county or district. See \u003ca href=\"https://www.kqed.org/voterguide\">the KQED Voter Guide for more information\u003c/a> on what’s on your ballot this election season.\u003c/p>\n"
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"blockName": "core/heading",
"attrs": {
"text": "How do I return my ballot when I’ve completed it?",
"level": 2
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003ch2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">How do I return my ballot when I’ve completed it?\u003c/h2>\n",
"innerContent": [
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"blockName": "core/heading",
"attrs": {
"level": 3,
"text": "Drop off your ballot in a secure ballot drop box"
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003ch3 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Drop off your ballot in a secure ballot drop box\u003c/h3>\n",
"innerContent": [
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>These drop boxes \u003ca href=\"https://www.sos.ca.gov/elections/upcoming-elections/general-election-november-3-2026\">open by Oct. 5\u003c/a>, and once submitted, your ballot will be taken straight to your local county elections office.\u003c/p>\n",
"innerContent": [
"\n\u003cp>These drop boxes \u003ca href=\"https://www.sos.ca.gov/elections/upcoming-elections/general-election-november-3-2026\">open by Oct. 5\u003c/a>, and once submitted, your ballot will be taken straight to your local county elections office.\u003c/p>\n"
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>Some elections officials strongly recommend using these drop boxes over using USPS. “We’re not really encouraging people to use the USPS to get their ballot here,” said Evelyn Mendez, Sonoma County’s registrar of voters. \u003c/p>\n",
"innerContent": [
"\n\u003cp>Some elections officials strongly recommend using these drop boxes over using USPS. “We’re not really encouraging people to use the USPS to get their ballot here,” said Evelyn Mendez, Sonoma County’s registrar of voters. \u003c/p>\n"
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>Instead, Mendez tells voters to use county collection boxes because they skip the Postal Service altogether.\u003c/p>\n",
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"\n\u003cp>Instead, Mendez tells voters to use county collection boxes because they skip the Postal Service altogether.\u003c/p>\n"
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"blockName": "core/heading",
"attrs": {
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"text": "Return your ballot through the Postal Service "
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>The return postage is already paid for you. Keep in mind that the Postal Service must postmark your ballot envelope by the end of Election Day for your vote to count — and the last collection at many mailboxes is 5 p.m. \u003c/p>\n",
"innerContent": [
"\n\u003cp>The return postage is already paid for you. Keep in mind that the Postal Service must postmark your ballot envelope by the end of Election Day for your vote to count — and the last collection at many mailboxes is 5 p.m. \u003c/p>\n"
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>However, in the last two statewide elections, Secretary of State Shirley Weber and Attorney General Rob Bonta urged any voters planning to use USPS to mail in their ballots \u003ca href=\"https://oag.ca.gov/news/press-releases/attorney-general-bonta-and-secretary-state-weber-sacramento-vote-early-june\">at \u003cem>least \u003c/em>a week before Election Day\u003c/a> — to account for \u003ca href=\"https://www.kqed.org/news/12103028/should-you-use-usps-to-mail-your-midterm-ballot-heres-what-california-election-officials-say\">changes in the way USPS is collected\u003c/a> and postmarked in many areas. \u003c/p>\n",
"innerContent": [
"\n\u003cp>However, in the last two statewide elections, Secretary of State Shirley Weber and Attorney General Rob Bonta urged any voters planning to use USPS to mail in their ballots \u003ca href=\"https://oag.ca.gov/news/press-releases/attorney-general-bonta-and-secretary-state-weber-sacramento-vote-early-june\">at \u003cem>least \u003c/em>a week before Election Day\u003c/a> — to account for \u003ca href=\"https://www.kqed.org/news/12103028/should-you-use-usps-to-mail-your-midterm-ballot-heres-what-california-election-officials-say\">changes in the way USPS is collected\u003c/a> and postmarked in many areas. \u003c/p>\n"
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>And if you’re mailing your midterm ballot on Election Day itself, Weber’s office is recommending you \u003ca href=\"https://www.sos.ca.gov/elections/voter-registration/vote-mail\">“get a hand-stamped postmark\u003c/a> from a postal employee inside a United States Post Office” rather than simply dropping it in a USPS collection box.\u003c/p>\n",
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"\n\u003cp>And if you’re mailing your midterm ballot on Election Day itself, Weber’s office is recommending you \u003ca href=\"https://www.sos.ca.gov/elections/voter-registration/vote-mail\">“get a hand-stamped postmark\u003c/a> from a postal employee inside a United States Post Office” rather than simply dropping it in a USPS collection box.\u003c/p>\n"
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"blockName": "core/heading",
"attrs": {
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"text": "Drop off your ballot in an open voting location"
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003ch3 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Drop off your ballot in an open voting location\u003c/h3>\n",
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>\u003ca href=\"https://www.sos.ca.gov/elections/upcoming-elections/general-election-november-3-2026\">The first vote centers open \u003c/a>Oct. 24 in certain counties, with more early voting locations opening Oct. 31.\u003c/p>\n",
"innerContent": [
"\n\u003cp>\u003ca href=\"https://www.sos.ca.gov/elections/upcoming-elections/general-election-november-3-2026\">The first vote centers open \u003c/a>Oct. 24 in certain counties, with more early voting locations opening Oct. 31.\u003c/p>\n"
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"blockName": "core/paragraph",
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>Submitting your ballot by hand this way is the top recommendation of Kim Alexander, president and founder of the non-partisan California Voter Foundation. You can fill your ballot out in-person at a voting location, and submit it directly there and then. \u003c/p>\n",
"innerContent": [
"\n\u003cp>Submitting your ballot by hand this way is the top recommendation of Kim Alexander, president and founder of the non-partisan California Voter Foundation. You can fill your ballot out in-person at a voting location, and submit it directly there and then. \u003c/p>\n"
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>Or, if you live in \u003ca href=\"https://calvoter.org/content/sign-scan-and-go\">one of the California counties\u003c/a> which has adopted the “Sign & Go” system — in the Bay Area, that’s Alameda, Contra Costa, Marin and Napa — you can complete your ballot at your convenience at home, and then bring it to a participating vote center and sign the voter roster under penalty of perjury (just as you would for in-person voting) to submit it in person. And if you live in a county which has adopted “Sign, Scan & Go”, like San Mateo, you can do all of the above and then scan your ballot yourself to have your vote recorded immediately at the voting site. \u003c/p>\n",
"innerContent": [
"\n\u003cp>Or, if you live in \u003ca href=\"https://calvoter.org/content/sign-scan-and-go\">one of the California counties\u003c/a> which has adopted the “Sign & Go” system — in the Bay Area, that’s Alameda, Contra Costa, Marin and Napa — you can complete your ballot at your convenience at home, and then bring it to a participating vote center and sign the voter roster under penalty of perjury (just as you would for in-person voting) to submit it in person. And if you live in a county which has adopted “Sign, Scan & Go”, like San Mateo, you can do all of the above and then scan your ballot yourself to have your vote recorded immediately at the voting site. \u003c/p>\n"
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"blockName": "core/heading",
"attrs": {
"text": "Do I have to vote by mail?",
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003ch2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Do I \u003cem>have\u003c/em> to vote by mail?\u003c/h2>\n",
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>No. \u003ca href=\"https://www.sos.ca.gov/elections/voter-registration/vote-mail\">If you’re registered to vote, you’ll be receiving a mail-in ballot by default\u003c/a> for the 2026 midterms, without requesting it. But voting by mail is still just one option that’s open to you.\u003c/p>\n",
"innerContent": [
"\n\u003cp>No. \u003ca href=\"https://www.sos.ca.gov/elections/voter-registration/vote-mail\">If you’re registered to vote, you’ll be receiving a mail-in ballot by default\u003c/a> for the 2026 midterms, without requesting it. But voting by mail is still just one option that’s open to you.\u003c/p>\n"
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"blockName": "core/paragraph",
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>You can still vote in person, either at an early voting location before Election Day or on Election Day, Nov. 3, itself. \u003ca href=\"https://caearlyvoting.sos.ca.gov/\">Early voting locations will open starting Oct. 24.\u003c/a>\u003c/p>\n",
"innerContent": [
"\n\u003cp>You can still vote in person, either at an early voting location before Election Day or on Election Day, Nov. 3, itself. \u003ca href=\"https://caearlyvoting.sos.ca.gov/\">Early voting locations will open starting Oct. 24.\u003c/a>\u003c/p>\n"
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cfigure class=\"wp-block-image aligncenter size-full\">\u003cimg src=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2024/11/20241102_EARLYVOTINGMARIN_GC-5-KQED.jpg\" alt=\"A person puts a yellow ballot envelope in a ballot drop box.\" class=\"wp-image-12012711\" srcset=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2024/11/20241102_EARLYVOTINGMARIN_GC-5-KQED.jpg 2000w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2024/11/20241102_EARLYVOTINGMARIN_GC-5-KQED-800x533.jpg 800w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2024/11/20241102_EARLYVOTINGMARIN_GC-5-KQED-1020x680.jpg 1020w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2024/11/20241102_EARLYVOTINGMARIN_GC-5-KQED-160x107.jpg 160w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2024/11/20241102_EARLYVOTINGMARIN_GC-5-KQED-1536x1024.jpg 1536w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2024/11/20241102_EARLYVOTINGMARIN_GC-5-KQED-1920x1280.jpg 1920w\" sizes=\"(min-width: 992px) min(100vw, 1536px), (min-width: 768px) min(100vw, 1280px), min(100vw, 1020px)\"/>\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">A voter drops off their mail-in ballot at a drop box outside of Novato City Hall on Nov. 2, 2024.\u003ccite class=\"wp-inline-image-credit\"> (Gina Castro/KQED)\u003c/cite>\u003c/figcaption>\u003c/figure>\n",
"innerContent": [
"\n\u003cfigure class=\"wp-block-image aligncenter size-full\">\u003cimg src=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2024/11/20241102_EARLYVOTINGMARIN_GC-5-KQED.jpg\" alt=\"A person puts a yellow ballot envelope in a ballot drop box.\" class=\"wp-image-12012711\"/>\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">A voter drops off their mail-in ballot at a drop box outside of Novato City Hall on Nov. 2, 2024.\u003ccite class=\"wp-inline-image-credit\"> (Gina Castro/KQED)\u003c/cite>\u003c/figcaption>\u003c/figure>\n"
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{
"blockName": "core/heading",
"attrs": {
"text": "How do I fix a mistake on my ballot?",
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003ch2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">How do I fix a mistake on my ballot?\u003c/h2>\n",
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"\n\u003ch2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">How do I fix a mistake on my ballot?\u003c/h2>\n"
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>It’s important to note that each county is slightly different in how they’d prefer you to address a mistake on your ballot, and will often provide specific details about corrections \u003cem>on\u003c/em> the ballot itself. If you have a specific question about your ballot that isn’t answered here, you can always contact your local registrar of voters for advice and instructions.\u003c/p>\n",
"innerContent": [
"\n\u003cp>It’s important to note that each county is slightly different in how they’d prefer you to address a mistake on your ballot, and will often provide specific details about corrections \u003cem>on\u003c/em> the ballot itself. If you have a specific question about your ballot that isn’t answered here, you can always contact your local registrar of voters for advice and instructions.\u003c/p>\n"
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"blockName": "core/heading",
"attrs": {
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"text": "What if I have problems with my signature?"
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003ch3 class=\"wp-block-heading\">What if I have problems with my signature?\u003c/h3>\n",
"innerContent": [
"\n\u003ch3 class=\"wp-block-heading\">What if I have problems with my signature?\u003c/h3>\n"
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"blockName": "core/paragraph",
"attrs": {
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>When you’re done filling out your ballot, you must sign the envelope. But two big mistakes people make with their signatures are:\u003c/p>\n",
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"\n\u003cp>When you’re done filling out your ballot, you must sign the envelope. But two big mistakes people make with their signatures are:\u003c/p>\n"
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"items": [
"Forgetting to sign their ballot entirely.",
"Making a signature that doesn’t match the signature they made when they registered to vote."
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n\n\u003c/ul>\n",
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cli>Forgetting to sign their ballot entirely.\u003c/li>\n",
"innerContent": [
"\n\u003cli>Forgetting to sign their ballot entirely.\u003c/li>\n"
]
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{
"blockName": "core/list-item",
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cli>Making a signature that doesn’t match the signature they made when they registered to vote.\u003c/li>\n",
"innerContent": [
"\n\u003cli>Making a signature that doesn’t match the signature they made when they registered to vote.\u003c/li>\n"
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{
"blockName": "core/paragraph",
"attrs": {
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>Why \u003cem>wouldn’t\u003c/em> your signature match the one on file? If you registered to vote at a young age, maybe your signature has changed over time. Or perhaps you registered to vote at the DMV and provided your signature on a screen with a stylus, which doesn’t quite replicate how you’d make your signature with a pen on paper.\u003c/p>\n",
"innerContent": [
"\n\u003cp>Why \u003cem>wouldn’t\u003c/em> your signature match the one on file? If you registered to vote at a young age, maybe your signature has changed over time. Or perhaps you registered to vote at the DMV and provided your signature on a screen with a stylus, which doesn’t quite replicate how you’d make your signature with a pen on paper.\u003c/p>\n"
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cfigure class=\"wp-block-image aligncenter size-full\">\u003cimg src=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/06/251104-SCCVOTE-JG-05_qed.jpg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-12088632\" srcset=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/06/251104-SCCVOTE-JG-05_qed.jpg 1999w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/06/251104-SCCVOTE-JG-05_qed-160x107.jpg 160w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/06/251104-SCCVOTE-JG-05_qed-1536x1024.jpg 1536w\" sizes=\"(min-width: 992px) min(100vw, 1536px), (min-width: 768px) min(100vw, 1280px), min(100vw, 1020px)\"/>\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">Edgardo Domingo fills out a ballot at a voting booth at the Vietnamese American Cultural Center in San José on Tuesday, Nov. 4, 2025.\u003ccite class=\"wp-inline-image-credit\"> (Joseph Geha/KQED)\u003c/cite>\u003c/figcaption>\u003c/figure>\n",
"innerContent": [
"\n\u003cfigure class=\"wp-block-image aligncenter size-full\">\u003cimg src=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/06/251104-SCCVOTE-JG-05_qed.jpg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-12088632\"/>\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">Edgardo Domingo fills out a ballot at a voting booth at the Vietnamese American Cultural Center in San José on Tuesday, Nov. 4, 2025.\u003ccite class=\"wp-inline-image-credit\"> (Joseph Geha/KQED)\u003c/cite>\u003c/figcaption>\u003c/figure>\n"
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>If you registered this way, one simple way to avoid any signature problems is to take a quick glance at the signature that’s on your driver’s license or state ID — because that’s the one you want your ballot signature to match.\u003c/p>\n",
"innerContent": [
"\n\u003cp>If you registered this way, one simple way to avoid any signature problems is to take a quick glance at the signature that’s on your driver’s license or state ID — because that’s the one you want your ballot signature to match.\u003c/p>\n"
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>Even if you didn’t register at the DMV, that signature on your most recent license or state ID is still very likely the one to emulate. That’s because when you register to vote online, your county elections office electronically requests a copy of the signature the DMV \u003cem>currently\u003c/em> has for you, and this information is regularly updated.\u003c/p>\n",
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"\n\u003cp>Even if you didn’t register at the DMV, that signature on your most recent license or state ID is still very likely the one to emulate. That’s because when you register to vote online, your county elections office electronically requests a copy of the signature the DMV \u003cem>currently\u003c/em> has for you, and this information is regularly updated.\u003c/p>\n"
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>To further set your mind at rest, know that California isn’t an “exact match” state, and doesn’t demand voters’ signatures 100% replicate the signature that’s on file.\u003c/p>\n",
"innerContent": [
"\n\u003cp>To further set your mind at rest, know that California isn’t an “exact match” state, and doesn’t demand voters’ signatures 100% replicate the signature that’s on file.\u003c/p>\n"
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"blockName": "core/heading",
"attrs": {
"level": 3,
"text": "What if I just don’t know my ‘correct’ signature I’m registered to vote with?"
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003ch3 class=\"wp-block-heading\">What if I just don’t know my ‘correct’ signature I’m registered to vote with?\u003c/h3>\n",
"innerContent": [
"\n\u003ch3 class=\"wp-block-heading\">What if I just don’t know my ‘correct’ signature I’m registered to vote with?\u003c/h3>\n"
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"blockName": "core/paragraph",
"attrs": {
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>If you’re \u003cem>really\u003c/em> worried about the signature on your envelope not matching the signature you’re registered to vote with, there are two good solutions.\u003c/p>\n",
"innerContent": [
"\n\u003cp>If you’re \u003cem>really\u003c/em> worried about the signature on your envelope not matching the signature you’re registered to vote with, there are two good solutions.\u003c/p>\n"
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>One: If it’s on or before Oct. 19, you can \u003ca href=\"https://registertovote.ca.gov/\">reregister to vote with your current signature\u003c/a>, to be sure that the state now has your most recent one on file. If you are reregistering after Oct. 19, you’d need to complete the \u003ca href=\"https://www.sos.ca.gov/elections/voter-registration/same-day-reg/\">same-day voter registration\u003c/a> process (also known as “conditional voting”) and request your ballot in person at your county elections office or polling location.\u003c/p>\n",
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"\n\u003cp>One: If it’s on or before Oct. 19, you can \u003ca href=\"https://registertovote.ca.gov/\">reregister to vote with your current signature\u003c/a>, to be sure that the state now has your most recent one on file. If you are reregistering after Oct. 19, you’d need to complete the \u003ca href=\"https://www.sos.ca.gov/elections/voter-registration/same-day-reg/\">same-day voter registration\u003c/a> process (also known as “conditional voting”) and request your ballot in person at your county elections office or polling location.\u003c/p>\n"
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"blockName": "kqed-v2/related-articles",
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"label": "2026 California Voter Guide",
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>In 2021, the California Voter Foundation’s Alexander, told us there’s another solution if you’re worried about your signature: Go vote in person, if you’re able.\u003c/p>\n",
"innerContent": [
"\n\u003cp>In 2021, the California Voter Foundation’s Alexander, told us there’s another solution if you’re worried about your signature: Go vote in person, if you’re able.\u003c/p>\n"
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>That’s because the signature goes only on your ballot’s \u003cem>envelope\u003c/em> — and if you’re voting in person, there’s no envelope, because that ballot then goes straight into the ballot box without needing that envelope at all.\u003c/p>\n",
"innerContent": [
"\n\u003cp>That’s because the signature goes only on your ballot’s \u003cem>envelope\u003c/em> — and if you’re voting in person, there’s no envelope, because that ballot then goes straight into the ballot box without needing that envelope at all.\u003c/p>\n"
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>“So if you want that satisfaction of seeing your ballot drop in the box and know that it’s not going to get held up because of some signature issue, you can go and vote in person,” said Alexander.\u003c/p>\n",
"innerContent": [
"\n\u003cp>“So if you want that satisfaction of seeing your ballot drop in the box and know that it’s not going to get held up because of some signature issue, you can go and vote in person,” said Alexander.\u003c/p>\n"
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{
"blockName": "core/heading",
"attrs": {
"level": 3,
"text": "I already mailed my ballot, but now I’m paranoid about my signature. What if I messed it up?"
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003ch3 class=\"wp-block-heading\">I already mailed my ballot, but now I’m paranoid about my signature. What if I messed it up?\u003c/h3>\n",
"innerContent": [
"\n\u003ch3 class=\"wp-block-heading\">I already mailed my ballot, but now I’m paranoid about my signature. What if I messed it up?\u003c/h3>\n"
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>Rest assured: There’s a whole system in place to help you correct your mistake.\u003c/p>\n",
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"\n\u003cp>Rest assured: There’s a whole system in place to help you correct your mistake.\u003c/p>\n"
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>If your county’s election office detects a signature mismatch on your ballot, they’ll reach out to you via mail to verify and work with you to correct it, so that your ballot can be counted after all. It’s called “curing” a ballot.\u003c/p>\n",
"innerContent": [
"\n\u003cp>If your county’s election office detects a signature mismatch on your ballot, they’ll reach out to you via mail to verify and work with you to correct it, so that your ballot can be counted after all. It’s called “curing” a ballot.\u003c/p>\n"
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>This system is also applied when it looks like a member of a voter’s family might have signed their ballot, instead of the voter. This happens a \u003cem>surprising\u003c/em> amount when one household has several voters who all receive a ballot in the mail.\u003c/p>\n",
"innerContent": [
"\n\u003cp>This system is also applied when it looks like a member of a voter’s family might have signed their ballot, instead of the voter. This happens a \u003cem>surprising\u003c/em> amount when one household has several voters who all receive a ballot in the mail.\u003c/p>\n"
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>One way to get peace of mind: \u003ca href=\"https://california.ballottrax.net/voter/\">Sign up to track your ballot\u003c/a>, and you’ll find out about any issues with your ballot or your signature quickly.\u003c/p>\n",
"innerContent": [
"\n\u003cp>One way to get peace of mind: \u003ca href=\"https://california.ballottrax.net/voter/\">Sign up to track your ballot\u003c/a>, and you’ll find out about any issues with your ballot or your signature quickly.\u003c/p>\n"
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{
"blockName": "core/heading",
"attrs": {
"text": "I made a mistake on my ballot. How do I fix it?",
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003ch2 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"mistake\">I made a mistake on my ballot. How do I fix it?\u003c/h2>\n",
"innerContent": [
"\n\u003ch2 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"mistake\">I made a mistake on my ballot. How do I fix it?\u003c/h2>\n"
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"blockName": "core/paragraph",
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>First, don’t panic. People make mistakes on ballots and find good ways to correct them.\u003c/p>\n",
"innerContent": [
"\n\u003cp>First, don’t panic. People make mistakes on ballots and find good ways to correct them.\u003c/p>\n"
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>Counties give different directions to voters about what to do if they make a mistake (remember: Read the instructions!), but you can usually simply X out the choice you didn’t intend.\u003c/p>\n",
"innerContent": [
"\n\u003cp>Counties give different directions to voters about what to do if they make a mistake (remember: Read the instructions!), but you can usually simply X out the choice you didn’t intend.\u003c/p>\n"
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cfigure class=\"wp-block-image aligncenter size-full\">\u003cimg src=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/06/20260602_PRIMARY2026CD4_GC-20-KQED.jpg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-12085889\" srcset=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/06/20260602_PRIMARY2026CD4_GC-20-KQED.jpg 2000w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/06/20260602_PRIMARY2026CD4_GC-20-KQED-160x107.jpg 160w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/06/20260602_PRIMARY2026CD4_GC-20-KQED-1536x1024.jpg 1536w\" sizes=\"(min-width: 992px) min(100vw, 1536px), (min-width: 768px) min(100vw, 1280px), min(100vw, 1020px)\"/>\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">Voters cast their ballots at UC Davis in Davis on June 2, 2026.\u003ccite class=\"wp-inline-image-credit\"> (Gina Castro for KQED)\u003c/cite>\u003c/figcaption>\u003c/figure>\n",
"innerContent": [
"\n\u003cfigure class=\"wp-block-image aligncenter size-full\">\u003cimg src=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/06/20260602_PRIMARY2026CD4_GC-20-KQED.jpg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-12085889\"/>\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">Voters cast their ballots at UC Davis in Davis on June 2, 2026.\u003ccite class=\"wp-inline-image-credit\"> (Gina Castro for KQED)\u003c/cite>\u003c/figcaption>\u003c/figure>\n"
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>The job of county elections officials — once they’ve verified your signature — is to make sure your ballot can be read correctly. If that means that your corrections on your ballot have resulted in readability issues, officials working in teams of two will actually remake it for you according to the intent you’ve signaled with your corrections.\u003c/p>\n",
"innerContent": [
"\n\u003cp>The job of county elections officials — once they’ve verified your signature — is to make sure your ballot can be read correctly. If that means that your corrections on your ballot have resulted in readability issues, officials working in teams of two will actually remake it for you according to the intent you’ve signaled with your corrections.\u003c/p>\n"
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>Some counties, like Alameda, ask that you actually contact them first if you make a serious mistake — including voting for the wrong candidate — so they can send you a replacement ballot. So, wherever you live, it’s a good idea to check with your local elections office first to see what \u003cem>they\u003c/em> recommend if you made a mistake.\u003c/p>\n",
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"\n\u003cp>Some counties, like Alameda, ask that you actually contact them first if you make a serious mistake — including voting for the wrong candidate — so they can send you a replacement ballot. So, wherever you live, it’s a good idea to check with your local elections office first to see what \u003cem>they\u003c/em> recommend if you made a mistake.\u003c/p>\n"
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>And remember, there’s always this option …\u003c/p>\n",
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"\n\u003cp>And remember, there’s always this option …\u003c/p>\n"
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"blockName": "core/heading",
"attrs": {
"text": "What if I just want a new ballot?",
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003ch2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">What if I just want a new ballot?\u003c/h2>\n",
"innerContent": [
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>If you’ve made a big mistake on your ballot — too big to fix — your best plan of action may be to focus on getting a new one. And that’s totally OK. You can:\u003c/p>\n",
"innerContent": [
"\n\u003cp>If you’ve made a big mistake on your ballot — too big to fix — your best plan of action may be to focus on getting a new one. And that’s totally OK. You can:\u003c/p>\n"
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"Call your county elections office and ask them to cancel that ballot and issue a new one to you.",
"Go to your county elections office with your spoiled ballot during business hours and vote right there at the counter.",
"Take advantage of the early voting options available in many counties.",
"Go to a voting site on Election Day, Nov. 3, turn in your spoiled ballot there and get a new ballot."
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n\n\n\n\n\n\u003c/ul>\n",
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cli>Call your county elections office and ask them to cancel that ballot and issue a new one to you.\u003c/li>\n",
"innerContent": [
"\n\u003cli>Call your county elections office and ask them to cancel that ballot and issue a new one to you.\u003c/li>\n"
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cli>Go to your county elections office with your spoiled ballot during business hours and vote right there at the counter.\u003c/li>\n",
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cli>Take advantage of the early voting options available in many counties.\u003c/li>\n",
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"\n\u003cli>Take advantage of the early voting options available in many counties.\u003c/li>\n"
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cli>Go to a voting site on Election Day, Nov. 3, turn in your spoiled ballot there and get a new ballot.\u003c/li>\n",
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"\n\u003cli>Go to a voting site on Election Day, Nov. 3, turn in your spoiled ballot there and get a new ballot.\u003c/li>\n"
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>You can also do this if you’ve accidentally damaged your ballot in some way (coffee spills happen).\u003c/p>\n",
"innerContent": [
"\n\u003cp>You can also do this if you’ve accidentally damaged your ballot in some way (coffee spills happen).\u003c/p>\n"
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{
"blockName": "core/heading",
"attrs": {
"text": "I think I put the wrong date on my envelope",
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003ch2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">I think I put the wrong date on my envelope\u003c/h2>\n",
"innerContent": [
"\n\u003ch2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">I think I put the wrong date on my envelope\u003c/h2>\n"
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{
"blockName": "core/paragraph",
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>First off, that date should be the date you signed your envelope — not your date of birth. \u003c/p>\n",
"innerContent": [
"\n\u003cp>First off, that date should be the date you signed your envelope — not your date of birth. \u003c/p>\n"
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>But if you’re worried you messed up the date, don’t worry. Elections officials say that the date they’re \u003cem>really\u003c/em> looking for is the date that the ballot is postmarked, to make sure it was submitted on time.\u003c/p>\n",
"innerContent": [
"\n\u003cp>But if you’re worried you messed up the date, don’t worry. Elections officials say that the date they’re \u003cem>really\u003c/em> looking for is the date that the ballot is postmarked, to make sure it was submitted on time.\u003c/p>\n"
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cfigure class=\"wp-block-image aligncenter size-full\">\u003cimg src=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/09/002_KQED_SanFrancisco_Election2020_MailinBallot_10122020_qed.jpg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-12099795\" srcset=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/09/002_KQED_SanFrancisco_Election2020_MailinBallot_10122020_qed.jpg 2000w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/09/002_KQED_SanFrancisco_Election2020_MailinBallot_10122020_qed-160x107.jpg 160w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/09/002_KQED_SanFrancisco_Election2020_MailinBallot_10122020_qed-1536x1024.jpg 1536w\" sizes=\"(min-width: 992px) min(100vw, 1536px), (min-width: 768px) min(100vw, 1280px), min(100vw, 1020px)\"/>\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">A San Francisco official mail-in ballot for the Nov. 3, 2020 election.\u003ccite class=\"wp-inline-image-credit\"> (Beth LaBerge/KQED)\u003c/cite>\u003c/figcaption>\u003c/figure>\n",
"innerContent": [
"\n\u003cfigure class=\"wp-block-image aligncenter size-full\">\u003cimg src=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/09/002_KQED_SanFrancisco_Election2020_MailinBallot_10122020_qed.jpg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-12099795\"/>\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">A San Francisco official mail-in ballot for the Nov. 3, 2020 election.\u003ccite class=\"wp-inline-image-credit\"> (Beth LaBerge/KQED)\u003c/cite>\u003c/figcaption>\u003c/figure>\n"
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>Election officials will only truly scrutinize the date you’ve written if they receive your ballot \u003cem>after\u003c/em> Election Day.\u003c/p>\n",
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"\n\u003cp>Election officials will only truly scrutinize the date you’ve written if they receive your ballot \u003cem>after\u003c/em> Election Day.\u003c/p>\n"
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>And if you haven’t mailed your envelope yet, it’s an easy fix: Just clearly cross out the incorrect date on the envelope and write in the correct one above it.\u003c/p>\n",
"innerContent": [
"\n\u003cp>And if you haven’t mailed your envelope yet, it’s an easy fix: Just clearly cross out the incorrect date on the envelope and write in the correct one above it.\u003c/p>\n"
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"blockName": "core/heading",
"attrs": {
"text": "What if I use assistive technology to complete forms?",
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003ch2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">What if I use assistive technology to complete forms?\u003c/h2>\n",
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>Getting physical assistance with filling out your ballot from someone you trust is always fine, whether you’re voting at home or at a voting site. \u003c/p>\n",
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"\n\u003cp>Getting physical assistance with filling out your ballot from someone you trust is always fine, whether you’re voting at home or at a voting site. \u003c/p>\n"
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>You just need to make sure your signature is your own and matches the one you’re registered to vote with.\u003c/p>\n",
"innerContent": [
"\n\u003cp>You just need to make sure your signature is your own and matches the one you’re registered to vote with.\u003c/p>\n"
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cfigure class=\"wp-block-image aligncenter size-full\">\u003cimg src=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2025/10/251030-BAYAREAVOTERS-32-BL-KQED.jpg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-12062371\" srcset=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2025/10/251030-BAYAREAVOTERS-32-BL-KQED.jpg 2000w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2025/10/251030-BAYAREAVOTERS-32-BL-KQED-160x107.jpg 160w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2025/10/251030-BAYAREAVOTERS-32-BL-KQED-1536x1024.jpg 1536w\" sizes=\"(min-width: 992px) min(100vw, 1536px), (min-width: 768px) min(100vw, 1280px), min(100vw, 1020px)\"/>\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">Tessa King drops off a ballot at the City Hall Voting Center in San Francisco on Oct. 30, 2025, ahead of the statewide special election.\u003ccite class=\"wp-inline-image-credit\"> (Beth LaBerge/KQED)\u003c/cite>\u003c/figcaption>\u003c/figure>\n",
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"\n\u003cfigure class=\"wp-block-image aligncenter size-full\">\u003cimg src=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2025/10/251030-BAYAREAVOTERS-32-BL-KQED.jpg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-12062371\"/>\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">Tessa King drops off a ballot at the City Hall Voting Center in San Francisco on Oct. 30, 2025, ahead of the statewide special election.\u003ccite class=\"wp-inline-image-credit\"> (Beth LaBerge/KQED)\u003c/cite>\u003c/figcaption>\u003c/figure>\n"
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>Disabled voters can also choose to use the \u003ca href=\"https://www.sos.ca.gov/elections/voting-resources/remote-accessible-vote-mail\">Remote Accessible Vote-by-Mail\u003c/a> system to vote privately and independently at home, using their usual assistive device on their home computer to fill out the ballot on their screen and then print and mail it.\u003c/p>\n",
"innerContent": [
"\n\u003cp>Disabled voters can also choose to use the \u003ca href=\"https://www.sos.ca.gov/elections/voting-resources/remote-accessible-vote-mail\">Remote Accessible Vote-by-Mail\u003c/a> system to vote privately and independently at home, using their usual assistive device on their home computer to fill out the ballot on their screen and then print and mail it.\u003c/p>\n"
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{
"blockName": "core/paragraph",
"attrs": {
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>Every voting location in California is also equipped with an accessible voting unit. Here, voters with blindness or low vision or who have a disability that limits their dexterity, will be able to use the assistive device of their choice that allows them to vote privately and independently.\u003c/p>\n",
"innerContent": [
"\n\u003cp>Every voting location in California is also equipped with an accessible voting unit. Here, voters with blindness or low vision or who have a disability that limits their dexterity, will be able to use the assistive device of their choice that allows them to vote privately and independently.\u003c/p>\n"
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{
"blockName": "core/heading",
"attrs": {
"text": "How can I make sure my mail-in ballot gets there on time? ",
"level": 2
},
"innerHTML": "\n\u003ch2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">How can I make sure my mail-in ballot gets there on time? \u003c/h2>\n",
"innerContent": [
"\n\u003ch2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">How can I make sure my mail-in ballot gets there on time? \u003c/h2>\n"
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>Remember, one big reason that ballots get disqualified in elections is that voters mail them too late: either too late on Election Day itself (after U.S. Postal Service mailboxes have already been collected), or after Election Day.\u003c/p>\n",
"innerContent": [
"\n\u003cp>Remember, one big reason that ballots get disqualified in elections is that voters mail them too late: either too late on Election Day itself (after U.S. Postal Service mailboxes have already been collected), or after Election Day.\u003c/p>\n"
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>To be counted in this election, your ballot must be postmarked on Election Day, Nov. 3, at the latest. Your ballot has seven days to reach your county elections office.\u003c/p>\n",
"innerContent": [
"\n\u003cp>To be counted in this election, your ballot must be postmarked on Election Day, Nov. 3, at the latest. Your ballot has seven days to reach your county elections office.\u003c/p>\n"
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>So in this election, it’s as crucial as ever to make sure you have a plan for voting on time. And if you’re not voting in person, that means making sure you get your ballot into a USPS mailbox or into a secure voting drop box, at a polling location or your county elections office, by the time polls close on Nov. 3.\u003c/p>\n",
"innerContent": [
"\n\u003cp>So in this election, it’s as crucial as ever to make sure you have a plan for voting on time. And if you’re not voting in person, that means making sure you get your ballot into a USPS mailbox or into a secure voting drop box, at a polling location or your county elections office, by the time polls close on Nov. 3.\u003c/p>\n"
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>Read more about why \u003ca href=\"https://www.kqed.org/news/12103028/should-you-use-usps-to-mail-your-midterm-ballot-heres-what-california-election-officials-say\">California election officials are urging voters to make sure their ballot arrives on time\u003c/a> – and why they’re urging caution around using USPS too close to Election Day.\u003c/p>\n",
"innerContent": [
"\n\u003cp>Read more about why \u003ca href=\"https://www.kqed.org/news/12103028/should-you-use-usps-to-mail-your-midterm-ballot-heres-what-california-election-officials-say\">California election officials are urging voters to make sure their ballot arrives on time\u003c/a> – and why they’re urging caution around using USPS too close to Election Day.\u003c/p>\n"
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{
"blockName": "core/heading",
"attrs": {
"text": "A few other common ballot mistakes to watch out for …",
"level": 2
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003ch2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">A few other common ballot mistakes to watch out for …\u003c/h2>\n",
"innerContent": [
"\n\u003ch2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">A few other common ballot mistakes to watch out for …\u003c/h2>\n"
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{
"blockName": "core/heading",
"attrs": {
"level": 3,
"text": "Make sure you’re filling out and signing the ballot and envelope with your name on it:"
},
"innerHTML": "\n\u003ch3 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Make sure you’re filling out and signing the ballot and envelope with \u003cem>your\u003c/em> name on it: \u003c/h3>\n",
"innerContent": [
"\n\u003ch3 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Make sure you’re filling out and signing the ballot and envelope with \u003cem>your\u003c/em> name on it: \u003c/h3>\n"
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{
"blockName": "core/paragraph",
"attrs": {
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>It’s common to see partners or roommates accidentally mix up their ballots. So make sure you’re signing the document that bears your name.\u003c/p>\n",
"innerContent": [
"\n\u003cp>It’s common to see partners or roommates accidentally mix up their ballots. So make sure you’re signing the document that bears your name.\u003c/p>\n"
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{
"blockName": "core/heading",
"attrs": {
"level": 3,
"text": "Make sure you use a black or blue pen:"
},
"innerHTML": "\n\u003ch3 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Make sure you use a black or blue pen: \u003c/h3>\n",
"innerContent": [
"\n\u003ch3 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Make sure you use a black or blue pen: \u003c/h3>\n"
],
"innerBlocks": []
},
{
"blockName": "core/paragraph",
"attrs": {
"dropCap": false
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>It reads better, and it doesn’t slow workers down when they have to check to see what voter intent was. (Don’t use a felt-tip or a Sharpie that bleeds through the paper and marks other pages on your ballot.)\u003c/p>\n",
"innerContent": [
"\n\u003cp>It reads better, and it doesn’t slow workers down when they have to check to see what voter intent was. (Don’t use a felt-tip or a Sharpie that bleeds through the paper and marks other pages on your ballot.)\u003c/p>\n"
],
"innerBlocks": []
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{
"blockName": "core/image",
"attrs": {
"id": 12084638,
"sizeSlug": "full",
"linkDestination": "none",
"align": "center",
"alt": "",
"srcset": "https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/05/003_KQED_SanFrancisco_Election2020_TanyaYule_10092020_qed.jpg 1999w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/05/003_KQED_SanFrancisco_Election2020_TanyaYule_10092020_qed-160x107.jpg 160w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/05/003_KQED_SanFrancisco_Election2020_TanyaYule_10092020_qed-1536x1024.jpg 1536w",
"sizes": "(min-width: 992px) min(100vw, 1536px), (min-width: 768px) min(100vw, 1280px), min(100vw, 1020px)"
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cfigure class=\"wp-block-image aligncenter size-full\">\u003cimg src=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/05/003_KQED_SanFrancisco_Election2020_TanyaYule_10092020_qed.jpg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-12084638\" srcset=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/05/003_KQED_SanFrancisco_Election2020_TanyaYule_10092020_qed.jpg 1999w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/05/003_KQED_SanFrancisco_Election2020_TanyaYule_10092020_qed-160x107.jpg 160w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/05/003_KQED_SanFrancisco_Election2020_TanyaYule_10092020_qed-1536x1024.jpg 1536w\" sizes=\"(min-width: 992px) min(100vw, 1536px), (min-width: 768px) min(100vw, 1280px), min(100vw, 1020px)\"/>\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">Tanya Yule looks over a voting guide at her home in San Francisco on Oct. 9, 2020.\u003ccite class=\"wp-inline-image-credit\"> (Beth LaBerge/KQED)\u003c/cite>\u003c/figcaption>\u003c/figure>\n",
"innerContent": [
"\n\u003cfigure class=\"wp-block-image aligncenter size-full\">\u003cimg src=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/05/003_KQED_SanFrancisco_Election2020_TanyaYule_10092020_qed.jpg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-12084638\"/>\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">Tanya Yule looks over a voting guide at her home in San Francisco on Oct. 9, 2020.\u003ccite class=\"wp-inline-image-credit\"> (Beth LaBerge/KQED)\u003c/cite>\u003c/figcaption>\u003c/figure>\n"
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{
"blockName": "core/heading",
"attrs": {
"level": 3,
"text": "Don’t mail an empty envelope:"
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003ch3 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Don’t mail an empty envelope: \u003c/h3>\n",
"innerContent": [
"\n\u003ch3 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Don’t mail an empty envelope: \u003c/h3>\n"
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{
"blockName": "core/paragraph",
"attrs": {
"dropCap": false
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>It does happen. Keeping your envelope and your ballot together in your home might be a helpful way of avoiding this problem. And of course, when you’re ready to mail your ballot, make sure it’s actually inside the envelope before you seal it.\u003c/p>\n",
"innerContent": [
"\n\u003cp>It does happen. Keeping your envelope and your ballot together in your home might be a helpful way of avoiding this problem. And of course, when you’re ready to mail your ballot, make sure it’s actually inside the envelope before you seal it.\u003c/p>\n"
],
"innerBlocks": []
},
{
"blockName": "core/heading",
"attrs": {
"level": 3,
"text": "Don’t bother with a stamp:"
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003ch3 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Don’t bother with a stamp: \u003c/h3>\n",
"innerContent": [
"\n\u003ch3 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Don’t bother with a stamp: \u003c/h3>\n"
],
"innerBlocks": []
},
{
"blockName": "core/paragraph",
"attrs": {
"dropCap": false
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>Your ballot envelope is postage-paid. You don’t need it.\u003c/p>\n",
"innerContent": [
"\n\u003cp>Your ballot envelope is postage-paid. You don’t need it.\u003c/p>\n"
],
"innerBlocks": []
},
{
"blockName": "core/heading",
"attrs": {
"text": "My ballot is missing or hasn’t arrived. What should I do?",
"level": 2
},
"innerHTML": "\n\u003ch2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">My ballot is missing or hasn’t arrived. What should I do?\u003c/h2>\n",
"innerContent": [
"\n\u003ch2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">My ballot is missing or hasn’t arrived. What should I do?\u003c/h2>\n"
],
"innerBlocks": []
},
{
"blockName": "core/paragraph",
"attrs": {
"dropCap": false
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>If you’re reading this and you’re worried that your ballot hasn’t arrived yet, make sure you’re not worrying \u003cem>too \u003c/em>early, as the deadline for counties to \u003cem>start \u003c/em>sending out ballots is only Oct. 5.\u003c/p>\n",
"innerContent": [
"\n\u003cp>If you’re reading this and you’re worried that your ballot hasn’t arrived yet, make sure you’re not worrying \u003cem>too \u003c/em>early, as the deadline for counties to \u003cem>start \u003c/em>sending out ballots is only Oct. 5.\u003c/p>\n"
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{
"blockName": "core/paragraph",
"attrs": {
"dropCap": false
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>But if it gets to late October and your ballot still hasn’t materialized, don’t panic: You have options. Here’s what to do:\u003c/p>\n",
"innerContent": [
"\n\u003cp>But if it gets to late October and your ballot still hasn’t materialized, don’t panic: You have options. Here’s what to do:\u003c/p>\n"
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"innerBlocks": []
},
{
"blockName": "core/heading",
"attrs": {
"level": 3,
"text": "Check that you’re actually registered to vote — and to the right address"
},
"innerHTML": "\n\u003ch3 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Check that you’re actually registered to vote — and to the right address\u003c/h3>\n",
"innerContent": [
"\n\u003ch3 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Check that you’re actually registered to vote — and to the right address\u003c/h3>\n"
],
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},
{
"blockName": "core/paragraph",
"attrs": {
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>\u003ca href=\"https://voterstatus.sos.ca.gov/\">Input your details on the secretary of state’s voter status page\u003c/a> to check your registration status. This will show whether you’re actually registered to vote, and to which address. It should also show whether your ballot was mailed out.\u003c/p>\n",
"innerContent": [
"\n\u003cp>\u003ca href=\"https://voterstatus.sos.ca.gov/\">Input your details on the secretary of state’s voter status page\u003c/a> to check your registration status. This will show whether you’re actually registered to vote, and to which address. It should also show whether your ballot was mailed out.\u003c/p>\n"
],
"innerBlocks": []
},
{
"blockName": "core/paragraph",
"attrs": {
"dropCap": false
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>You can also use \u003ca href=\"https://california.ballottrax.net/voter/\">the Where’s My Ballot? tool\u003c/a> to check whether your ballot has been sent.\u003c/p>\n",
"innerContent": [
"\n\u003cp>You can also use \u003ca href=\"https://california.ballottrax.net/voter/\">the Where’s My Ballot? tool\u003c/a> to check whether your ballot has been sent.\u003c/p>\n"
],
"innerBlocks": []
},
{
"blockName": "core/image",
"attrs": {
"id": 12095745,
"sizeSlug": "full",
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"alt": "",
"srcset": "https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/08/251030-BayAreaVoters-06-BL_qed.jpg 2000w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/08/251030-BayAreaVoters-06-BL_qed-160x107.jpg 160w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/08/251030-BayAreaVoters-06-BL_qed-1536x1024.jpg 1536w",
"sizes": "(min-width: 992px) min(100vw, 1536px), (min-width: 768px) min(100vw, 1280px), min(100vw, 1020px)"
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cfigure class=\"wp-block-image aligncenter size-full\">\u003cimg src=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/08/251030-BayAreaVoters-06-BL_qed.jpg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-12095745\" srcset=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/08/251030-BayAreaVoters-06-BL_qed.jpg 2000w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/08/251030-BayAreaVoters-06-BL_qed-160x107.jpg 160w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/08/251030-BayAreaVoters-06-BL_qed-1536x1024.jpg 1536w\" sizes=\"(min-width: 992px) min(100vw, 1536px), (min-width: 768px) min(100vw, 1280px), min(100vw, 1020px)\"/>\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">A voter is given a sticker after dropping his ballot at City Hall in San Francisco on Oct. 30, 2025, ahead of the statewide special election.\u003ccite class=\"wp-inline-image-credit\"> (Beth LaBerge/KQED)\u003c/cite>\u003c/figcaption>\u003c/figure>\n",
"innerContent": [
"\n\u003cfigure class=\"wp-block-image aligncenter size-full\">\u003cimg src=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/08/251030-BayAreaVoters-06-BL_qed.jpg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-12095745\"/>\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">A voter is given a sticker after dropping his ballot at City Hall in San Francisco on Oct. 30, 2025, ahead of the statewide special election.\u003ccite class=\"wp-inline-image-credit\"> (Beth LaBerge/KQED)\u003c/cite>\u003c/figcaption>\u003c/figure>\n"
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{
"blockName": "core/heading",
"attrs": {
"level": 3,
"text": "If you’re registered to the wrong address, you can update it before Oct. 19 "
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003ch3 class=\"wp-block-heading\">If you’re registered to the wrong address, you can update it before Oct. 19 \u003c/h3>\n",
"innerContent": [
"\n\u003ch3 class=\"wp-block-heading\">If you’re registered to the wrong address, you can update it before Oct. 19 \u003c/h3>\n"
],
"innerBlocks": []
},
{
"blockName": "core/paragraph",
"attrs": {
"dropCap": false
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>If you update your voter registration and address using \u003ca href=\"https://voterstatus.sos.ca.gov/\">the secretary of state’s voter status page\u003c/a> before the Oct. 19 deadline to register online, your county will cancel the ballot that went to your old address and send you a new one.\u003c/p>\n",
"innerContent": [
"\n\u003cp>If you update your voter registration and address using \u003ca href=\"https://voterstatus.sos.ca.gov/\">the secretary of state’s voter status page\u003c/a> before the Oct. 19 deadline to register online, your county will cancel the ballot that went to your old address and send you a new one.\u003c/p>\n"
],
"innerBlocks": []
},
{
"blockName": "core/paragraph",
"attrs": {
"dropCap": false
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>And if it turns out your ballot \u003cem>was \u003c/em>missing because your voter registration wasn’t updated, don’t feel bad — people move all the time and forget to update their registrations accordingly.\u003c/p>\n",
"innerContent": [
"\n\u003cp>And if it turns out your ballot \u003cem>was \u003c/em>missing because your voter registration wasn’t updated, don’t feel bad — people move all the time and forget to update their registrations accordingly.\u003c/p>\n"
],
"innerBlocks": []
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{
"blockName": "core/paragraph",
"attrs": {
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>The California Voter Foundation’s Alexander confirmed to KQED in 2021 that updating your address at the post office doesn’t, in fact, update your voter registration. The DMV, on the other hand, \u003cem>will\u003c/em> update your voter registration details if you update your address with them.\u003c/p>\n",
"innerContent": [
"\n\u003cp>The California Voter Foundation’s Alexander confirmed to KQED in 2021 that updating your address at the post office doesn’t, in fact, update your voter registration. The DMV, on the other hand, \u003cem>will\u003c/em> update your voter registration details if you update your address with them.\u003c/p>\n"
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{
"blockName": "core/heading",
"attrs": {
"level": 3,
"text": "If your voter registration address was correct but your ballot never showed up, you still have options"
},
"innerHTML": "\n\u003ch3 class=\"wp-block-heading\">If your voter registration address was correct but your ballot never showed up, you still have options\u003c/h3>\n",
"innerContent": [
"\n\u003ch3 class=\"wp-block-heading\">If your voter registration address was correct but your ballot never showed up, you still have options\u003c/h3>\n"
],
"innerBlocks": []
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{
"blockName": "core/paragraph",
"attrs": {
"dropCap": false
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>If it’s more than six days before Election Day, you can call your county elections office and ask them to send a new ballot. Find your county elections office in our contact list (below). \u003c/p>\n",
"innerContent": [
"\n\u003cp>If it’s more than six days before Election Day, you can call your county elections office and ask them to send a new ballot. Find your county elections office in our contact list (below). \u003c/p>\n"
],
"innerBlocks": []
},
{
"blockName": "core/paragraph",
"attrs": {
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>Your county elections office won’t mail you a ballot six days or less before Election Day, because it can’t be sure it’ll reach you in time. So if you’re trying to get a ballot in the immediate run-up to Election Day, go to your county elections office in person and request one at the counter.\u003c/p>\n",
"innerContent": [
"\n\u003cp>Your county elections office won’t mail you a ballot six days or less before Election Day, because it can’t be sure it’ll reach you in time. So if you’re trying to get a ballot in the immediate run-up to Election Day, go to your county elections office in person and request one at the counter.\u003c/p>\n"
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{
"blockName": "core/image",
"attrs": {
"id": 12087079,
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"linkDestination": "none",
"align": "center",
"alt": ""
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cfigure class=\"wp-block-image aligncenter size-full\">\u003cimg src=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/06/CaliforniaElection2026Getty-e1781204236548.jpg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-12087079\"/>\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">An election worker processes mail-in ballots for the California state primary election at the Los Angeles County Ballot Processing Center on June 5, 2026, in City of Industry, California.\u003ccite class=\"wp-inline-image-credit\"> (Justin Sullivan/Getty Images)\u003c/cite>\u003c/figcaption>\u003c/figure>\n",
"innerContent": [
"\n\u003cfigure class=\"wp-block-image aligncenter size-full\">\u003cimg src=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/06/CaliforniaElection2026Getty-e1781204236548.jpg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-12087079\"/>\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">An election worker processes mail-in ballots for the California state primary election at the Los Angeles County Ballot Processing Center on June 5, 2026, in City of Industry, California.\u003ccite class=\"wp-inline-image-credit\"> (Justin Sullivan/Getty Images)\u003c/cite>\u003c/figcaption>\u003c/figure>\n"
],
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},
{
"blockName": "core/paragraph",
"attrs": {
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>From Oct. 5, your county elections office will be open for early voting through Nov. 3, so you could also go there in person during opening hours and vote right there at the counter. More early voting locations will be opening throughout October.\u003c/p>\n",
"innerContent": [
"\n\u003cp>From Oct. 5, your county elections office will be open for early voting through Nov. 3, so you could also go there in person during opening hours and vote right there at the counter. More early voting locations will be opening throughout October.\u003c/p>\n"
],
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{
"blockName": "core/paragraph",
"attrs": {
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>And remember, if you’re \u003cem>not\u003c/em> actually registered to vote, you always have the option of \u003ca href=\"https://www.sos.ca.gov/elections/voter-registration/same-day-reg\">same-day voter registration\u003c/a>, also known as conditional voter registration, at a voting location, where you can then fill out and submit your ballot, too.\u003c/p>\n",
"innerContent": [
"\n\u003cp>And remember, if you’re \u003cem>not\u003c/em> actually registered to vote, you always have the option of \u003ca href=\"https://www.sos.ca.gov/elections/voter-registration/same-day-reg\">same-day voter registration\u003c/a>, also known as conditional voter registration, at a voting location, where you can then fill out and submit your ballot, too.\u003c/p>\n"
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{
"blockName": "core/heading",
"attrs": {
"text": "Contact your county directly",
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003ch2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Contact your county directly\u003c/h2>\n",
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>Across the Bay Area, elections officials are encouraging voters to reach out — early — with any questions or concerns. Here’s the contact information for your county:\u003c/p>\n",
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"Alameda: For information about voting by mail, registration and polling place lookup, call 510-267-8683",
"Contra Costa: Call 925-335-7800 or email voter.services@vote.cccounty.us",
"Marin: Call 415-473-6456 or go to the Marin County elections webpage to send a form email",
"Napa: Call 707-253-4321 or email the elections office at elections@countyofnapa.org",
"San Francisco: Call 415-554-4375 or email sfvote@sfgov.org",
"San Mateo: Call 888- 762-8683 or email registrar@smcacre.org",
"Santa Clara: Call toll-free at 866-430-VOTE (8683) or email registrar@rov.sccgov.org",
"Solano: Call 707-784-6675 or (888) 933-VOTE (8683). You can also email elections@solanocounty.com",
"Sonoma: Call 707-565-6800 or toll-free at 800-750-8683"
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cli>\u003ca href=\"https://acvote.alamedacountyca.gov/index\">\u003cstrong>Alameda\u003c/strong>\u003c/a>: For information about voting by mail, registration and polling place lookup, call 510-267-8683\u003c/li>\n",
"innerContent": [
"\n\u003cli>\u003ca href=\"https://acvote.alamedacountyca.gov/index\">\u003cstrong>Alameda\u003c/strong>\u003c/a>: For information about voting by mail, registration and polling place lookup, call 510-267-8683\u003c/li>\n"
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cli>\u003ca href=\"https://www.contracostavote.gov/elections/\">\u003cstrong>Contra Costa\u003c/strong>\u003c/a>: Call 925-335-7800 or email voter.services@vote.cccounty.us\u003c/li>\n",
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"\n\u003cli>\u003ca href=\"https://www.contracostavote.gov/elections/\">\u003cstrong>Contra Costa\u003c/strong>\u003c/a>: Call 925-335-7800 or email voter.services@vote.cccounty.us\u003c/li>\n"
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cli>\u003ca href=\"https://www.marincounty.org/depts/rv\">\u003cstrong>Marin\u003c/strong>\u003c/a>: Call 415-473-6456 or go to the Marin County elections webpage to \u003ca href=\"https://www.marincounty.org/depts/rv/contact-us\">send a form email\u003c/a>\u003c/li>\n",
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"\n\u003cli>\u003ca href=\"https://www.marincounty.org/depts/rv\">\u003cstrong>Marin\u003c/strong>\u003c/a>: Call 415-473-6456 or go to the Marin County elections webpage to \u003ca href=\"https://www.marincounty.org/depts/rv/contact-us\">send a form email\u003c/a>\u003c/li>\n"
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cli>\u003ca href=\"https://www.countyofnapa.org/396/Elections\">\u003cstrong>Napa\u003c/strong>\u003c/a>: Call 707-253-4321 or email the elections office at elections@countyofnapa.org\u003c/li>\n",
"innerContent": [
"\n\u003cli>\u003ca href=\"https://www.countyofnapa.org/396/Elections\">\u003cstrong>Napa\u003c/strong>\u003c/a>: Call 707-253-4321 or email the elections office at elections@countyofnapa.org\u003c/li>\n"
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cli>\u003ca href=\"https://sfelections.sfgov.org\">\u003cstrong>San Francisco\u003c/strong>\u003c/a>: Call 415-554-4375 or email sfvote@sfgov.org\u003c/li>\n",
"innerContent": [
"\n\u003cli>\u003ca href=\"https://sfelections.sfgov.org\">\u003cstrong>San Francisco\u003c/strong>\u003c/a>: Call 415-554-4375 or email sfvote@sfgov.org\u003c/li>\n"
]
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cli>\u003ca href=\"https://www.smcacre.org/elections\">\u003cstrong>San Mateo\u003c/strong>\u003c/a>: Call 888- 762-8683 or email registrar@smcacre.org\u003c/li>\n",
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"\n\u003cli>\u003ca href=\"https://www.smcacre.org/elections\">\u003cstrong>San Mateo\u003c/strong>\u003c/a>: Call 888- 762-8683 or email registrar@smcacre.org\u003c/li>\n"
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cli>\u003ca href=\"https://www.sccgov.org/sites/rov/Pages/Registrar-of-Voters.aspx\">\u003cstrong>Santa Clara\u003c/strong>\u003c/a>: Call toll-free at 866-430-VOTE (8683) or email registrar@rov.sccgov.org\u003c/li>\n",
"innerContent": [
"\n\u003cli>\u003ca href=\"https://www.sccgov.org/sites/rov/Pages/Registrar-of-Voters.aspx\">\u003cstrong>Santa Clara\u003c/strong>\u003c/a>: Call toll-free at 866-430-VOTE (8683) or email registrar@rov.sccgov.org\u003c/li>\n"
]
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cli>\u003ca href=\"https://www.solanocounty.com/depts/rov/default.asp\">\u003cstrong>Solano\u003c/strong>\u003c/a>\u003cstrong>: \u003c/strong>Call 707-784-6675 or (888) 933-VOTE (8683). You can also email elections@solanocounty.com\u003c/li>\n",
"innerContent": [
"\n\u003cli>\u003ca href=\"https://www.solanocounty.com/depts/rov/default.asp\">\u003cstrong>Solano\u003c/strong>\u003c/a>\u003cstrong>: \u003c/strong>Call 707-784-6675 or (888) 933-VOTE (8683). You can also email elections@solanocounty.com\u003c/li>\n"
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cli>\u003ca href=\"https://sonomacounty.ca.gov/CRA/Registrar-of-Voters/\">\u003cstrong>Sonoma\u003c/strong>\u003c/a>: Call 707-565-6800 or toll-free at 800-750-8683\u003c/li>\n",
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"\n\u003cli>\u003ca href=\"https://sonomacounty.ca.gov/CRA/Registrar-of-Voters/\">\u003cstrong>Sonoma\u003c/strong>\u003c/a>: Call 707-565-6800 or toll-free at 800-750-8683\u003c/li>\n"
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>The state also has a full list of \u003ca href=\"https://www.sos.ca.gov/elections/voting-resources/county-elections-offices/\">every county elections office in California\u003c/a>.\u003c/p>\n",
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"\n\u003cp>The state also has a full list of \u003ca href=\"https://www.sos.ca.gov/elections/voting-resources/county-elections-offices/\">every county elections office in California\u003c/a>.\u003c/p>\n"
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"excerpt": "From the signature on your envelope to what happens if you make a mistake on your ballot, here's how to correctly cast your vote in the 2026 California midterm elections.",
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"content": "\u003cdiv class=\"post-body\">\u003cp>\n\u003cp>It’s time to vote in the \u003ca href=\"https://www.kqed.org/news/tag/california\">California\u003c/a> 2026 midterm election — which includes your chance to decide who’ll be the state’s next governor. \u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>If you’re a registered California voter, your ballot is on its way in the next few days, if it hasn’t already arrived. Your last day to vote will be Election Day itself, Nov. 3.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>But what if you’re unsure of how to fill that ballot out according to how you want to vote? Or what to do if you’ve made a mistake on it?\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>Read on to learn how to fill out your ballot when it arrives, how important your signature is, and your options if you need to start again with a fresh ballot.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n\u003cli>\u003cstrong>Jump to: \u003ca href=\"#mistake\">I messed up my ballot. What should I do? \u003c/a>\u003c/strong>\u003c/li>\n\u003c/ul>\n\n\n\n\u003ch2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">First of all: Am I registered to vote?\u003c/h2>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>The official deadline to \u003ca href=\"https://www.sos.ca.gov/elections/voter-registration/\">register online to vote \u003c/a>is Monday, Oct. 19.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>So if you’re unsure whether you’re already registered to vote or can’t remember which party preference you already have, \u003ca href=\"https://voterstatus.sos.ca.gov/\">check your voter registration details\u003c/a> ASAP.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\u003cdiv class=\"wp-block-image\">\n\u003cfigure class=\"aligncenter size-full\">\u003cimg loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"2000\" height=\"1275\" src=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/09/YouthVoterGetty.jpg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-12102009\" srcset=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/09/YouthVoterGetty.jpg 2000w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/09/YouthVoterGetty-160x102.jpg 160w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/09/YouthVoterGetty-1536x979.jpg 1536w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 2000px) 100vw, 2000px\" />\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">Potential young voters get information at a voter registration desk at Voter Fest 2024, an event designed to engage young voters and historically underserved communities on Oct. 22, 2024, at Cal State Los Angeles. (Frederic J. Brown/AFP via Getty Images)\u003c/figcaption>\u003c/figure>\n\u003c/div>\n\n\n\u003cp>Remember, if you’ve changed your name or want to change the political party choice you previously registered to vote with, or you’ve moved address, you’ll need to \u003ca href=\"https://www.sos.ca.gov/elections/voter-registration/\">re-register\u003c/a>.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>Making sure you’re registered — and to the right address — is crucial for getting your ballot on time. \u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>And if you miss the deadline to register, don’t panic: That’s the last day to do it \u003cem>online\u003c/em>. After Oct. 19, you can still complete the \u003ca href=\"https://www.sos.ca.gov/elections/voter-registration/same-day-reg/\">same-day voter registration\u003c/a> process (also known as “conditional voting”) and receive your ballot in person at your county elections office or polling location, all the way up to 8 p.m. on Election Day itself.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003ch2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">What’s on my 2026 midterm elections ballot?\u003c/h2>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>Depending on which county you live in, your California ballot will present you with \u003ca href=\"https://www.kqed.org/voterguide\">a mix of races\u003c/a> to vote on.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003ch3 class=\"wp-block-heading\">The races for statewide offices include:\u003c/h3>\n\n\n\n\u003cul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n\u003cli>\u003ca href=\"https://www.kqed.org/voterguide/california/governor\">Governor\u003c/a>: Democrat Xavier Becerra and Republican Steve Hilton face off in a race to succeed Governor Gavin Newsom.\u003c/li>\n\n\n\n\u003cli>\u003ca href=\"https://www.kqed.org/voterguide/california/insurance-commissioner\">Insurance commissioner\u003c/a>: Wildfires and inflation have thrown California into an insurance crisis. Two Democrats, Ben Allen and Jane Kim, are running to become the insurance industry’s chief regulator.\u003c/li>\n\u003c/ul>\n\n\n\n\u003cfigure class=\"wp-block-gallery has-nested-images columns-default is-cropped wp-block-gallery-3 is-layout-flex wp-block-gallery-is-layout-flex\">\n\u003cfigure class=\"wp-block-image size-large\">\u003cimg loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"2000\" height=\"1333\" data-id=\"12078808\" src=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/04/SteveHiltonAP.jpg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-12078808\" srcset=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/04/SteveHiltonAP.jpg 2000w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/04/SteveHiltonAP-160x107.jpg 160w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/04/SteveHiltonAP-1536x1024.jpg 1536w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 2000px) 100vw, 2000px\" />\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">Steve Hilton speaks during the California gubernatorial candidate debate on Feb. 3, 2026, in San Francisco. (Laure Andrillon/AP Photo)\u003c/figcaption>\u003c/figure>\n\n\n\n\u003cfigure class=\"wp-block-image size-large\">\u003cimg loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"2000\" height=\"1333\" data-id=\"12086476\" src=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/06/Xavier-Becerra-Getty.jpg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-12086476\" srcset=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/06/Xavier-Becerra-Getty.jpg 2000w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/06/Xavier-Becerra-Getty-160x107.jpg 160w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/06/Xavier-Becerra-Getty-1536x1024.jpg 1536w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 2000px) 100vw, 2000px\" />\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">Xavier Becerra, a candidate for governor, speaks to supporters on election night on June 2, 2026. (David Crane/MediaNews Group/Los Angeles Daily News via Getty Images)\u003c/figcaption>\u003c/figure>\n\u003c/figure>\n\n\n\n\u003ch3 class=\"wp-block-heading\">A number of statewide propositions, including:\u003c/h3>\n\n\n\n\u003cul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n\u003cli>\u003ca href=\"https://www.kqed.org/voterguide/california/proposition-1\">Prop. 1\u003c/a>: Should California issue $11.25 billion in general obligation bonds for affordable housing, homebuying opportunities and veterans and homelessness programs?\u003c/li>\n\n\n\n\u003cli>\u003ca href=\"https://www.kqed.org/voterguide/california/proposition-39\">Prop 39\u003c/a>: Should Californians be required to show ID for in-person and mail-in voting? \u003c/li>\n\n\n\n\u003cli>\u003ca href=\"https://www.kqed.org/voterguide/california/proposition-40\">Prop 40: \u003c/a>Should California tax the wealth of billionaires to fund health care services?\u003c/li>\n\u003c/ul>\n\n\n\n\u003ch3 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Local measures and races \u003c/h3>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>These will depend on your Bay Area county or district. See \u003ca href=\"https://www.kqed.org/voterguide\">the KQED Voter Guide for more information\u003c/a> on what’s on your ballot this election season.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003ch2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">How do I return my ballot when I’ve completed it?\u003c/h2>\n\n\n\n\u003ch3 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Drop off your ballot in a secure ballot drop box\u003c/h3>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>These drop boxes \u003ca href=\"https://www.sos.ca.gov/elections/upcoming-elections/general-election-november-3-2026\">open by Oct. 5\u003c/a>, and once submitted, your ballot will be taken straight to your local county elections office.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>Some elections officials strongly recommend using these drop boxes over using USPS. “We’re not really encouraging people to use the USPS to get their ballot here,” said Evelyn Mendez, Sonoma County’s registrar of voters. \u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>Instead, Mendez tells voters to use county collection boxes because they skip the Postal Service altogether.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003ch3 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Return your ballot through the Postal Service \u003c/h3>\n\n\n\n\n\n\u003cp>The return postage is already paid for you. Keep in mind that the Postal Service must postmark your ballot envelope by the end of Election Day for your vote to count — and the last collection at many mailboxes is 5 p.m. \u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>However, in the last two statewide elections, Secretary of State Shirley Weber and Attorney General Rob Bonta urged any voters planning to use USPS to mail in their ballots \u003ca href=\"https://oag.ca.gov/news/press-releases/attorney-general-bonta-and-secretary-state-weber-sacramento-vote-early-june\">at \u003cem>least \u003c/em>a week before Election Day\u003c/a> — to account for \u003ca href=\"https://www.kqed.org/news/12103028/should-you-use-usps-to-mail-your-midterm-ballot-heres-what-california-election-officials-say\">changes in the way USPS is collected\u003c/a> and postmarked in many areas. \u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>And if you’re mailing your midterm ballot on Election Day itself, Weber’s office is recommending you \u003ca href=\"https://www.sos.ca.gov/elections/voter-registration/vote-mail\">“get a hand-stamped postmark\u003c/a> from a postal employee inside a United States Post Office” rather than simply dropping it in a USPS collection box.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003ch3 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Drop off your ballot in an open voting location\u003c/h3>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>\u003ca href=\"https://www.sos.ca.gov/elections/upcoming-elections/general-election-november-3-2026\">The first vote centers open \u003c/a>Oct. 24 in certain counties, with more early voting locations opening Oct. 31.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>Submitting your ballot by hand this way is the top recommendation of Kim Alexander, president and founder of the non-partisan California Voter Foundation. You can fill your ballot out in-person at a voting location, and submit it directly there and then. \u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>Or, if you live in \u003ca href=\"https://calvoter.org/content/sign-scan-and-go\">one of the California counties\u003c/a> which has adopted the “Sign & Go” system — in the Bay Area, that’s Alameda, Contra Costa, Marin and Napa — you can complete your ballot at your convenience at home, and then bring it to a participating vote center and sign the voter roster under penalty of perjury (just as you would for in-person voting) to submit it in person. And if you live in a county which has adopted “Sign, Scan & Go”, like San Mateo, you can do all of the above and then scan your ballot yourself to have your vote recorded immediately at the voting site. \u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003ch2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Do I \u003cem>have\u003c/em> to vote by mail?\u003c/h2>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>No. \u003ca href=\"https://www.sos.ca.gov/elections/voter-registration/vote-mail\">If you’re registered to vote, you’ll be receiving a mail-in ballot by default\u003c/a> for the 2026 midterms, without requesting it. But voting by mail is still just one option that’s open to you.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>You can still vote in person, either at an early voting location before Election Day or on Election Day, Nov. 3, itself. \u003ca href=\"https://caearlyvoting.sos.ca.gov/\">Early voting locations will open starting Oct. 24.\u003c/a>\u003c/p>\n\n\n\u003cdiv class=\"wp-block-image\">\n\u003cfigure class=\"aligncenter size-full\">\u003cimg loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"2000\" height=\"1333\" src=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2024/11/20241102_EARLYVOTINGMARIN_GC-5-KQED.jpg\" alt=\"A person puts a yellow ballot envelope in a ballot drop box.\" class=\"wp-image-12012711\" srcset=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2024/11/20241102_EARLYVOTINGMARIN_GC-5-KQED.jpg 2000w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2024/11/20241102_EARLYVOTINGMARIN_GC-5-KQED-800x533.jpg 800w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2024/11/20241102_EARLYVOTINGMARIN_GC-5-KQED-1020x680.jpg 1020w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2024/11/20241102_EARLYVOTINGMARIN_GC-5-KQED-160x107.jpg 160w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2024/11/20241102_EARLYVOTINGMARIN_GC-5-KQED-1536x1024.jpg 1536w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2024/11/20241102_EARLYVOTINGMARIN_GC-5-KQED-1920x1280.jpg 1920w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 2000px) 100vw, 2000px\" />\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">A voter drops off their mail-in ballot at a drop box outside of Novato City Hall on Nov. 2, 2024. (Gina Castro/KQED)\u003c/figcaption>\u003c/figure>\n\u003c/div>\n\n\n\u003ch2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">How do I fix a mistake on my ballot?\u003c/h2>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>It’s important to note that each county is slightly different in how they’d prefer you to address a mistake on your ballot, and will often provide specific details about corrections \u003cem>on\u003c/em> the ballot itself. If you have a specific question about your ballot that isn’t answered here, you can always contact your local registrar of voters for advice and instructions.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003ch3 class=\"wp-block-heading\">What if I have problems with my signature?\u003c/h3>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>When you’re done filling out your ballot, you must sign the envelope. But two big mistakes people make with their signatures are:\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n\u003cli>Forgetting to sign their ballot entirely.\u003c/li>\n\n\n\n\u003cli>Making a signature that doesn’t match the signature they made when they registered to vote.\u003c/li>\n\u003c/ul>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>Why \u003cem>wouldn’t\u003c/em> your signature match the one on file? If you registered to vote at a young age, maybe your signature has changed over time. Or perhaps you registered to vote at the DMV and provided your signature on a screen with a stylus, which doesn’t quite replicate how you’d make your signature with a pen on paper.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\u003cdiv class=\"wp-block-image\">\n\u003cfigure class=\"aligncenter size-full\">\u003cimg loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"1999\" height=\"1333\" src=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/06/251104-SCCVOTE-JG-05_qed.jpg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-12088632\" srcset=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/06/251104-SCCVOTE-JG-05_qed.jpg 1999w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/06/251104-SCCVOTE-JG-05_qed-160x107.jpg 160w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/06/251104-SCCVOTE-JG-05_qed-1536x1024.jpg 1536w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 1999px) 100vw, 1999px\" />\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">Edgardo Domingo fills out a ballot at a voting booth at the Vietnamese American Cultural Center in San José on Tuesday, Nov. 4, 2025. (Joseph Geha/KQED)\u003c/figcaption>\u003c/figure>\n\u003c/div>\n\n\n\u003cp>If you registered this way, one simple way to avoid any signature problems is to take a quick glance at the signature that’s on your driver’s license or state ID — because that’s the one you want your ballot signature to match.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>Even if you didn’t register at the DMV, that signature on your most recent license or state ID is still very likely the one to emulate. That’s because when you register to vote online, your county elections office electronically requests a copy of the signature the DMV \u003cem>currently\u003c/em> has for you, and this information is regularly updated.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>To further set your mind at rest, know that California isn’t an “exact match” state, and doesn’t demand voters’ signatures 100% replicate the signature that’s on file.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003ch3 class=\"wp-block-heading\">What if I just don’t know my ‘correct’ signature I’m registered to vote with?\u003c/h3>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>If you’re \u003cem>really\u003c/em> worried about the signature on your envelope not matching the signature you’re registered to vote with, there are two good solutions.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>One: If it’s on or before Oct. 19, you can \u003ca href=\"https://registertovote.ca.gov/\">reregister to vote with your current signature\u003c/a>, to be sure that the state now has your most recent one on file. If you are reregistering after Oct. 19, you’d need to complete the \u003ca href=\"https://www.sos.ca.gov/elections/voter-registration/same-day-reg/\">same-day voter registration\u003c/a> process (also known as “conditional voting”) and request your ballot in person at your county elections office or polling location.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\u003cp>In 2021, the California Voter Foundation’s Alexander, told us there’s another solution if you’re worried about your signature: Go vote in person, if you’re able.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>That’s because the signature goes only on your ballot’s \u003cem>envelope\u003c/em> — and if you’re voting in person, there’s no envelope, because that ballot then goes straight into the ballot box without needing that envelope at all.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>“So if you want that satisfaction of seeing your ballot drop in the box and know that it’s not going to get held up because of some signature issue, you can go and vote in person,” said Alexander.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003ch3 class=\"wp-block-heading\">I already mailed my ballot, but now I’m paranoid about my signature. What if I messed it up?\u003c/h3>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>Rest assured: There’s a whole system in place to help you correct your mistake.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>If your county’s election office detects a signature mismatch on your ballot, they’ll reach out to you via mail to verify and work with you to correct it, so that your ballot can be counted after all. It’s called “curing” a ballot.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>This system is also applied when it looks like a member of a voter’s family might have signed their ballot, instead of the voter. This happens a \u003cem>surprising\u003c/em> amount when one household has several voters who all receive a ballot in the mail.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>One way to get peace of mind: \u003ca href=\"https://california.ballottrax.net/voter/\">Sign up to track your ballot\u003c/a>, and you’ll find out about any issues with your ballot or your signature quickly.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003ch2 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"mistake\">I made a mistake on my ballot. How do I fix it?\u003c/h2>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>First, don’t panic. People make mistakes on ballots and find good ways to correct them.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>Counties give different directions to voters about what to do if they make a mistake (remember: Read the instructions!), but you can usually simply X out the choice you didn’t intend.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\u003cdiv class=\"wp-block-image\">\n\u003cfigure class=\"aligncenter size-full\">\u003cimg loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"2000\" height=\"1333\" src=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/06/20260602_PRIMARY2026CD4_GC-20-KQED.jpg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-12085889\" srcset=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/06/20260602_PRIMARY2026CD4_GC-20-KQED.jpg 2000w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/06/20260602_PRIMARY2026CD4_GC-20-KQED-160x107.jpg 160w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/06/20260602_PRIMARY2026CD4_GC-20-KQED-1536x1024.jpg 1536w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 2000px) 100vw, 2000px\" />\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">Voters cast their ballots at UC Davis in Davis on June 2, 2026. (Gina Castro for KQED)\u003c/figcaption>\u003c/figure>\n\u003c/div>\n\n\n\u003cp>The job of county elections officials — once they’ve verified your signature — is to make sure your ballot can be read correctly. If that means that your corrections on your ballot have resulted in readability issues, officials working in teams of two will actually remake it for you according to the intent you’ve signaled with your corrections.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>Some counties, like Alameda, ask that you actually contact them first if you make a serious mistake — including voting for the wrong candidate — so they can send you a replacement ballot. So, wherever you live, it’s a good idea to check with your local elections office first to see what \u003cem>they\u003c/em> recommend if you made a mistake.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>And remember, there’s always this option …\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003ch2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">What if I just want a new ballot?\u003c/h2>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>If you’ve made a big mistake on your ballot — too big to fix — your best plan of action may be to focus on getting a new one. And that’s totally OK. You can:\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n\u003cli>Call your county elections office and ask them to cancel that ballot and issue a new one to you.\u003c/li>\n\n\n\n\u003cli>Go to your county elections office with your spoiled ballot during business hours and vote right there at the counter.\u003c/li>\n\n\n\n\u003cli>Take advantage of the early voting options available in many counties.\u003c/li>\n\n\n\n\u003cli>Go to a voting site on Election Day, Nov. 3, turn in your spoiled ballot there and get a new ballot.\u003c/li>\n\u003c/ul>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>You can also do this if you’ve accidentally damaged your ballot in some way (coffee spills happen).\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003ch2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">I think I put the wrong date on my envelope\u003c/h2>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>First off, that date should be the date you signed your envelope — not your date of birth. \u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>But if you’re worried you messed up the date, don’t worry. Elections officials say that the date they’re \u003cem>really\u003c/em> looking for is the date that the ballot is postmarked, to make sure it was submitted on time.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\u003cdiv class=\"wp-block-image\">\n\u003cfigure class=\"aligncenter size-full\">\u003cimg loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"2000\" height=\"1333\" src=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/09/002_KQED_SanFrancisco_Election2020_MailinBallot_10122020_qed.jpg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-12099795\" srcset=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/09/002_KQED_SanFrancisco_Election2020_MailinBallot_10122020_qed.jpg 2000w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/09/002_KQED_SanFrancisco_Election2020_MailinBallot_10122020_qed-160x107.jpg 160w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/09/002_KQED_SanFrancisco_Election2020_MailinBallot_10122020_qed-1536x1024.jpg 1536w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 2000px) 100vw, 2000px\" />\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">A San Francisco official mail-in ballot for the Nov. 3, 2020 election. (Beth LaBerge/KQED)\u003c/figcaption>\u003c/figure>\n\u003c/div>\n\n\n\u003cp>Election officials will only truly scrutinize the date you’ve written if they receive your ballot \u003cem>after\u003c/em> Election Day.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>And if you haven’t mailed your envelope yet, it’s an easy fix: Just clearly cross out the incorrect date on the envelope and write in the correct one above it.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003ch2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">What if I use assistive technology to complete forms?\u003c/h2>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>Getting physical assistance with filling out your ballot from someone you trust is always fine, whether you’re voting at home or at a voting site. \u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>You just need to make sure your signature is your own and matches the one you’re registered to vote with.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\u003cdiv class=\"wp-block-image\">\n\u003cfigure class=\"aligncenter size-full\">\u003cimg loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"2000\" height=\"1333\" src=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2025/10/251030-BAYAREAVOTERS-32-BL-KQED.jpg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-12062371\" srcset=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2025/10/251030-BAYAREAVOTERS-32-BL-KQED.jpg 2000w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2025/10/251030-BAYAREAVOTERS-32-BL-KQED-160x107.jpg 160w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2025/10/251030-BAYAREAVOTERS-32-BL-KQED-1536x1024.jpg 1536w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 2000px) 100vw, 2000px\" />\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">Tessa King drops off a ballot at the City Hall Voting Center in San Francisco on Oct. 30, 2025, ahead of the statewide special election. (Beth LaBerge/KQED)\u003c/figcaption>\u003c/figure>\n\u003c/div>\n\n\n\u003cp>Disabled voters can also choose to use the \u003ca href=\"https://www.sos.ca.gov/elections/voting-resources/remote-accessible-vote-mail\">Remote Accessible Vote-by-Mail\u003c/a> system to vote privately and independently at home, using their usual assistive device on their home computer to fill out the ballot on their screen and then print and mail it.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>Every voting location in California is also equipped with an accessible voting unit. Here, voters with blindness or low vision or who have a disability that limits their dexterity, will be able to use the assistive device of their choice that allows them to vote privately and independently.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003ch2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">How can I make sure my mail-in ballot gets there on time? \u003c/h2>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>Remember, one big reason that ballots get disqualified in elections is that voters mail them too late: either too late on Election Day itself (after U.S. Postal Service mailboxes have already been collected), or after Election Day.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>To be counted in this election, your ballot must be postmarked on Election Day, Nov. 3, at the latest. Your ballot has seven days to reach your county elections office.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>So in this election, it’s as crucial as ever to make sure you have a plan for voting on time. And if you’re not voting in person, that means making sure you get your ballot into a USPS mailbox or into a secure voting drop box, at a polling location or your county elections office, by the time polls close on Nov. 3.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>Read more about why \u003ca href=\"https://www.kqed.org/news/12103028/should-you-use-usps-to-mail-your-midterm-ballot-heres-what-california-election-officials-say\">California election officials are urging voters to make sure their ballot arrives on time\u003c/a> – and why they’re urging caution around using USPS too close to Election Day.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003ch2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">A few other common ballot mistakes to watch out for …\u003c/h2>\n\n\n\n\u003ch3 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Make sure you’re filling out and signing the ballot and envelope with \u003cem>your\u003c/em> name on it: \u003c/h3>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>It’s common to see partners or roommates accidentally mix up their ballots. So make sure you’re signing the document that bears your name.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003ch3 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Make sure you use a black or blue pen: \u003c/h3>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>It reads better, and it doesn’t slow workers down when they have to check to see what voter intent was. (Don’t use a felt-tip or a Sharpie that bleeds through the paper and marks other pages on your ballot.)\u003c/p>\n\n\n\u003cdiv class=\"wp-block-image\">\n\u003cfigure class=\"aligncenter size-full\">\u003cimg loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"1999\" height=\"1333\" src=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/05/003_KQED_SanFrancisco_Election2020_TanyaYule_10092020_qed.jpg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-12084638\" srcset=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/05/003_KQED_SanFrancisco_Election2020_TanyaYule_10092020_qed.jpg 1999w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/05/003_KQED_SanFrancisco_Election2020_TanyaYule_10092020_qed-160x107.jpg 160w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/05/003_KQED_SanFrancisco_Election2020_TanyaYule_10092020_qed-1536x1024.jpg 1536w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 1999px) 100vw, 1999px\" />\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">Tanya Yule looks over a voting guide at her home in San Francisco on Oct. 9, 2020. (Beth LaBerge/KQED)\u003c/figcaption>\u003c/figure>\n\u003c/div>\n\n\n\u003ch3 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Don’t mail an empty envelope: \u003c/h3>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>It does happen. Keeping your envelope and your ballot together in your home might be a helpful way of avoiding this problem. And of course, when you’re ready to mail your ballot, make sure it’s actually inside the envelope before you seal it.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003ch3 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Don’t bother with a stamp: \u003c/h3>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>Your ballot envelope is postage-paid. You don’t need it.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003ch2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">My ballot is missing or hasn’t arrived. What should I do?\u003c/h2>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>If you’re reading this and you’re worried that your ballot hasn’t arrived yet, make sure you’re not worrying \u003cem>too \u003c/em>early, as the deadline for counties to \u003cem>start \u003c/em>sending out ballots is only Oct. 5.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>But if it gets to late October and your ballot still hasn’t materialized, don’t panic: You have options. Here’s what to do:\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003ch3 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Check that you’re actually registered to vote — and to the right address\u003c/h3>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>\u003ca href=\"https://voterstatus.sos.ca.gov/\">Input your details on the secretary of state’s voter status page\u003c/a> to check your registration status. This will show whether you’re actually registered to vote, and to which address. It should also show whether your ballot was mailed out.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>You can also use \u003ca href=\"https://california.ballottrax.net/voter/\">the Where’s My Ballot? tool\u003c/a> to check whether your ballot has been sent.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\u003cdiv class=\"wp-block-image\">\n\u003cfigure class=\"aligncenter size-full\">\u003cimg loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"2000\" height=\"1333\" src=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/08/251030-BayAreaVoters-06-BL_qed.jpg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-12095745\" srcset=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/08/251030-BayAreaVoters-06-BL_qed.jpg 2000w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/08/251030-BayAreaVoters-06-BL_qed-160x107.jpg 160w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/08/251030-BayAreaVoters-06-BL_qed-1536x1024.jpg 1536w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 2000px) 100vw, 2000px\" />\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">A voter is given a sticker after dropping his ballot at City Hall in San Francisco on Oct. 30, 2025, ahead of the statewide special election. (Beth LaBerge/KQED)\u003c/figcaption>\u003c/figure>\n\u003c/div>\n\n\n\u003ch3 class=\"wp-block-heading\">If you’re registered to the wrong address, you can update it before Oct. 19 \u003c/h3>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>If you update your voter registration and address using \u003ca href=\"https://voterstatus.sos.ca.gov/\">the secretary of state’s voter status page\u003c/a> before the Oct. 19 deadline to register online, your county will cancel the ballot that went to your old address and send you a new one.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>And if it turns out your ballot \u003cem>was \u003c/em>missing because your voter registration wasn’t updated, don’t feel bad — people move all the time and forget to update their registrations accordingly.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>The California Voter Foundation’s Alexander confirmed to KQED in 2021 that updating your address at the post office doesn’t, in fact, update your voter registration. The DMV, on the other hand, \u003cem>will\u003c/em> update your voter registration details if you update your address with them.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003ch3 class=\"wp-block-heading\">If your voter registration address was correct but your ballot never showed up, you still have options\u003c/h3>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>If it’s more than six days before Election Day, you can call your county elections office and ask them to send a new ballot. Find your county elections office in our contact list (below). \u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>Your county elections office won’t mail you a ballot six days or less before Election Day, because it can’t be sure it’ll reach you in time. So if you’re trying to get a ballot in the immediate run-up to Election Day, go to your county elections office in person and request one at the counter.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\u003cdiv class=\"wp-block-image\">\n\u003cfigure class=\"aligncenter size-full\">\u003cimg loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"2000\" height=\"1353\" src=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/06/CaliforniaElection2026Getty-e1781204236548.jpg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-12087079\"/>\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">An election worker processes mail-in ballots for the California state primary election at the Los Angeles County Ballot Processing Center on June 5, 2026, in City of Industry, California. (Justin Sullivan/Getty Images)\u003c/figcaption>\u003c/figure>\n\u003c/div>\n\n\n\u003cp>From Oct. 5, your county elections office will be open for early voting through Nov. 3, so you could also go there in person during opening hours and vote right there at the counter. More early voting locations will be opening throughout October.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>And remember, if you’re \u003cem>not\u003c/em> actually registered to vote, you always have the option of \u003ca href=\"https://www.sos.ca.gov/elections/voter-registration/same-day-reg\">same-day voter registration\u003c/a>, also known as conditional voter registration, at a voting location, where you can then fill out and submit your ballot, too.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003ch2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Contact your county directly\u003c/h2>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>Across the Bay Area, elections officials are encouraging voters to reach out — early — with any questions or concerns. Here’s the contact information for your county:\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n\u003cli>\u003ca href=\"https://acvote.alamedacountyca.gov/index\">\u003cstrong>Alameda\u003c/strong>\u003c/a>: For information about voting by mail, registration and polling place lookup, call 510-267-8683\u003c/li>\n\n\n\n\u003cli>\u003ca href=\"https://www.contracostavote.gov/elections/\">\u003cstrong>Contra Costa\u003c/strong>\u003c/a>: Call 925-335-7800 or email voter.services@vote.cccounty.us\u003c/li>\n\n\n\n\u003cli>\u003ca href=\"https://www.marincounty.org/depts/rv\">\u003cstrong>Marin\u003c/strong>\u003c/a>: Call 415-473-6456 or go to the Marin County elections webpage to \u003ca href=\"https://www.marincounty.org/depts/rv/contact-us\">send a form email\u003c/a>\u003c/li>\n\n\n\n\u003cli>\u003ca href=\"https://www.countyofnapa.org/396/Elections\">\u003cstrong>Napa\u003c/strong>\u003c/a>: Call 707-253-4321 or email the elections office at elections@countyofnapa.org\u003c/li>\n\n\n\n\u003cli>\u003ca href=\"https://sfelections.sfgov.org\">\u003cstrong>San Francisco\u003c/strong>\u003c/a>: Call 415-554-4375 or email sfvote@sfgov.org\u003c/li>\n\n\n\n\u003cli>\u003ca href=\"https://www.smcacre.org/elections\">\u003cstrong>San Mateo\u003c/strong>\u003c/a>: Call 888- 762-8683 or email registrar@smcacre.org\u003c/li>\n\n\n\n\u003cli>\u003ca href=\"https://www.sccgov.org/sites/rov/Pages/Registrar-of-Voters.aspx\">\u003cstrong>Santa Clara\u003c/strong>\u003c/a>: Call toll-free at 866-430-VOTE (8683) or email registrar@rov.sccgov.org\u003c/li>\n\n\n\n\u003cli>\u003ca href=\"https://www.solanocounty.com/depts/rov/default.asp\">\u003cstrong>Solano\u003c/strong>\u003c/a>\u003cstrong>: \u003c/strong>Call 707-784-6675 or (888) 933-VOTE (8683). You can also email elections@solanocounty.com\u003c/li>\n\n\n\n\u003cli>\u003ca href=\"https://sonomacounty.ca.gov/CRA/Registrar-of-Voters/\">\u003cstrong>Sonoma\u003c/strong>\u003c/a>: Call 707-565-6800 or toll-free at 800-750-8683\u003c/li>\n\u003c/ul>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>The state also has a full list of \u003ca href=\"https://www.sos.ca.gov/elections/voting-resources/county-elections-offices/\">every county elections office in California\u003c/a>.\u003c/p>\n\u003c/div>\u003c/p>",
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"slug": "should-you-use-usps-to-mail-your-midterm-ballot-heres-what-california-election-officials-say",
"title": "Should You Use USPS to Mail Your Midterm Ballot? Here’s What California Election Officials Say",
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"headTitle": "Should You Use USPS to Mail Your Midterm Ballot? Here’s What California Election Officials Say | KQED",
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"content": "\n\u003cp>County election officials this week began mailing ballots to every registered \u003ca href=\"https://www.kqed.org/news/tag/california\">California\u003c/a> voter for the Nov. 3 midterm election, kicking off a monthlong vote-by-mail stretch — albeit one shadowed by a series of federal challenges to the system. \u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>President Donald Trump has kept up his attacks on mail voting this year, which he has claimed, without evidence, is rife with fraud. The administration’s efforts to drastically limit voting by mail have ranged from an \u003ca href=\"https://www.whitehouse.gov/presidential-actions/2026/03/ensuring-citizenship-verification-and-integrity-in-federal-elections/\">executive order \u003c/a>giving the United States Postal Service the unprecedented role of deciding who receives mail ballots to pushing Congress to require photo ID at the polls. \u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>So far, those moves have failed. But the USPS has also changed how some mail is collected — leaving many voters unsure whether the agency can reliably deliver their ballots this fall.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>Keep reading for what we know about using USPS to mail your midterm ballot this election season. And remember: Aside from those USPS collection boxes, voters have several other options to submit their mail-in ballot, including using a secure county drop box or submitting by hand to any open voting location.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n\u003cli>\u003cstrong>Jump to: \u003ca href=\"#mail-in-ballot\">Should I mail my ballot through USPS?\u003c/a> \u003c/strong>\u003c/li>\n\u003c/ul>\n\n\n\n\u003ch2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">What’s changed at USPS — and what does it mean for my ballot?\u003c/h2>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>Two changes to USPS in recent years have slowed down service in many regions, especially for voters in rural areas. \u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>First, starting in April 2025, USPS implemented what’s called its Regional Transportation Optimization (RTO) initiative nationwide. At post offices and collection boxes more than 50 miles from a processing center, the RTO means mail is now \u003ca href=\"https://www.kqed.org/news/12085378/usps-changes-ballot-drop-box-near-me-deadline-california-primary-vote-for-governor\">picked up the next day\u003c/a> instead of the same day. Northern California has just two processing centers, in Richmond and Sacramento. \u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cfigure class=\"wp-block-image size-full\">\u003cimg loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"1999\" height=\"1333\" src=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/10/001_Oakland_ItzelDiazandFamily_09092021_qed.jpg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-12103052\" srcset=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/10/001_Oakland_ItzelDiazandFamily_09092021_qed.jpg 1999w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/10/001_Oakland_ItzelDiazandFamily_09092021_qed-160x107.jpg 160w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/10/001_Oakland_ItzelDiazandFamily_09092021_qed-1536x1024.jpg 1536w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 1999px) 100vw, 1999px\" />\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">Porfirio Diaz fills out his mail-in ballot for California’s gubernatorial recall election at his home in Oakland on Sept. 9, 2021. (Beth LaBerge/KQED)\u003c/figcaption>\u003c/figure>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>Second, in December 2025, USPS formally \u003ca href=\"https://www.federalregister.gov/documents/2025/11/24/2025-20740/postmarks-and-postal-possession\">defined a postmark\u003c/a> as confirmation that the agency was in possession of the mail, but not necessarily the date it first \u003cem>received \u003c/em>the mail. \u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>But what do these changes mean for your ballot arriving in time to be counted in the Nov. 3 election — which in California is \u003ca href=\"https://www.sos.ca.gov/elections/voter-registration/vote-mail\">seven days after Election Day\u003c/a>, as long as it’s postmarked by or on Election Day? \u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>If you drop your ballot in a post office or box, it may not get a postmark until USPS picks it up, trucks it to a processing center and stamps it. That could be days later. Many voters assume they have until Election Day to mail a ballot, but if it’s postmarked \u003cem>after \u003c/em>Nov. 3, it will be rejected. \u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\u003cp>“Because of mail processing facility shutdowns, our mail — including our election mail — takes a more circuitous route to get to the county elections office than it used to,” said Kim Alexander, president and founder of the non-partisan California Voter Foundation. “In some counties, the mail actually goes to a processing center in Nevada and then comes back to California.”\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>In California, nearly 90% of voters cast their ballots by mail in the statewide June primary. And more ballots are now showing up too late to be counted in recent years. \u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>In the 2026 primary, \u003ca href=\"https://www.ppic.org/publication/understanding-increases-in-late-vote-by-mail-ballots-in-california/\">1.1% of all California mail ballots\u003c/a> arrived late, according to the Public Policy Institute of California. That’s up from 0.7% in the 2025 special election and 0.3% in 2024. \u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>“I personally find it heartbreaking when I see those stacks of uncounted ballots sitting in election offices, because I know how much work goes into filling out a ballot,” Alexander said.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>The PPIC report found the increase in rejection rates was concentrated in areas affected by the RTO, even after accounting for other differences. But the report concluded that California’s overall rise in rejected ballots can’t be pinned wholly on the USPS changes.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003ch2 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"mail-in-ballot\">So how \u003cem>do \u003c/em>election officials recommend I submit my mail-in ballot?\u003cstrong> \u003c/strong>\u003c/h2>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>In the last two statewide elections, Secretary of State Shirley Weber and Attorney General Rob Bonta urged any voters planning to use USPS to mail in their ballots \u003ca href=\"https://oag.ca.gov/news/press-releases/attorney-general-bonta-and-secretary-state-weber-sacramento-vote-early-june\">at \u003cem>least \u003c/em>a week before Election Day\u003c/a> to account for those USPS changes. \u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>And if you’re mailing your midterm ballot on Election Day itself, Weber’s office is recommending you \u003ca href=\"https://www.sos.ca.gov/elections/voter-registration/vote-mail\">“get a hand-stamped postmark\u003c/a> from a postal employee inside a United States Post Office” rather than simply dropping it in a USPS collection box.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>But some officials are going further and steering voters away from using USPS altogether. \u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cfigure class=\"wp-block-image size-full\">\u003cimg loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"2000\" height=\"1333\" src=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/05/003_KQED_SanFrancisco_Election2020_MailinBallot_10122020_qed.jpg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-12082088\" srcset=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/05/003_KQED_SanFrancisco_Election2020_MailinBallot_10122020_qed.jpg 2000w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/05/003_KQED_SanFrancisco_Election2020_MailinBallot_10122020_qed-160x107.jpg 160w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/05/003_KQED_SanFrancisco_Election2020_MailinBallot_10122020_qed-1536x1024.jpg 1536w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 2000px) 100vw, 2000px\" />\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">A San Francisco official mail-in ballot for the Nov. 3, 2020 election. (Beth LaBerge/KQED)\u003c/figcaption>\u003c/figure>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>“We’re not really encouraging people to use the USPS to get their ballot here,” said Evelyn Mendez, Sonoma County’s registrar of voters. \u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>Instead, Mendez tells voters to use county collection boxes, which skip the Postal Service. \u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>“If they use one of our official ballot drop boxes, our team picks those ballots up every day and brings them right back here,” she said.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>Mendez cited the uptick in late ballots in the June primary as the driving force behind her warning about USPS. Sonoma County rejected \u003ca href=\"https://elections.cdn.sos.ca.gov/vbm-rejection-reason/2026/june-primary-2026.pdf\">1,598 ballots\u003c/a> for arriving late, accounting for 0.95% of vote-by-mail ballots returned in the county. \u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>Ballot drop boxes are now open 24/7 through 8 p.m. on Nov. 3. Voters from anywhere in California can use them, even if they’re not registered in that county. \u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\u003cp>Mendez said voters who still want to use USPS should go inside the post office and request that hand stamp to ensure it’s postmarked on time. \u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>“Sometimes we’ll get ballots that have two different dates, and it’s because someone got it hand-stamped in the office and then it got stamped when it went through the process — but they’re still getting here late,” she said. \u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>Alexander’s top recommendation is to turn in your mail ballot at an open voting site by hand, either during early voting or on Election Day itself. You have a few options for doing this. First, you can either fill your ballot out in-person at a voting location, and submit it directly there and then. \u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>Or, if you live in one of the California counties which has adopted the “Sign & Go” system — in the Bay Area, that’s Alameda, Contra Costa, Marin and Napa — you can complete your ballot at your convenience at home, and then bring it to a participating vote center and sign the voter roster under penalty of perjury (just as you would for in-person voting) to submit it in person. And if you live in a county which has adopted “Sign, Scan & Go”, like San Mateo, you can do all of the above and then scan your ballot yourself to have your vote recorded immediately at the voting site. \u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>Newsom expanded these options this year after signing \u003ca href=\"https://www.gov.ca.gov/2026/09/19/governor-newsom-signs-new-laws-to-protect-california-elections-from-trump-interference/\">Senate Bill 1420\u003c/a> last month to raise awareness and access to the services. Right now, Sign & Go and Sign, Scan & Go are available in \u003ca href=\"https://calvoter.org/content/sign-scan-and-go\">31 of the state’s 58 counties\u003c/a>. \u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>But Alexander said all of these in-person approaches are particularly good ways of making sure your ballot is counted, in how they sidestep time-intensive \u003ca href=\"https://www.kqed.org/news/12082075/california-primary-elections-2026-faq-governors-race-vote-ballot-signature-how-to-correct-mistake\">signature verification\u003c/a> — since your signature only goes on your ballot’s \u003cem>return \u003c/em>envelope, which isn’t necessary when submitting a ballot by hand like this at a voting site — and late-arrival ballot rejections. She said it also speeds up California’s vote count, which drew criticism after the June primary when it took nearly a week to settle the governor’s and Los Angeles mayor’s races.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>Dropping off your ballot in person at a vote center like this “really solves a lot of challenges, and it’s a win-win for the voter and for the elections office,” she said.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003ch2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">How can I track my ballot?\u003c/h2>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>You can track your ballot through \u003ca href=\"https://california.ballottrax.net/voter/\">BallotTrax\u003c/a>, the state’s “Where’s My Ballot” site. The service sends alerts when your ballot is mailed, delivered and received by the county. Plus, you’ll be notified if the county flags an issue, such as a signature challenge. \u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>“That allows you to get a jump on correcting those issues, so your ballot can be counted,” Alexander said. \u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003ch2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Where do Trump’s attacks on mail-in voting legally stand right now?\u003c/h2>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>In March, Trump issued \u003ca href=\"https://www.whitehouse.gov/presidential-actions/2026/03/ensuring-citizenship-verification-and-integrity-in-federal-elections/\">an executive order to restrict mail voting\u003c/a>. The order would have required USPS — an agency within the federal government — to send mail ballots only to voters on a federal list of “approved” voters. It also would have charged the Department of Justice with prosecuting election officials who issue ballots to ineligible voters. \u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>A federal judge \u003ca href=\"https://www.nytimes.com/2026/06/25/us/politics/trump-mail-in-voting-ruling.html\">issued a swift ruling\u003c/a> preventing USPS from implementing the order — which the Supreme Court then \u003ca href=\"https://www.scotusblog.com/2026/09/supreme-court-denies-trump-administrations-request-to-implement-parts-of-usps-rule-on-mail-in-vo/\">left in place\u003c/a> in September. However, a USPS \u003ca href=\"https://www.nytimes.com/2026/09/01/us/politics/whistle-blower-voting-by-mail.html\">whistleblower alleged\u003c/a> the agency secretly prepared to follow Trump’s order even as the matter was still being fought over in the courts. \u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>Alexander said USPS’ leaders showed they were “sympathetic to” strategies that would restrict mail voting, costing the agency trust even though the effort failed. \u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cfigure class=\"wp-block-image size-full\">\u003cimg loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"2560\" height=\"1920\" src=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/08/GettyImages-1342327252-scaled.jpg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-12095894\" srcset=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/08/GettyImages-1342327252-scaled.jpg 2560w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/08/GettyImages-1342327252-2000x1500.jpg 2000w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/08/GettyImages-1342327252-160x120.jpg 160w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/08/GettyImages-1342327252-1536x1152.jpg 1536w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/08/GettyImages-1342327252-2048x1536.jpg 2048w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 2560px) 100vw, 2560px\" />\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">Close-up of ballot drop box outside of polling place\u003c/figcaption>\u003c/figure>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>“I think that has really shaken a lot of people’s confidence. I know it’s shaken mine,” she said. “Up until this election, I felt like the U.S. Postal Service was a reliable partner in the voting process.” \u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>The administration originally considered an even \u003ca href=\"https://www.propublica.org/article/trumps-plan-to-restrict-mail-voting\">more disruptive restriction\u003c/a> on mail voting, according to new reporting from ProPublica. It would have required USPS to send all ballots by certified mail, meaning voters would have had to be home to sign for them in order to receive them. The Postal Service objected, and the White House ultimately backed down. \u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>Additionally, the Supreme Court in July upheld a Mississippi state law that allows officials to count mail ballots postmarked by Election Day but received later. The Republican National Committee brought the case in 2024, arguing grace periods violate the Constitution. \u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>18 states and territories, including California, also permit grace periods to account for mail delays beyond voters’ control. In the 2024 general election, 373,116 ballots arrived within the grace period and were counted in California.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>“Thankfully, we avoided two potentially very harmful policy changes that would have dramatically impacted California voters,” Alexander said. \u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>Trump has also repeatedly pressed Congress to pass his SAVE America Act. The bill would ban mail voting except for illness, disability, military service or travel, in addition to requiring proof of citizenship during registration and photo ID at the polls. \u003c/p>\n",
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>President Donald Trump has kept up his attacks on mail voting this year, which he has claimed, without evidence, is rife with fraud. The administration’s efforts to drastically limit voting by mail have ranged from an \u003ca href=\"https://www.whitehouse.gov/presidential-actions/2026/03/ensuring-citizenship-verification-and-integrity-in-federal-elections/\">executive order \u003c/a>giving the United States Postal Service the unprecedented role of deciding who receives mail ballots to pushing Congress to require photo ID at the polls. \u003c/p>\n",
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"\n\u003cp>President Donald Trump has kept up his attacks on mail voting this year, which he has claimed, without evidence, is rife with fraud. The administration’s efforts to drastically limit voting by mail have ranged from an \u003ca href=\"https://www.whitehouse.gov/presidential-actions/2026/03/ensuring-citizenship-verification-and-integrity-in-federal-elections/\">executive order \u003c/a>giving the United States Postal Service the unprecedented role of deciding who receives mail ballots to pushing Congress to require photo ID at the polls. \u003c/p>\n"
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"\n\u003cp>So far, those moves have failed. But the USPS has also changed how some mail is collected — leaving many voters unsure whether the agency can reliably deliver their ballots this fall.\u003c/p>\n"
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>Keep reading for what we know about using USPS to mail your midterm ballot this election season. And remember: Aside from those USPS collection boxes, voters have several other options to submit their mail-in ballot, including using a secure county drop box or submitting by hand to any open voting location.\u003c/p>\n",
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cli>\u003cstrong>Jump to: \u003ca href=\"#mail-in-ballot\">Should I mail my ballot through USPS?\u003c/a> \u003c/strong>\u003c/li>\n",
"innerContent": [
"\n\u003cli>\u003cstrong>Jump to: \u003ca href=\"#mail-in-ballot\">Should I mail my ballot through USPS?\u003c/a> \u003c/strong>\u003c/li>\n"
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"blockName": "core/heading",
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"text": "What’s changed at USPS — and what does it mean for my ballot?",
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003ch2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">What’s changed at USPS — and what does it mean for my ballot?\u003c/h2>\n",
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>Two changes to USPS in recent years have slowed down service in many regions, especially for voters in rural areas. \u003c/p>\n",
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>First, starting in April 2025, USPS implemented what’s called its Regional Transportation Optimization (RTO) initiative nationwide. At post offices and collection boxes more than 50 miles from a processing center, the RTO means mail is now \u003ca href=\"https://www.kqed.org/news/12085378/usps-changes-ballot-drop-box-near-me-deadline-california-primary-vote-for-governor\">picked up the next day\u003c/a> instead of the same day. Northern California has just two processing centers, in Richmond and Sacramento. \u003c/p>\n",
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"\n\u003cp>First, starting in April 2025, USPS implemented what’s called its Regional Transportation Optimization (RTO) initiative nationwide. At post offices and collection boxes more than 50 miles from a processing center, the RTO means mail is now \u003ca href=\"https://www.kqed.org/news/12085378/usps-changes-ballot-drop-box-near-me-deadline-california-primary-vote-for-governor\">picked up the next day\u003c/a> instead of the same day. Northern California has just two processing centers, in Richmond and Sacramento. \u003c/p>\n"
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cfigure class=\"wp-block-image size-full\">\u003cimg src=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/10/001_Oakland_ItzelDiazandFamily_09092021_qed.jpg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-12103052\" srcset=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/10/001_Oakland_ItzelDiazandFamily_09092021_qed.jpg 1999w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/10/001_Oakland_ItzelDiazandFamily_09092021_qed-160x107.jpg 160w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/10/001_Oakland_ItzelDiazandFamily_09092021_qed-1536x1024.jpg 1536w\" sizes=\"(min-width: 992px) min(100vw, 1536px), (min-width: 768px) min(100vw, 1280px), min(100vw, 1020px)\"/>\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">Porfirio Diaz fills out his mail-in ballot for California’s gubernatorial recall election at his home in Oakland on Sept. 9, 2021.\u003ccite class=\"wp-inline-image-credit\"> (Beth LaBerge/KQED)\u003c/cite>\u003c/figcaption>\u003c/figure>\n",
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"\n\u003cfigure class=\"wp-block-image size-full\">\u003cimg src=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/10/001_Oakland_ItzelDiazandFamily_09092021_qed.jpg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-12103052\"/>\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">Porfirio Diaz fills out his mail-in ballot for California’s gubernatorial recall election at his home in Oakland on Sept. 9, 2021.\u003ccite class=\"wp-inline-image-credit\"> (Beth LaBerge/KQED)\u003c/cite>\u003c/figcaption>\u003c/figure>\n"
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>Second, in December 2025, USPS formally \u003ca href=\"https://www.federalregister.gov/documents/2025/11/24/2025-20740/postmarks-and-postal-possession\">defined a postmark\u003c/a> as confirmation that the agency was in possession of the mail, but not necessarily the date it first \u003cem>received \u003c/em>the mail. \u003c/p>\n",
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"\n\u003cp>Second, in December 2025, USPS formally \u003ca href=\"https://www.federalregister.gov/documents/2025/11/24/2025-20740/postmarks-and-postal-possession\">defined a postmark\u003c/a> as confirmation that the agency was in possession of the mail, but not necessarily the date it first \u003cem>received \u003c/em>the mail. \u003c/p>\n"
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>But what do these changes mean for your ballot arriving in time to be counted in the Nov. 3 election — which in California is \u003ca href=\"https://www.sos.ca.gov/elections/voter-registration/vote-mail\">seven days after Election Day\u003c/a>, as long as it’s postmarked by or on Election Day? \u003c/p>\n",
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>If you drop your ballot in a post office or box, it may not get a postmark until USPS picks it up, trucks it to a processing center and stamps it. That could be days later. Many voters assume they have until Election Day to mail a ballot, but if it’s postmarked \u003cem>after \u003c/em>Nov. 3, it will be rejected. \u003c/p>\n",
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"\n\u003cp>If you drop your ballot in a post office or box, it may not get a postmark until USPS picks it up, trucks it to a processing center and stamps it. That could be days later. Many voters assume they have until Election Day to mail a ballot, but if it’s postmarked \u003cem>after \u003c/em>Nov. 3, it will be rejected. \u003c/p>\n"
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>“Because of mail processing facility shutdowns, our mail — including our election mail — takes a more circuitous route to get to the county elections office than it used to,” said Kim Alexander, president and founder of the non-partisan California Voter Foundation. “In some counties, the mail actually goes to a processing center in Nevada and then comes back to California.”\u003c/p>\n",
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"\n\u003cp>“Because of mail processing facility shutdowns, our mail — including our election mail — takes a more circuitous route to get to the county elections office than it used to,” said Kim Alexander, president and founder of the non-partisan California Voter Foundation. “In some counties, the mail actually goes to a processing center in Nevada and then comes back to California.”\u003c/p>\n"
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>In California, nearly 90% of voters cast their ballots by mail in the statewide June primary. And more ballots are now showing up too late to be counted in recent years. \u003c/p>\n",
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"\n\u003cp>In California, nearly 90% of voters cast their ballots by mail in the statewide June primary. And more ballots are now showing up too late to be counted in recent years. \u003c/p>\n"
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>In the 2026 primary, \u003ca href=\"https://www.ppic.org/publication/understanding-increases-in-late-vote-by-mail-ballots-in-california/\">1.1% of all California mail ballots\u003c/a> arrived late, according to the Public Policy Institute of California. That’s up from 0.7% in the 2025 special election and 0.3% in 2024. \u003c/p>\n",
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"\n\u003cp>In the 2026 primary, \u003ca href=\"https://www.ppic.org/publication/understanding-increases-in-late-vote-by-mail-ballots-in-california/\">1.1% of all California mail ballots\u003c/a> arrived late, according to the Public Policy Institute of California. That’s up from 0.7% in the 2025 special election and 0.3% in 2024. \u003c/p>\n"
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>“I personally find it heartbreaking when I see those stacks of uncounted ballots sitting in election offices, because I know how much work goes into filling out a ballot,” Alexander said.\u003c/p>\n",
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"\n\u003cp>“I personally find it heartbreaking when I see those stacks of uncounted ballots sitting in election offices, because I know how much work goes into filling out a ballot,” Alexander said.\u003c/p>\n"
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>The PPIC report found the increase in rejection rates was concentrated in areas affected by the RTO, even after accounting for other differences. But the report concluded that California’s overall rise in rejected ballots can’t be pinned wholly on the USPS changes.\u003c/p>\n",
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"\n\u003cp>The PPIC report found the increase in rejection rates was concentrated in areas affected by the RTO, even after accounting for other differences. But the report concluded that California’s overall rise in rejected ballots can’t be pinned wholly on the USPS changes.\u003c/p>\n"
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>In the last two statewide elections, Secretary of State Shirley Weber and Attorney General Rob Bonta urged any voters planning to use USPS to mail in their ballots \u003ca href=\"https://oag.ca.gov/news/press-releases/attorney-general-bonta-and-secretary-state-weber-sacramento-vote-early-june\">at \u003cem>least \u003c/em>a week before Election Day\u003c/a> to account for those USPS changes. \u003c/p>\n",
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"\n\u003cp>In the last two statewide elections, Secretary of State Shirley Weber and Attorney General Rob Bonta urged any voters planning to use USPS to mail in their ballots \u003ca href=\"https://oag.ca.gov/news/press-releases/attorney-general-bonta-and-secretary-state-weber-sacramento-vote-early-june\">at \u003cem>least \u003c/em>a week before Election Day\u003c/a> to account for those USPS changes. \u003c/p>\n"
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>And if you’re mailing your midterm ballot on Election Day itself, Weber’s office is recommending you \u003ca href=\"https://www.sos.ca.gov/elections/voter-registration/vote-mail\">“get a hand-stamped postmark\u003c/a> from a postal employee inside a United States Post Office” rather than simply dropping it in a USPS collection box.\u003c/p>\n",
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"\n\u003cp>And if you’re mailing your midterm ballot on Election Day itself, Weber’s office is recommending you \u003ca href=\"https://www.sos.ca.gov/elections/voter-registration/vote-mail\">“get a hand-stamped postmark\u003c/a> from a postal employee inside a United States Post Office” rather than simply dropping it in a USPS collection box.\u003c/p>\n"
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>But some officials are going further and steering voters away from using USPS altogether. \u003c/p>\n",
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cfigure class=\"wp-block-image size-full\">\u003cimg src=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/05/003_KQED_SanFrancisco_Election2020_MailinBallot_10122020_qed.jpg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-12082088\" srcset=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/05/003_KQED_SanFrancisco_Election2020_MailinBallot_10122020_qed.jpg 2000w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/05/003_KQED_SanFrancisco_Election2020_MailinBallot_10122020_qed-160x107.jpg 160w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/05/003_KQED_SanFrancisco_Election2020_MailinBallot_10122020_qed-1536x1024.jpg 1536w\" sizes=\"(min-width: 992px) min(100vw, 1536px), (min-width: 768px) min(100vw, 1280px), min(100vw, 1020px)\"/>\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">A San Francisco official mail-in ballot for the Nov. 3, 2020 election.\u003ccite class=\"wp-inline-image-credit\"> (Beth LaBerge/KQED)\u003c/cite>\u003c/figcaption>\u003c/figure>\n",
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"\n\u003cfigure class=\"wp-block-image size-full\">\u003cimg src=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/05/003_KQED_SanFrancisco_Election2020_MailinBallot_10122020_qed.jpg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-12082088\"/>\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">A San Francisco official mail-in ballot for the Nov. 3, 2020 election.\u003ccite class=\"wp-inline-image-credit\"> (Beth LaBerge/KQED)\u003c/cite>\u003c/figcaption>\u003c/figure>\n"
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>“We’re not really encouraging people to use the USPS to get their ballot here,” said Evelyn Mendez, Sonoma County’s registrar of voters. \u003c/p>\n",
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"\n\u003cp>“We’re not really encouraging people to use the USPS to get their ballot here,” said Evelyn Mendez, Sonoma County’s registrar of voters. \u003c/p>\n"
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>Instead, Mendez tells voters to use county collection boxes, which skip the Postal Service. \u003c/p>\n",
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"\n\u003cp>Instead, Mendez tells voters to use county collection boxes, which skip the Postal Service. \u003c/p>\n"
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>“If they use one of our official ballot drop boxes, our team picks those ballots up every day and brings them right back here,” she said.\u003c/p>\n",
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"\n\u003cp>“If they use one of our official ballot drop boxes, our team picks those ballots up every day and brings them right back here,” she said.\u003c/p>\n"
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>Mendez cited the uptick in late ballots in the June primary as the driving force behind her warning about USPS. Sonoma County rejected \u003ca href=\"https://elections.cdn.sos.ca.gov/vbm-rejection-reason/2026/june-primary-2026.pdf\">1,598 ballots\u003c/a> for arriving late, accounting for 0.95% of vote-by-mail ballots returned in the county. \u003c/p>\n",
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"\n\u003cp>Mendez cited the uptick in late ballots in the June primary as the driving force behind her warning about USPS. Sonoma County rejected \u003ca href=\"https://elections.cdn.sos.ca.gov/vbm-rejection-reason/2026/june-primary-2026.pdf\">1,598 ballots\u003c/a> for arriving late, accounting for 0.95% of vote-by-mail ballots returned in the county. \u003c/p>\n"
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>Ballot drop boxes are now open 24/7 through 8 p.m. on Nov. 3. Voters from anywhere in California can use them, even if they’re not registered in that county. \u003c/p>\n",
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"\n\u003cp>Ballot drop boxes are now open 24/7 through 8 p.m. on Nov. 3. Voters from anywhere in California can use them, even if they’re not registered in that county. \u003c/p>\n"
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>Mendez said voters who still want to use USPS should go inside the post office and request that hand stamp to ensure it’s postmarked on time. \u003c/p>\n",
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"\n\u003cp>Mendez said voters who still want to use USPS should go inside the post office and request that hand stamp to ensure it’s postmarked on time. \u003c/p>\n"
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>“Sometimes we’ll get ballots that have two different dates, and it’s because someone got it hand-stamped in the office and then it got stamped when it went through the process — but they’re still getting here late,” she said. \u003c/p>\n",
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"\n\u003cp>“Sometimes we’ll get ballots that have two different dates, and it’s because someone got it hand-stamped in the office and then it got stamped when it went through the process — but they’re still getting here late,” she said. \u003c/p>\n"
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>Alexander’s top recommendation is to turn in your mail ballot at an open voting site by hand, either during early voting or on Election Day itself. You have a few options for doing this. First, you can either fill your ballot out in-person at a voting location, and submit it directly there and then. \u003c/p>\n",
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"\n\u003cp>Alexander’s top recommendation is to turn in your mail ballot at an open voting site by hand, either during early voting or on Election Day itself. You have a few options for doing this. First, you can either fill your ballot out in-person at a voting location, and submit it directly there and then. \u003c/p>\n"
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>Or, if you live in one of the California counties which has adopted the “Sign & Go” system — in the Bay Area, that’s Alameda, Contra Costa, Marin and Napa — you can complete your ballot at your convenience at home, and then bring it to a participating vote center and sign the voter roster under penalty of perjury (just as you would for in-person voting) to submit it in person. And if you live in a county which has adopted “Sign, Scan & Go”, like San Mateo, you can do all of the above and then scan your ballot yourself to have your vote recorded immediately at the voting site. \u003c/p>\n",
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"\n\u003cp>Or, if you live in one of the California counties which has adopted the “Sign & Go” system — in the Bay Area, that’s Alameda, Contra Costa, Marin and Napa — you can complete your ballot at your convenience at home, and then bring it to a participating vote center and sign the voter roster under penalty of perjury (just as you would for in-person voting) to submit it in person. And if you live in a county which has adopted “Sign, Scan & Go”, like San Mateo, you can do all of the above and then scan your ballot yourself to have your vote recorded immediately at the voting site. \u003c/p>\n"
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>Newsom expanded these options this year after signing \u003ca href=\"https://www.gov.ca.gov/2026/09/19/governor-newsom-signs-new-laws-to-protect-california-elections-from-trump-interference/\">Senate Bill 1420\u003c/a> last month to raise awareness and access to the services. Right now, Sign & Go and Sign, Scan & Go are available in \u003ca href=\"https://calvoter.org/content/sign-scan-and-go\">31 of the state’s 58 counties\u003c/a>. \u003c/p>\n",
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"\n\u003cp>Newsom expanded these options this year after signing \u003ca href=\"https://www.gov.ca.gov/2026/09/19/governor-newsom-signs-new-laws-to-protect-california-elections-from-trump-interference/\">Senate Bill 1420\u003c/a> last month to raise awareness and access to the services. Right now, Sign & Go and Sign, Scan & Go are available in \u003ca href=\"https://calvoter.org/content/sign-scan-and-go\">31 of the state’s 58 counties\u003c/a>. \u003c/p>\n"
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>But Alexander said all of these in-person approaches are particularly good ways of making sure your ballot is counted, in how they sidestep time-intensive \u003ca href=\"https://www.kqed.org/news/12082075/california-primary-elections-2026-faq-governors-race-vote-ballot-signature-how-to-correct-mistake\">signature verification\u003c/a> — since your signature only goes on your ballot’s \u003cem>return \u003c/em>envelope, which isn’t necessary when submitting a ballot by hand like this at a voting site — and late-arrival ballot rejections. She said it also speeds up California’s vote count, which drew criticism after the June primary when it took nearly a week to settle the governor’s and Los Angeles mayor’s races.\u003c/p>\n",
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"\n\u003cp>But Alexander said all of these in-person approaches are particularly good ways of making sure your ballot is counted, in how they sidestep time-intensive \u003ca href=\"https://www.kqed.org/news/12082075/california-primary-elections-2026-faq-governors-race-vote-ballot-signature-how-to-correct-mistake\">signature verification\u003c/a> — since your signature only goes on your ballot’s \u003cem>return \u003c/em>envelope, which isn’t necessary when submitting a ballot by hand like this at a voting site — and late-arrival ballot rejections. She said it also speeds up California’s vote count, which drew criticism after the June primary when it took nearly a week to settle the governor’s and Los Angeles mayor’s races.\u003c/p>\n"
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>Dropping off your ballot in person at a vote center like this “really solves a lot of challenges, and it’s a win-win for the voter and for the elections office,” she said.\u003c/p>\n",
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"\n\u003cp>Dropping off your ballot in person at a vote center like this “really solves a lot of challenges, and it’s a win-win for the voter and for the elections office,” she said.\u003c/p>\n"
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"attrs": {
"text": "How can I track my ballot?",
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003ch2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">How can I track my ballot?\u003c/h2>\n",
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"\n\u003ch2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">How can I track my ballot?\u003c/h2>\n"
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>You can track your ballot through \u003ca href=\"https://california.ballottrax.net/voter/\">BallotTrax\u003c/a>, the state’s “Where’s My Ballot” site. The service sends alerts when your ballot is mailed, delivered and received by the county. Plus, you’ll be notified if the county flags an issue, such as a signature challenge. \u003c/p>\n",
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"\n\u003cp>You can track your ballot through \u003ca href=\"https://california.ballottrax.net/voter/\">BallotTrax\u003c/a>, the state’s “Where’s My Ballot” site. The service sends alerts when your ballot is mailed, delivered and received by the county. Plus, you’ll be notified if the county flags an issue, such as a signature challenge. \u003c/p>\n"
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>“That allows you to get a jump on correcting those issues, so your ballot can be counted,” Alexander said. \u003c/p>\n",
"innerContent": [
"\n\u003cp>“That allows you to get a jump on correcting those issues, so your ballot can be counted,” Alexander said. \u003c/p>\n"
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"attrs": {
"text": "Where do Trump’s attacks on mail-in voting legally stand right now?",
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003ch2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Where do Trump’s attacks on mail-in voting legally stand right now?\u003c/h2>\n",
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"\n\u003ch2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Where do Trump’s attacks on mail-in voting legally stand right now?\u003c/h2>\n"
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>In March, Trump issued \u003ca href=\"https://www.whitehouse.gov/presidential-actions/2026/03/ensuring-citizenship-verification-and-integrity-in-federal-elections/\">an executive order to restrict mail voting\u003c/a>. The order would have required USPS — an agency within the federal government — to send mail ballots only to voters on a federal list of “approved” voters. It also would have charged the Department of Justice with prosecuting election officials who issue ballots to ineligible voters. \u003c/p>\n",
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"\n\u003cp>In March, Trump issued \u003ca href=\"https://www.whitehouse.gov/presidential-actions/2026/03/ensuring-citizenship-verification-and-integrity-in-federal-elections/\">an executive order to restrict mail voting\u003c/a>. The order would have required USPS — an agency within the federal government — to send mail ballots only to voters on a federal list of “approved” voters. It also would have charged the Department of Justice with prosecuting election officials who issue ballots to ineligible voters. \u003c/p>\n"
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>A federal judge \u003ca href=\"https://www.nytimes.com/2026/06/25/us/politics/trump-mail-in-voting-ruling.html\">issued a swift ruling\u003c/a> preventing USPS from implementing the order — which the Supreme Court then \u003ca href=\"https://www.scotusblog.com/2026/09/supreme-court-denies-trump-administrations-request-to-implement-parts-of-usps-rule-on-mail-in-vo/\">left in place\u003c/a> in September. However, a USPS \u003ca href=\"https://www.nytimes.com/2026/09/01/us/politics/whistle-blower-voting-by-mail.html\">whistleblower alleged\u003c/a> the agency secretly prepared to follow Trump’s order even as the matter was still being fought over in the courts. \u003c/p>\n",
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"\n\u003cp>A federal judge \u003ca href=\"https://www.nytimes.com/2026/06/25/us/politics/trump-mail-in-voting-ruling.html\">issued a swift ruling\u003c/a> preventing USPS from implementing the order — which the Supreme Court then \u003ca href=\"https://www.scotusblog.com/2026/09/supreme-court-denies-trump-administrations-request-to-implement-parts-of-usps-rule-on-mail-in-vo/\">left in place\u003c/a> in September. However, a USPS \u003ca href=\"https://www.nytimes.com/2026/09/01/us/politics/whistle-blower-voting-by-mail.html\">whistleblower alleged\u003c/a> the agency secretly prepared to follow Trump’s order even as the matter was still being fought over in the courts. \u003c/p>\n"
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>Alexander said USPS’ leaders showed they were “sympathetic to” strategies that would restrict mail voting, costing the agency trust even though the effort failed. \u003c/p>\n",
"innerContent": [
"\n\u003cp>Alexander said USPS’ leaders showed they were “sympathetic to” strategies that would restrict mail voting, costing the agency trust even though the effort failed. \u003c/p>\n"
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"\n\u003cfigure class=\"wp-block-image size-full\">\u003cimg src=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/08/GettyImages-1342327252-scaled.jpg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-12095894\"/>\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">Close-up of ballot drop box outside of polling place\u003c/figcaption>\u003c/figure>\n"
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>“I think that has really shaken a lot of people’s confidence. I know it’s shaken mine,” she said. “Up until this election, I felt like the U.S. Postal Service was a reliable partner in the voting process.” \u003c/p>\n",
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"\n\u003cp>“I think that has really shaken a lot of people’s confidence. I know it’s shaken mine,” she said. “Up until this election, I felt like the U.S. Postal Service was a reliable partner in the voting process.” \u003c/p>\n"
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>The administration originally considered an even \u003ca href=\"https://www.propublica.org/article/trumps-plan-to-restrict-mail-voting\">more disruptive restriction\u003c/a> on mail voting, according to new reporting from ProPublica. It would have required USPS to send all ballots by certified mail, meaning voters would have had to be home to sign for them in order to receive them. The Postal Service objected, and the White House ultimately backed down. \u003c/p>\n",
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"\n\u003cp>The administration originally considered an even \u003ca href=\"https://www.propublica.org/article/trumps-plan-to-restrict-mail-voting\">more disruptive restriction\u003c/a> on mail voting, according to new reporting from ProPublica. It would have required USPS to send all ballots by certified mail, meaning voters would have had to be home to sign for them in order to receive them. The Postal Service objected, and the White House ultimately backed down. \u003c/p>\n"
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>Additionally, the Supreme Court in July upheld a Mississippi state law that allows officials to count mail ballots postmarked by Election Day but received later. The Republican National Committee brought the case in 2024, arguing grace periods violate the Constitution. \u003c/p>\n",
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"\n\u003cp>Additionally, the Supreme Court in July upheld a Mississippi state law that allows officials to count mail ballots postmarked by Election Day but received later. The Republican National Committee brought the case in 2024, arguing grace periods violate the Constitution. \u003c/p>\n"
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>18 states and territories, including California, also permit grace periods to account for mail delays beyond voters’ control. In the 2024 general election, 373,116 ballots arrived within the grace period and were counted in California.\u003c/p>\n",
"innerContent": [
"\n\u003cp>18 states and territories, including California, also permit grace periods to account for mail delays beyond voters’ control. In the 2024 general election, 373,116 ballots arrived within the grace period and were counted in California.\u003c/p>\n"
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>“Thankfully, we avoided two potentially very harmful policy changes that would have dramatically impacted California voters,” Alexander said. \u003c/p>\n",
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"\n\u003cp>“Thankfully, we avoided two potentially very harmful policy changes that would have dramatically impacted California voters,” Alexander said. \u003c/p>\n"
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>Trump has also repeatedly pressed Congress to pass his SAVE America Act. The bill would ban mail voting except for illness, disability, military service or travel, in addition to requiring proof of citizenship during registration and photo ID at the polls. \u003c/p>\n",
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"\n\u003cp>Trump has also repeatedly pressed Congress to pass his SAVE America Act. The bill would ban mail voting except for illness, disability, military service or travel, in addition to requiring proof of citizenship during registration and photo ID at the polls. \u003c/p>\n"
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"excerpt": "With recent changes to how the U.S. Postal Service operates and President Trump’s attacks on mail voting, here’s what to know.",
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"title": "Should You Use USPS to Mail Your Midterm Ballot? Here’s What California Election Officials Say | KQED",
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"content": "\u003cdiv class=\"post-body\">\u003cp>\n\u003cp>County election officials this week began mailing ballots to every registered \u003ca href=\"https://www.kqed.org/news/tag/california\">California\u003c/a> voter for the Nov. 3 midterm election, kicking off a monthlong vote-by-mail stretch — albeit one shadowed by a series of federal challenges to the system. \u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>President Donald Trump has kept up his attacks on mail voting this year, which he has claimed, without evidence, is rife with fraud. The administration’s efforts to drastically limit voting by mail have ranged from an \u003ca href=\"https://www.whitehouse.gov/presidential-actions/2026/03/ensuring-citizenship-verification-and-integrity-in-federal-elections/\">executive order \u003c/a>giving the United States Postal Service the unprecedented role of deciding who receives mail ballots to pushing Congress to require photo ID at the polls. \u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>So far, those moves have failed. But the USPS has also changed how some mail is collected — leaving many voters unsure whether the agency can reliably deliver their ballots this fall.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>Keep reading for what we know about using USPS to mail your midterm ballot this election season. And remember: Aside from those USPS collection boxes, voters have several other options to submit their mail-in ballot, including using a secure county drop box or submitting by hand to any open voting location.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n\u003cli>\u003cstrong>Jump to: \u003ca href=\"#mail-in-ballot\">Should I mail my ballot through USPS?\u003c/a> \u003c/strong>\u003c/li>\n\u003c/ul>\n\n\n\n\u003ch2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">What’s changed at USPS — and what does it mean for my ballot?\u003c/h2>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>Two changes to USPS in recent years have slowed down service in many regions, especially for voters in rural areas. \u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>First, starting in April 2025, USPS implemented what’s called its Regional Transportation Optimization (RTO) initiative nationwide. At post offices and collection boxes more than 50 miles from a processing center, the RTO means mail is now \u003ca href=\"https://www.kqed.org/news/12085378/usps-changes-ballot-drop-box-near-me-deadline-california-primary-vote-for-governor\">picked up the next day\u003c/a> instead of the same day. Northern California has just two processing centers, in Richmond and Sacramento. \u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cfigure class=\"wp-block-image size-full\">\u003cimg loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"1999\" height=\"1333\" src=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/10/001_Oakland_ItzelDiazandFamily_09092021_qed.jpg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-12103052\" srcset=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/10/001_Oakland_ItzelDiazandFamily_09092021_qed.jpg 1999w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/10/001_Oakland_ItzelDiazandFamily_09092021_qed-160x107.jpg 160w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/10/001_Oakland_ItzelDiazandFamily_09092021_qed-1536x1024.jpg 1536w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 1999px) 100vw, 1999px\" />\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">Porfirio Diaz fills out his mail-in ballot for California’s gubernatorial recall election at his home in Oakland on Sept. 9, 2021. (Beth LaBerge/KQED)\u003c/figcaption>\u003c/figure>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>Second, in December 2025, USPS formally \u003ca href=\"https://www.federalregister.gov/documents/2025/11/24/2025-20740/postmarks-and-postal-possession\">defined a postmark\u003c/a> as confirmation that the agency was in possession of the mail, but not necessarily the date it first \u003cem>received \u003c/em>the mail. \u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>But what do these changes mean for your ballot arriving in time to be counted in the Nov. 3 election — which in California is \u003ca href=\"https://www.sos.ca.gov/elections/voter-registration/vote-mail\">seven days after Election Day\u003c/a>, as long as it’s postmarked by or on Election Day? \u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>If you drop your ballot in a post office or box, it may not get a postmark until USPS picks it up, trucks it to a processing center and stamps it. That could be days later. Many voters assume they have until Election Day to mail a ballot, but if it’s postmarked \u003cem>after \u003c/em>Nov. 3, it will be rejected. \u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\u003cp>“Because of mail processing facility shutdowns, our mail — including our election mail — takes a more circuitous route to get to the county elections office than it used to,” said Kim Alexander, president and founder of the non-partisan California Voter Foundation. “In some counties, the mail actually goes to a processing center in Nevada and then comes back to California.”\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>In California, nearly 90% of voters cast their ballots by mail in the statewide June primary. And more ballots are now showing up too late to be counted in recent years. \u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>In the 2026 primary, \u003ca href=\"https://www.ppic.org/publication/understanding-increases-in-late-vote-by-mail-ballots-in-california/\">1.1% of all California mail ballots\u003c/a> arrived late, according to the Public Policy Institute of California. That’s up from 0.7% in the 2025 special election and 0.3% in 2024. \u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>“I personally find it heartbreaking when I see those stacks of uncounted ballots sitting in election offices, because I know how much work goes into filling out a ballot,” Alexander said.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>The PPIC report found the increase in rejection rates was concentrated in areas affected by the RTO, even after accounting for other differences. But the report concluded that California’s overall rise in rejected ballots can’t be pinned wholly on the USPS changes.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003ch2 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"mail-in-ballot\">So how \u003cem>do \u003c/em>election officials recommend I submit my mail-in ballot?\u003cstrong> \u003c/strong>\u003c/h2>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>In the last two statewide elections, Secretary of State Shirley Weber and Attorney General Rob Bonta urged any voters planning to use USPS to mail in their ballots \u003ca href=\"https://oag.ca.gov/news/press-releases/attorney-general-bonta-and-secretary-state-weber-sacramento-vote-early-june\">at \u003cem>least \u003c/em>a week before Election Day\u003c/a> to account for those USPS changes. \u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>And if you’re mailing your midterm ballot on Election Day itself, Weber’s office is recommending you \u003ca href=\"https://www.sos.ca.gov/elections/voter-registration/vote-mail\">“get a hand-stamped postmark\u003c/a> from a postal employee inside a United States Post Office” rather than simply dropping it in a USPS collection box.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>But some officials are going further and steering voters away from using USPS altogether. \u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cfigure class=\"wp-block-image size-full\">\u003cimg loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"2000\" height=\"1333\" src=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/05/003_KQED_SanFrancisco_Election2020_MailinBallot_10122020_qed.jpg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-12082088\" srcset=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/05/003_KQED_SanFrancisco_Election2020_MailinBallot_10122020_qed.jpg 2000w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/05/003_KQED_SanFrancisco_Election2020_MailinBallot_10122020_qed-160x107.jpg 160w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/05/003_KQED_SanFrancisco_Election2020_MailinBallot_10122020_qed-1536x1024.jpg 1536w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 2000px) 100vw, 2000px\" />\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">A San Francisco official mail-in ballot for the Nov. 3, 2020 election. (Beth LaBerge/KQED)\u003c/figcaption>\u003c/figure>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>“We’re not really encouraging people to use the USPS to get their ballot here,” said Evelyn Mendez, Sonoma County’s registrar of voters. \u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>Instead, Mendez tells voters to use county collection boxes, which skip the Postal Service. \u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>“If they use one of our official ballot drop boxes, our team picks those ballots up every day and brings them right back here,” she said.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>Mendez cited the uptick in late ballots in the June primary as the driving force behind her warning about USPS. Sonoma County rejected \u003ca href=\"https://elections.cdn.sos.ca.gov/vbm-rejection-reason/2026/june-primary-2026.pdf\">1,598 ballots\u003c/a> for arriving late, accounting for 0.95% of vote-by-mail ballots returned in the county. \u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>Ballot drop boxes are now open 24/7 through 8 p.m. on Nov. 3. Voters from anywhere in California can use them, even if they’re not registered in that county. \u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\u003cp>Mendez said voters who still want to use USPS should go inside the post office and request that hand stamp to ensure it’s postmarked on time. \u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>“Sometimes we’ll get ballots that have two different dates, and it’s because someone got it hand-stamped in the office and then it got stamped when it went through the process — but they’re still getting here late,” she said. \u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>Alexander’s top recommendation is to turn in your mail ballot at an open voting site by hand, either during early voting or on Election Day itself. You have a few options for doing this. First, you can either fill your ballot out in-person at a voting location, and submit it directly there and then. \u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>Or, if you live in one of the California counties which has adopted the “Sign & Go” system — in the Bay Area, that’s Alameda, Contra Costa, Marin and Napa — you can complete your ballot at your convenience at home, and then bring it to a participating vote center and sign the voter roster under penalty of perjury (just as you would for in-person voting) to submit it in person. And if you live in a county which has adopted “Sign, Scan & Go”, like San Mateo, you can do all of the above and then scan your ballot yourself to have your vote recorded immediately at the voting site. \u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>Newsom expanded these options this year after signing \u003ca href=\"https://www.gov.ca.gov/2026/09/19/governor-newsom-signs-new-laws-to-protect-california-elections-from-trump-interference/\">Senate Bill 1420\u003c/a> last month to raise awareness and access to the services. Right now, Sign & Go and Sign, Scan & Go are available in \u003ca href=\"https://calvoter.org/content/sign-scan-and-go\">31 of the state’s 58 counties\u003c/a>. \u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>But Alexander said all of these in-person approaches are particularly good ways of making sure your ballot is counted, in how they sidestep time-intensive \u003ca href=\"https://www.kqed.org/news/12082075/california-primary-elections-2026-faq-governors-race-vote-ballot-signature-how-to-correct-mistake\">signature verification\u003c/a> — since your signature only goes on your ballot’s \u003cem>return \u003c/em>envelope, which isn’t necessary when submitting a ballot by hand like this at a voting site — and late-arrival ballot rejections. She said it also speeds up California’s vote count, which drew criticism after the June primary when it took nearly a week to settle the governor’s and Los Angeles mayor’s races.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>Dropping off your ballot in person at a vote center like this “really solves a lot of challenges, and it’s a win-win for the voter and for the elections office,” she said.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003ch2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">How can I track my ballot?\u003c/h2>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>You can track your ballot through \u003ca href=\"https://california.ballottrax.net/voter/\">BallotTrax\u003c/a>, the state’s “Where’s My Ballot” site. The service sends alerts when your ballot is mailed, delivered and received by the county. Plus, you’ll be notified if the county flags an issue, such as a signature challenge. \u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>“That allows you to get a jump on correcting those issues, so your ballot can be counted,” Alexander said. \u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003ch2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Where do Trump’s attacks on mail-in voting legally stand right now?\u003c/h2>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>In March, Trump issued \u003ca href=\"https://www.whitehouse.gov/presidential-actions/2026/03/ensuring-citizenship-verification-and-integrity-in-federal-elections/\">an executive order to restrict mail voting\u003c/a>. The order would have required USPS — an agency within the federal government — to send mail ballots only to voters on a federal list of “approved” voters. It also would have charged the Department of Justice with prosecuting election officials who issue ballots to ineligible voters. \u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>A federal judge \u003ca href=\"https://www.nytimes.com/2026/06/25/us/politics/trump-mail-in-voting-ruling.html\">issued a swift ruling\u003c/a> preventing USPS from implementing the order — which the Supreme Court then \u003ca href=\"https://www.scotusblog.com/2026/09/supreme-court-denies-trump-administrations-request-to-implement-parts-of-usps-rule-on-mail-in-vo/\">left in place\u003c/a> in September. However, a USPS \u003ca href=\"https://www.nytimes.com/2026/09/01/us/politics/whistle-blower-voting-by-mail.html\">whistleblower alleged\u003c/a> the agency secretly prepared to follow Trump’s order even as the matter was still being fought over in the courts. \u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>Alexander said USPS’ leaders showed they were “sympathetic to” strategies that would restrict mail voting, costing the agency trust even though the effort failed. \u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cfigure class=\"wp-block-image size-full\">\u003cimg loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"2560\" height=\"1920\" src=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/08/GettyImages-1342327252-scaled.jpg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-12095894\" srcset=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/08/GettyImages-1342327252-scaled.jpg 2560w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/08/GettyImages-1342327252-2000x1500.jpg 2000w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/08/GettyImages-1342327252-160x120.jpg 160w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/08/GettyImages-1342327252-1536x1152.jpg 1536w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/08/GettyImages-1342327252-2048x1536.jpg 2048w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 2560px) 100vw, 2560px\" />\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">Close-up of ballot drop box outside of polling place\u003c/figcaption>\u003c/figure>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>“I think that has really shaken a lot of people’s confidence. I know it’s shaken mine,” she said. “Up until this election, I felt like the U.S. Postal Service was a reliable partner in the voting process.” \u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>The administration originally considered an even \u003ca href=\"https://www.propublica.org/article/trumps-plan-to-restrict-mail-voting\">more disruptive restriction\u003c/a> on mail voting, according to new reporting from ProPublica. It would have required USPS to send all ballots by certified mail, meaning voters would have had to be home to sign for them in order to receive them. The Postal Service objected, and the White House ultimately backed down. \u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>Additionally, the Supreme Court in July upheld a Mississippi state law that allows officials to count mail ballots postmarked by Election Day but received later. The Republican National Committee brought the case in 2024, arguing grace periods violate the Constitution. \u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>18 states and territories, including California, also permit grace periods to account for mail delays beyond voters’ control. In the 2024 general election, 373,116 ballots arrived within the grace period and were counted in California.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>“Thankfully, we avoided two potentially very harmful policy changes that would have dramatically impacted California voters,” Alexander said. \u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>Trump has also repeatedly pressed Congress to pass his SAVE America Act. The bill would ban mail voting except for illness, disability, military service or travel, in addition to requiring proof of citizenship during registration and photo ID at the polls. \u003c/p>\n\u003c/div>\u003c/p>",
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"content": "\n\u003cp>California voters will choose who oversees the state’s elections in the secretary of state race this November. That decision comes as the Trump administration has tried to get states to hand over voter roll data, attempted to restrict mail-in voting, placed federal election monitors at California polls and pushed for proof of citizenship requirements at voter registration. \u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>Secretary of State Shirley Weber has led the office since 2021 and has pushed back against the federal government’s attempts to seize more control over state elections. Her GOP opponent in the race, Orange County Supervisor Don Wagner, said the state should institute voter ID and speed up the counting process. Marisa sits down with Weber and Wagner to talk about their competing visions for elections in California. \u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cfigure class=\"wp-block-embed is-type-video is-provider-youtube wp-block-embed-youtube wp-embed-aspect-16-9 wp-has-aspect-ratio\">\u003cdiv class=\"wp-block-embed__wrapper\">\nhttps://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9lhUaX9v3bg&feature=youtu.be\n\u003c/div>\u003c/figure>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>Check out\u003ca href=\"https://www.kqed.org/newsletters/political-breakdown\"> Political Breakdown’s weekly newsletter\u003c/a>, delivered straight to your inbox.\u003c/p>\n",
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>Secretary of State Shirley Weber has led the office since 2021 and has pushed back against the federal government’s attempts to seize more control over state elections. Her GOP opponent in the race, Orange County Supervisor Don Wagner, said the state should institute voter ID and speed up the counting process. Marisa sits down with Weber and Wagner to talk about their competing visions for elections in California. \u003c/p>\n",
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"\n\u003cp>Secretary of State Shirley Weber has led the office since 2021 and has pushed back against the federal government’s attempts to seize more control over state elections. Her GOP opponent in the race, Orange County Supervisor Don Wagner, said the state should institute voter ID and speed up the counting process. Marisa sits down with Weber and Wagner to talk about their competing visions for elections in California. \u003c/p>\n"
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"excerpt": "There's a lot at stake his November, as California voters decide between two very different visions for who runs and protects the state's elections. ",
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"content": "\u003cdiv class=\"post-body\">\u003cp>\n\u003cp>California voters will choose who oversees the state’s elections in the secretary of state race this November. That decision comes as the Trump administration has tried to get states to hand over voter roll data, attempted to restrict mail-in voting, placed federal election monitors at California polls and pushed for proof of citizenship requirements at voter registration. \u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>Secretary of State Shirley Weber has led the office since 2021 and has pushed back against the federal government’s attempts to seize more control over state elections. Her GOP opponent in the race, Orange County Supervisor Don Wagner, said the state should institute voter ID and speed up the counting process. Marisa sits down with Weber and Wagner to talk about their competing visions for elections in California. \u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cfigure class=\"wp-block-embed is-type-video is-provider-youtube wp-block-embed-youtube wp-embed-aspect-16-9 wp-has-aspect-ratio\">\u003cdiv class=\"wp-block-embed__wrapper\">\u003c/p>\u003cp>\u003cspan class='utils-parseShortcode-shortcodes-__youtubeShortcode__embedYoutube'>\n \u003cspan class='utils-parseShortcode-shortcodes-__youtubeShortcode__embedYoutubeInside'>\n \u003ciframe\n loading='lazy'\n class='utils-parseShortcode-shortcodes-__youtubeShortcode__youtubePlayer'\n type='text/html'\n src='//www.youtube.com/embed/9lhUaX9v3bg'\n title='//www.youtube.com/embed/9lhUaX9v3bg'\n allowfullscreen='true'\n style='border:0;'>\u003c/iframe>\n \u003c/span>\n \u003c/span>\u003c/p>\u003cp>\u003c/div>\u003c/figure>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>Check out\u003ca href=\"https://www.kqed.org/newsletters/political-breakdown\"> Political Breakdown’s weekly newsletter\u003c/a>, delivered straight to your inbox.\u003c/p>\n\u003c/div>\u003c/p>",
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"slug": "what-to-know-about-the-mail-in-voting-fight-at-the-supreme-court",
"title": "What to Know About the Mail-In Voting Fight at the Supreme Court",
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"content": "\n\u003cp>The \u003ca href=\"https://www.kqed.org/news/tag/donald-trump\" data-type=\"link\" data-id=\"https://www.kqed.org/news/tag/donald-trump\">Trump administration\u003c/a> has \u003ca href=\"https://www.documentcloud.org/documents/28598022-26a297/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">asked the Supreme Court\u003c/a> to lift a block on the U.S. Postal Service plan for President Trump’s attempt to restrict mail-in voting for the midterm election.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>For now, key parts of that plan are blocked by \u003ca href=\"https://www.documentcloud.org/documents/28585290-league-of-women-voters-of-massachusetts-2026-08-27-memorandum-and-order-granting-in-part-plaintiffs-motions-for-a-temporary-restraining-order/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">a temporary restraining order\u003c/a> from a federal judge in Boston.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>A ruling from the high court is not expected until sometime after 10 a.m. ET on Sept. 8. \u003ca href=\"https://www.supremecourt.gov/search.aspx?filename=/docket/DocketFiles/html/Public/26A297.html\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">That’s the deadline\u003c/a> Justice Ketanji Brown Jackson set for legal briefs from the plan’s challengers, although the administration has asked Jackson to pause the block on the Postal Service immediately while the court prepares to rule.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cfigure class=\"wp-block-image size-full\">\u003cimg loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"2000\" height=\"1333\" src=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/06/20260602_PRIMARY2026CD4_GC-6-KQED.jpg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-12085887\" srcset=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/06/20260602_PRIMARY2026CD4_GC-6-KQED.jpg 2000w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/06/20260602_PRIMARY2026CD4_GC-6-KQED-160x107.jpg 160w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/06/20260602_PRIMARY2026CD4_GC-6-KQED-1536x1024.jpg 1536w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 2000px) 100vw, 2000px\" />\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">Colby Brown, rover supervisor at the Veterans Memorial Center voting center, seals a ballot drop box, in Davis on June 2, 2026. (Gina Castro for KQED)\u003c/figcaption>\u003c/figure>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>As the legal fight over \u003ca href=\"https://www.npr.org/2026/03/31/nx-s1-5508948/trump-voter-list-mail-ballots-executive-order\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">Trump’s mail-in voting order\u003c/a> continues, here’s what to know about the state of voting by mail for the midterms:\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Has the USPS plan directly changed mail-in voting for the midterms?\u003c/strong>\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>No, key parts of the plan, including requirements for states, are currently blocked by a court order. Voting by mail is still available to all voters who are eligible for it in their states, and USPS is expected to deliver mail-in ballots for the midterm election as usual.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>How could the USPS plan change mail-in voting?\u003c/strong>\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>State election officials would be required to turn over lists of mail-in voters’ names and addresses to USPS and have certain barcodes on their mail ballot envelopes, according to a \u003ca href=\"https://www.federalregister.gov/public-inspection/2026-17238/ballot-mail-for-federal-elections\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">revised rule\u003c/a> for federal ballot mail the Postal Service issued in August. USPS says it would not deliver ballots to voters for election officials that don’t meet those requirements.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>When does mail-in voting start for the midterms?\u003c/strong>\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\u003cp>North Carolina has to start mailing out its absentee ballots on Friday, which officially kicks off the voting season for this year’s midterms. Many \u003ca href=\"https://www.ncsl.org/elections-and-campaigns/table-7-when-states-mail-out-absentee-mail-ballots\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">other states\u003c/a> are set to begin sending out their mail-in ballots later this month.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Is it possible for the USPS plan to be carried out for the midterms?\u003c/strong>\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>Many election experts say it is too late for USPS to carry out this plan without causing major disruptions. A \u003ca href=\"https://www.npr.org/2026/09/01/nx-s1-5950869/trump-mail-in-voting-usps\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">whistleblower report\u003c/a> claims USPS has not properly tested the online portal system that would collect mail-in voters’ information. The report also alleges the agency has set up a policy for verifying ballot envelopes that could result in many voters not getting their ballots in time for the midterm election or at all.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>What are the legal arguments for and against the USPS plan?\u003c/strong>\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>USPS came up with this plan in response to a \u003ca href=\"https://www.npr.org/2026/03/31/nx-s1-5508948/trump-voter-list-mail-ballots-executive-order\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">March executive order\u003c/a> by President Trump, who said he issued the directives to USPS to stop illegal voting by non-U.S. citizens. Many studies and audits show, however, \u003ca href=\"https://www.npr.org/2025/07/30/nx-s1-5462836/noncitizen-voting-trump-ceir-review\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">that problem is incredibly rare\u003c/a>. While USPS claims its revised rule is an effort to regulate mail, challengers of the USPS plan argue it is illegal because the mailing agency has no authority to control voting by mail.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Hasn’t the Supreme Court already ruled on Trump’s mail-in voting order?\u003c/strong>\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>Yes, the Supreme Court \u003ca href=\"https://www.npr.org/2026/08/24/nx-s1-5909592/trump-mail-voting-order-supreme-court\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">ruled in August on a procedural question\u003c/a> about one of the lawsuits. But so far, the justices have not ruled on the legality of the order or the USPS plan.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>How long has mail-in voting been around in the United States?\u003c/strong>\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>Historians consider the Civil War election of 1864 — the year Abraham Lincoln was reelected president — as \u003ca href=\"https://www.npr.org/2024/08/24/nx-s1-5060433/voting-by-mail-history-absentee-smithsonian-national-postal-museum\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">the start of large-scale voting by mail\u003c/a>, although there are earlier examples of mail-in voting at the state and local levels going back to the 18th century.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>\u003cem>Editor’s note:\u003c/em>\u003c/strong>\u003cem> The U.S. Postal Service is a financial supporter of NPR.\u003c/em>\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>\u003cem>Edited by \u003c/em>\u003ca href=\"https://www.npr.org/people/1157496779/megan-pratz\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">\u003cem>Megan Pratz\u003c/em>\u003c/a>\u003c/p>\n",
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>For now, key parts of that plan are blocked by \u003ca href=\"https://www.documentcloud.org/documents/28585290-league-of-women-voters-of-massachusetts-2026-08-27-memorandum-and-order-granting-in-part-plaintiffs-motions-for-a-temporary-restraining-order/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">a temporary restraining order\u003c/a> from a federal judge in Boston.\u003c/p>\n",
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>A ruling from the high court is not expected until sometime after 10 a.m. ET on Sept. 8. \u003ca href=\"https://www.supremecourt.gov/search.aspx?filename=/docket/DocketFiles/html/Public/26A297.html\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">That’s the deadline\u003c/a> Justice Ketanji Brown Jackson set for legal briefs from the plan’s challengers, although the administration has asked Jackson to pause the block on the Postal Service immediately while the court prepares to rule.\u003c/p>\n",
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"\n\u003cp>A ruling from the high court is not expected until sometime after 10 a.m. ET on Sept. 8. \u003ca href=\"https://www.supremecourt.gov/search.aspx?filename=/docket/DocketFiles/html/Public/26A297.html\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">That’s the deadline\u003c/a> Justice Ketanji Brown Jackson set for legal briefs from the plan’s challengers, although the administration has asked Jackson to pause the block on the Postal Service immediately while the court prepares to rule.\u003c/p>\n"
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cfigure class=\"wp-block-image size-full\">\u003cimg src=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/06/20260602_PRIMARY2026CD4_GC-6-KQED.jpg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-12085887\" srcset=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/06/20260602_PRIMARY2026CD4_GC-6-KQED.jpg 2000w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/06/20260602_PRIMARY2026CD4_GC-6-KQED-160x107.jpg 160w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/06/20260602_PRIMARY2026CD4_GC-6-KQED-1536x1024.jpg 1536w\" sizes=\"(min-width: 992px) min(100vw, 1536px), (min-width: 768px) min(100vw, 1280px), min(100vw, 1020px)\" />\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">Colby Brown, rover supervisor at the Veterans Memorial Center voting center, seals a ballot drop box, in Davis on June 2, 2026.\u003ccite class=\"wp-inline-image-credit\"> (Gina Castro for KQED)\u003c/cite>\u003c/figcaption>\u003c/figure>\n",
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"\n\u003cfigure class=\"wp-block-image size-full\">\u003cimg src=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/06/20260602_PRIMARY2026CD4_GC-6-KQED.jpg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-12085887\" />\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">Colby Brown, rover supervisor at the Veterans Memorial Center voting center, seals a ballot drop box, in Davis on June 2, 2026.\u003ccite class=\"wp-inline-image-credit\"> (Gina Castro for KQED)\u003c/cite>\u003c/figcaption>\u003c/figure>\n"
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>As the legal fight over \u003ca href=\"https://www.npr.org/2026/03/31/nx-s1-5508948/trump-voter-list-mail-ballots-executive-order\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">Trump’s mail-in voting order\u003c/a> continues, here’s what to know about the state of voting by mail for the midterms:\u003c/p>\n",
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"\n\u003cp>As the legal fight over \u003ca href=\"https://www.npr.org/2026/03/31/nx-s1-5508948/trump-voter-list-mail-ballots-executive-order\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">Trump’s mail-in voting order\u003c/a> continues, here’s what to know about the state of voting by mail for the midterms:\u003c/p>\n"
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Has the USPS plan directly changed mail-in voting for the midterms?\u003c/strong>\u003c/p>\n",
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"\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Has the USPS plan directly changed mail-in voting for the midterms?\u003c/strong>\u003c/p>\n"
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>No, key parts of the plan, including requirements for states, are currently blocked by a court order. Voting by mail is still available to all voters who are eligible for it in their states, and USPS is expected to deliver mail-in ballots for the midterm election as usual.\u003c/p>\n",
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"\n\u003cp>No, key parts of the plan, including requirements for states, are currently blocked by a court order. Voting by mail is still available to all voters who are eligible for it in their states, and USPS is expected to deliver mail-in ballots for the midterm election as usual.\u003c/p>\n"
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>How could the USPS plan change mail-in voting?\u003c/strong>\u003c/p>\n",
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"\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>How could the USPS plan change mail-in voting?\u003c/strong>\u003c/p>\n"
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>State election officials would be required to turn over lists of mail-in voters’ names and addresses to USPS and have certain barcodes on their mail ballot envelopes, according to a \u003ca href=\"https://www.federalregister.gov/public-inspection/2026-17238/ballot-mail-for-federal-elections\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">revised rule\u003c/a> for federal ballot mail the Postal Service issued in August. USPS says it would not deliver ballots to voters for election officials that don’t meet those requirements.\u003c/p>\n",
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"\n\u003cp>State election officials would be required to turn over lists of mail-in voters’ names and addresses to USPS and have certain barcodes on their mail ballot envelopes, according to a \u003ca href=\"https://www.federalregister.gov/public-inspection/2026-17238/ballot-mail-for-federal-elections\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">revised rule\u003c/a> for federal ballot mail the Postal Service issued in August. USPS says it would not deliver ballots to voters for election officials that don’t meet those requirements.\u003c/p>\n"
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>When does mail-in voting start for the midterms?\u003c/strong>\u003c/p>\n",
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"\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>When does mail-in voting start for the midterms?\u003c/strong>\u003c/p>\n"
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>North Carolina has to start mailing out its absentee ballots on Friday, which officially kicks off the voting season for this year’s midterms. Many \u003ca href=\"https://www.ncsl.org/elections-and-campaigns/table-7-when-states-mail-out-absentee-mail-ballots\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">other states\u003c/a> are set to begin sending out their mail-in ballots later this month.\u003c/p>\n",
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"\n\u003cp>North Carolina has to start mailing out its absentee ballots on Friday, which officially kicks off the voting season for this year’s midterms. Many \u003ca href=\"https://www.ncsl.org/elections-and-campaigns/table-7-when-states-mail-out-absentee-mail-ballots\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">other states\u003c/a> are set to begin sending out their mail-in ballots later this month.\u003c/p>\n"
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Is it possible for the USPS plan to be carried out for the midterms?\u003c/strong>\u003c/p>\n",
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"\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Is it possible for the USPS plan to be carried out for the midterms?\u003c/strong>\u003c/p>\n"
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>Many election experts say it is too late for USPS to carry out this plan without causing major disruptions. A \u003ca href=\"https://www.npr.org/2026/09/01/nx-s1-5950869/trump-mail-in-voting-usps\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">whistleblower report\u003c/a> claims USPS has not properly tested the online portal system that would collect mail-in voters’ information. The report also alleges the agency has set up a policy for verifying ballot envelopes that could result in many voters not getting their ballots in time for the midterm election or at all.\u003c/p>\n",
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"\n\u003cp>Many election experts say it is too late for USPS to carry out this plan without causing major disruptions. A \u003ca href=\"https://www.npr.org/2026/09/01/nx-s1-5950869/trump-mail-in-voting-usps\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">whistleblower report\u003c/a> claims USPS has not properly tested the online portal system that would collect mail-in voters’ information. The report also alleges the agency has set up a policy for verifying ballot envelopes that could result in many voters not getting their ballots in time for the midterm election or at all.\u003c/p>\n"
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>What are the legal arguments for and against the USPS plan?\u003c/strong>\u003c/p>\n",
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"\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>What are the legal arguments for and against the USPS plan?\u003c/strong>\u003c/p>\n"
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>USPS came up with this plan in response to a \u003ca href=\"https://www.npr.org/2026/03/31/nx-s1-5508948/trump-voter-list-mail-ballots-executive-order\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">March executive order\u003c/a> by President Trump, who said he issued the directives to USPS to stop illegal voting by non-U.S. citizens. Many studies and audits show, however, \u003ca href=\"https://www.npr.org/2025/07/30/nx-s1-5462836/noncitizen-voting-trump-ceir-review\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">that problem is incredibly rare\u003c/a>. While USPS claims its revised rule is an effort to regulate mail, challengers of the USPS plan argue it is illegal because the mailing agency has no authority to control voting by mail.\u003c/p>\n",
"innerContent": [
"\n\u003cp>USPS came up with this plan in response to a \u003ca href=\"https://www.npr.org/2026/03/31/nx-s1-5508948/trump-voter-list-mail-ballots-executive-order\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">March executive order\u003c/a> by President Trump, who said he issued the directives to USPS to stop illegal voting by non-U.S. citizens. Many studies and audits show, however, \u003ca href=\"https://www.npr.org/2025/07/30/nx-s1-5462836/noncitizen-voting-trump-ceir-review\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">that problem is incredibly rare\u003c/a>. While USPS claims its revised rule is an effort to regulate mail, challengers of the USPS plan argue it is illegal because the mailing agency has no authority to control voting by mail.\u003c/p>\n"
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Hasn’t the Supreme Court already ruled on Trump’s mail-in voting order?\u003c/strong>\u003c/p>\n",
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"\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Hasn’t the Supreme Court already ruled on Trump’s mail-in voting order?\u003c/strong>\u003c/p>\n"
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>Yes, the Supreme Court \u003ca href=\"https://www.npr.org/2026/08/24/nx-s1-5909592/trump-mail-voting-order-supreme-court\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">ruled in August on a procedural question\u003c/a> about one of the lawsuits. But so far, the justices have not ruled on the legality of the order or the USPS plan.\u003c/p>\n",
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"\n\u003cp>Yes, the Supreme Court \u003ca href=\"https://www.npr.org/2026/08/24/nx-s1-5909592/trump-mail-voting-order-supreme-court\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">ruled in August on a procedural question\u003c/a> about one of the lawsuits. But so far, the justices have not ruled on the legality of the order or the USPS plan.\u003c/p>\n"
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>How long has mail-in voting been around in the United States?\u003c/strong>\u003c/p>\n",
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"\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>How long has mail-in voting been around in the United States?\u003c/strong>\u003c/p>\n"
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"\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>\u003cem>Editor’s note:\u003c/em>\u003c/strong>\u003cem> The U.S. Postal Service is a financial supporter of NPR.\u003c/em>\u003c/p>\n"
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>\u003cem>Edited by \u003c/em>\u003ca href=\"https://www.npr.org/people/1157496779/megan-pratz\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">\u003cem>Megan Pratz\u003c/em>\u003c/a>\u003c/p>\n",
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"excerpt": "As the legal fight over President Donald Trump's mail-in voting order continues, here's what to know about the state of voting by mail for the midterms.",
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"content": "\u003cdiv class=\"post-body\">\u003cp>\n\u003cp>The \u003ca href=\"https://www.kqed.org/news/tag/donald-trump\" data-type=\"link\" data-id=\"https://www.kqed.org/news/tag/donald-trump\">Trump administration\u003c/a> has \u003ca href=\"https://www.documentcloud.org/documents/28598022-26a297/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">asked the Supreme Court\u003c/a> to lift a block on the U.S. Postal Service plan for President Trump’s attempt to restrict mail-in voting for the midterm election.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>For now, key parts of that plan are blocked by \u003ca href=\"https://www.documentcloud.org/documents/28585290-league-of-women-voters-of-massachusetts-2026-08-27-memorandum-and-order-granting-in-part-plaintiffs-motions-for-a-temporary-restraining-order/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">a temporary restraining order\u003c/a> from a federal judge in Boston.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>A ruling from the high court is not expected until sometime after 10 a.m. ET on Sept. 8. \u003ca href=\"https://www.supremecourt.gov/search.aspx?filename=/docket/DocketFiles/html/Public/26A297.html\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">That’s the deadline\u003c/a> Justice Ketanji Brown Jackson set for legal briefs from the plan’s challengers, although the administration has asked Jackson to pause the block on the Postal Service immediately while the court prepares to rule.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cfigure class=\"wp-block-image size-full\">\u003cimg loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"2000\" height=\"1333\" src=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/06/20260602_PRIMARY2026CD4_GC-6-KQED.jpg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-12085887\" srcset=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/06/20260602_PRIMARY2026CD4_GC-6-KQED.jpg 2000w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/06/20260602_PRIMARY2026CD4_GC-6-KQED-160x107.jpg 160w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/06/20260602_PRIMARY2026CD4_GC-6-KQED-1536x1024.jpg 1536w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 2000px) 100vw, 2000px\" />\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">Colby Brown, rover supervisor at the Veterans Memorial Center voting center, seals a ballot drop box, in Davis on June 2, 2026. (Gina Castro for KQED)\u003c/figcaption>\u003c/figure>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>As the legal fight over \u003ca href=\"https://www.npr.org/2026/03/31/nx-s1-5508948/trump-voter-list-mail-ballots-executive-order\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">Trump’s mail-in voting order\u003c/a> continues, here’s what to know about the state of voting by mail for the midterms:\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Has the USPS plan directly changed mail-in voting for the midterms?\u003c/strong>\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>No, key parts of the plan, including requirements for states, are currently blocked by a court order. Voting by mail is still available to all voters who are eligible for it in their states, and USPS is expected to deliver mail-in ballots for the midterm election as usual.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>How could the USPS plan change mail-in voting?\u003c/strong>\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>State election officials would be required to turn over lists of mail-in voters’ names and addresses to USPS and have certain barcodes on their mail ballot envelopes, according to a \u003ca href=\"https://www.federalregister.gov/public-inspection/2026-17238/ballot-mail-for-federal-elections\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">revised rule\u003c/a> for federal ballot mail the Postal Service issued in August. USPS says it would not deliver ballots to voters for election officials that don’t meet those requirements.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>When does mail-in voting start for the midterms?\u003c/strong>\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\u003cp>North Carolina has to start mailing out its absentee ballots on Friday, which officially kicks off the voting season for this year’s midterms. Many \u003ca href=\"https://www.ncsl.org/elections-and-campaigns/table-7-when-states-mail-out-absentee-mail-ballots\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">other states\u003c/a> are set to begin sending out their mail-in ballots later this month.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Is it possible for the USPS plan to be carried out for the midterms?\u003c/strong>\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>Many election experts say it is too late for USPS to carry out this plan without causing major disruptions. A \u003ca href=\"https://www.npr.org/2026/09/01/nx-s1-5950869/trump-mail-in-voting-usps\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">whistleblower report\u003c/a> claims USPS has not properly tested the online portal system that would collect mail-in voters’ information. The report also alleges the agency has set up a policy for verifying ballot envelopes that could result in many voters not getting their ballots in time for the midterm election or at all.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>What are the legal arguments for and against the USPS plan?\u003c/strong>\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>USPS came up with this plan in response to a \u003ca href=\"https://www.npr.org/2026/03/31/nx-s1-5508948/trump-voter-list-mail-ballots-executive-order\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">March executive order\u003c/a> by President Trump, who said he issued the directives to USPS to stop illegal voting by non-U.S. citizens. Many studies and audits show, however, \u003ca href=\"https://www.npr.org/2025/07/30/nx-s1-5462836/noncitizen-voting-trump-ceir-review\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">that problem is incredibly rare\u003c/a>. While USPS claims its revised rule is an effort to regulate mail, challengers of the USPS plan argue it is illegal because the mailing agency has no authority to control voting by mail.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Hasn’t the Supreme Court already ruled on Trump’s mail-in voting order?\u003c/strong>\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>Yes, the Supreme Court \u003ca href=\"https://www.npr.org/2026/08/24/nx-s1-5909592/trump-mail-voting-order-supreme-court\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">ruled in August on a procedural question\u003c/a> about one of the lawsuits. But so far, the justices have not ruled on the legality of the order or the USPS plan.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>How long has mail-in voting been around in the United States?\u003c/strong>\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>Historians consider the Civil War election of 1864 — the year Abraham Lincoln was reelected president — as \u003ca href=\"https://www.npr.org/2024/08/24/nx-s1-5060433/voting-by-mail-history-absentee-smithsonian-national-postal-museum\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">the start of large-scale voting by mail\u003c/a>, although there are earlier examples of mail-in voting at the state and local levels going back to the 18th century.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>\u003cem>Editor’s note:\u003c/em>\u003c/strong>\u003cem> The U.S. Postal Service is a financial supporter of NPR.\u003c/em>\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>\u003cem>Edited by \u003c/em>\u003ca href=\"https://www.npr.org/people/1157496779/megan-pratz\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">\u003cem>Megan Pratz\u003c/em>\u003c/a>\u003c/p>\n\u003c/div>\u003c/p>",
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"content": "\u003cp>The party in power in Washington, D.C. typically heads into a midterm election at a disadvantage. Democrats are favored to retake the House this fall, but the Democratic party brand is still deeply unpopular with voters. Plus, a national redistricting battle and recent Supreme Court case changing how party committees can spend money chip away at the party’s advantage. Marisa sits down with Guy and CalMatters politics reporter Maya C. Miller to check in on the state of play for congressional races nationally and in California. \u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cfigure class=\"wp-block-embed is-type-video is-provider-youtube wp-block-embed-youtube wp-embed-aspect-16-9 wp-has-aspect-ratio\">\u003cdiv class=\"wp-block-embed__wrapper\">\nhttps://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DZ_94HReTgo\n\u003c/div>\u003c/figure>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>Check out \u003ca href=\"https://www.kqed.org/newsletters/political-breakdown\">Political Breakdown’s weekly newsletter\u003c/a>, delivered straight to your inbox.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>[ad fullwidth]\u003c/p>\u003cp>\u003c/p>\n",
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"excerpt": "The ceiling of House districts that Democrats could retake this fall is much lower than previous midterms. ",
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"content": "\u003cdiv class=\"post-body\">\u003cp>\u003cp>The party in power in Washington, D.C. typically heads into a midterm election at a disadvantage. Democrats are favored to retake the House this fall, but the Democratic party brand is still deeply unpopular with voters. Plus, a national redistricting battle and recent Supreme Court case changing how party committees can spend money chip away at the party’s advantage. Marisa sits down with Guy and CalMatters politics reporter Maya C. Miller to check in on the state of play for congressional races nationally and in California. \u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cfigure class=\"wp-block-embed is-type-video is-provider-youtube wp-block-embed-youtube wp-embed-aspect-16-9 wp-has-aspect-ratio\">\u003cdiv class=\"wp-block-embed__wrapper\">\u003c/p>\u003cp>\u003cspan class='utils-parseShortcode-shortcodes-__youtubeShortcode__embedYoutube'>\n \u003cspan class='utils-parseShortcode-shortcodes-__youtubeShortcode__embedYoutubeInside'>\n \u003ciframe\n loading='lazy'\n class='utils-parseShortcode-shortcodes-__youtubeShortcode__youtubePlayer'\n type='text/html'\n src='//www.youtube.com/embed/DZ_94HReTgo'\n title='//www.youtube.com/embed/DZ_94HReTgo'\n allowfullscreen='true'\n style='border:0;'>\u003c/iframe>\n \u003c/span>\n \u003c/span>\u003c/p>\u003cp>\u003c/div>\u003c/figure>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>Check out \u003ca href=\"https://www.kqed.org/newsletters/political-breakdown\">Political Breakdown’s weekly newsletter\u003c/a>, delivered straight to your inbox.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003c/p>\u003c/div>",
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"content": "\u003cp>California will once again play a big role in determining which party controls the U.S. Congress next year. That’s in part because of the mid-decade redistricting battle that President Trump set off last summer, but it’s also tied to a recent Supreme Court ruling that has prompted several Southern states to redraw their maps even after some voters have cast their ballots.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Marisa and Scott sit down with Guy to discuss how the Democratic Party’s internal debates over generational change are shaping key congressional races.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Then they’re joined by Erin Covey, editor of the Cook Political Report’s coverage of the U.S. House of Representatives, to survey the national landscape and take a closer look at the high stakes districts back here in California.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DYzLhsb1_7Q\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>For more information on the races and ballot measures in California’s June 2 primary election, check out \u003ca href=\"https://www.kqed.org/elections/results\">KQED’s Voter Guide\u003c/a>.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>[ad fullwidth]\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Check out \u003ca href=\"https://www.kqed.org/newsletters/political-breakdown\">Political Breakdown’s weekly newsletter\u003c/a>, delivered straight to your inbox.\u003c/p>\n\n",
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"title": "The California Races That Could Decide Control of Congress | KQED",
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"content": "\u003cdiv class=\"post-body\">\u003cp>\u003cp>California will once again play a big role in determining which party controls the U.S. Congress next year. That’s in part because of the mid-decade redistricting battle that President Trump set off last summer, but it’s also tied to a recent Supreme Court ruling that has prompted several Southern states to redraw their maps even after some voters have cast their ballots.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Marisa and Scott sit down with Guy to discuss how the Democratic Party’s internal debates over generational change are shaping key congressional races.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Then they’re joined by Erin Covey, editor of the Cook Political Report’s coverage of the U.S. House of Representatives, to survey the national landscape and take a closer look at the high stakes districts back here in California.\u003c/p>\u003c/p>\u003cp>\u003cspan class='utils-parseShortcode-shortcodes-__youtubeShortcode__embedYoutube'>\n \u003cspan class='utils-parseShortcode-shortcodes-__youtubeShortcode__embedYoutubeInside'>\n \u003ciframe\n loading='lazy'\n class='utils-parseShortcode-shortcodes-__youtubeShortcode__youtubePlayer'\n type='text/html'\n src='//www.youtube.com/embed/DYzLhsb1_7Q'\n title='//www.youtube.com/embed/DYzLhsb1_7Q'\n allowfullscreen='true'\n style='border:0;'>\u003c/iframe>\n \u003c/span>\n \u003c/span>\u003c/p>\u003cp>\u003cp>For more information on the races and ballot measures in California’s June 2 primary election, check out \u003ca href=\"https://www.kqed.org/elections/results\">KQED’s Voter Guide\u003c/a>.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003c/p>\u003c/div>",
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"title": "Primary 2026: Where Can I Drop Off My Ballot — or Vote Early?",
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"headTitle": "Primary 2026: Where Can I Drop Off My Ballot — or Vote Early? | KQED",
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"content": "\u003cp>California voters: the state primary elections are here. And if you’re registered to vote, your ballot will be on its way in the next few days — ahead of Election Day itself on June 2.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Wondering where to drop off your completed mail-in ballot in the Bay Area? Or where can you vote in person, and find a polling place near you? What about if you prefer to vote on Election Day itself?\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Keep reading for everything you need to know about submitting your vote in the California primary elections. And if you’re looking for detailed information about what you’ll be voting on, \u003ca href=\"https://www.kqed.org/voterguide\">take a look at KQED’s Voter Guide.\u003c/a>\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>[ad fullwidth]\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Jump straight to:\u003c/strong>\u003c/p>\n\u003cul>\n\u003cli>\u003cstrong>\u003ca href=\"#Howtofindyourclosestvotinglocationorballotdropoff\">How to find your closest voting location or ballot drop-off\u003c/a>\u003c/strong>\u003c/li>\n\u003cli>\u003cstrong>\u003ca href=\"#HowtofindyourpollingplaceonElectionDay\">How to find your polling place on Election Day\u003c/a>\u003c/strong>\u003c/li>\n\u003cli>\u003cstrong>\u003ca href=\"#Howtocontactyourcountydirectlyaboutvoting\">How to contact your county directly about voting\u003c/a>\u003c/strong>\u003c/li>\n\u003c/ul>\n\u003cp>If you’re concerned you might have made a mistake when filling out your ballot, you can \u003ca href=\"https://www.kqed.org/news/12082075/california-primary-elections-2026-faq-governors-race-vote-ballot-signature-how-to-correct-mistake\">read our guide to addressing common errors on your ballot\u003c/a> (\u003cem>before\u003c/em> you mail it) — and find out \u003ca href=\"https://www.kqed.org/news/12082075/california-primary-elections-2026-faq-governors-race-vote-ballot-signature-how-to-correct-mistake\">how to get a fresh ballot or vote in person\u003c/a> if you really messed up.\u003c/p>\n\u003ch2>Can I mail my ballot through the Postal Service?\u003c/h2>\n\u003cp>Yes, you can mail your completed ballot via the U.S. Postal Service at any regular collection box. The envelope is postage paid, so it doesn’t require a stamp, and it’ll be counted as long as it’s\u003ca href=\"https://www.sos.ca.gov/elections\"> postmarked by Election Day and arrives at your county registrar’s office by June 2\u003c/a>.\u003c/p>\n\u003cfigure id=\"attachment_12082112\" class=\"wp-caption aligncenter\" style=\"max-width: 2000px\">\u003cimg loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"size-full wp-image-12082112\" src=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/05/004_Oakland_ItzelDiazandFamily_09092021_qed.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"2000\" height=\"1333\" srcset=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/05/004_Oakland_ItzelDiazandFamily_09092021_qed.jpg 2000w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/05/004_Oakland_ItzelDiazandFamily_09092021_qed-160x107.jpg 160w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/05/004_Oakland_ItzelDiazandFamily_09092021_qed-1536x1024.jpg 1536w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 2000px) 100vw, 2000px\">\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-caption-text\">Porfirio Diaz fills out his mail-in ballot for California’s gubernatorial recall election at his home in Oakland on Sept. 9, 2021. \u003ccite>(Beth LaBerge/KQED)\u003c/cite>\u003c/figcaption>\u003c/figure>\n\u003cp>If you’re planning to mail your ballot on Election Day itself, be \u003cem>very\u003c/em> sure you don’t miss the last collection time for that specific mailbox (which at many locations is 5 p.m. or earlier).\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>You also shouldn’t drop off your ballot on Election Day at a post office that’s already closed. Doing either of these things will mean your ballot will not be postmarked on Election Day and won’t be counted when it reaches your county’s election office.\u003c/p>\n\u003ch2>Can I drop off my ballot in a drop box or at a voting location?\u003c/h2>\n\u003cp>Once you complete your mail-in ballot, you can drop it off at an official drop box or voting location instead of mailing it via a U.S. Postal Service collection box. These drop boxes will \u003ca href=\"https://www.sos.ca.gov/elections/upcoming-elections/primary-election-june-2-2026\">open by May 5.\u003c/a>\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>A few reasons you might prefer to hand-deliver your completed ballot:\u003c/p>\n\u003cul>\n\u003cli>\u003cstrong>Peace of mind:\u003c/strong> There’s a satisfaction that comes with knowing your ballot should now travel straight to your county elections office rather than going through USPS collection and sorting for delivery\u003c/li>\n\u003cli>\u003cstrong>Timing:\u003c/strong> If it’s Election Day itself, using a drop box or a voting location to drop off your ballot is the best way to be sure it’ll reach your county elections office in time to be counted\u003c/li>\n\u003cli>\u003cstrong>Assistance:\u003c/strong> If you drop off your ballot at a voting location during operating hours and you have a few lingering questions about your ballot or the process, chances are good that you’ll find someone there to help answer them\u003c/li>\n\u003c/ul>\n\u003cp>Regardless of how you deliver it, you can\u003ca href=\"https://california.ballottrax.net/voter/\"> sign up to track your ballot’s progress with the “Where’s My Ballot?” online tool\u003c/a> and be reassured it’s on its way to being counted.\u003c/p>\n\u003ch2>\u003ca id=\"HowtofindyourpollingplaceonElectionDay\">\u003c/a>Where can I vote in person on Election Day?\u003c/h2>\n\u003cp>On Election Day, in-person voting is still available at every county registrar’s office (also known as your county’s elections office) in the Bay Area. If you’re a San Francisco voter, this location will be City Hall.\u003ca href=\"https://www.sos.ca.gov/elections/voting-resources/county-elections-offices\"> Find your county registrar’s office and opening hours.\u003c/a>\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Check your mail-in ballot to see where you can vote and whether you’ve been assigned a specific polling place.\u003c/p>\n\u003cfigure id=\"attachment_12082113\" class=\"wp-caption aligncenter\" style=\"max-width: 2000px\">\u003cimg loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"size-full wp-image-12082113\" src=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/05/023_KQED_SanFrancisco_Election2020_TanyaYule_10092020_qed.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"2000\" height=\"1333\" srcset=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/05/023_KQED_SanFrancisco_Election2020_TanyaYule_10092020_qed.jpg 2000w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/05/023_KQED_SanFrancisco_Election2020_TanyaYule_10092020_qed-160x107.jpg 160w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/05/023_KQED_SanFrancisco_Election2020_TanyaYule_10092020_qed-1536x1024.jpg 1536w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 2000px) 100vw, 2000px\">\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-caption-text\">A San Francisco resident hands their mail-in ballot to USPS employee Elmer Padilla on Oct. 9, 2020. \u003ccite>(Beth LaBerge/KQED)\u003c/cite>\u003c/figcaption>\u003c/figure>\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>If you live in San Francisco, Contra Costa or Solano counties:\u003c/strong>\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>You are assigned a specific polling place, though Contra Costa County election officials say they can process your ballot no matter where you show up to vote.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>But even if you live in a county that assigns you a particular polling place, you can still vote at\u003ca href=\"https://www.sos.ca.gov/elections/voting-resources/county-elections-offices\"> your county registrar’s office\u003c/a>.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>If you live in Alameda, Marin, Napa, San Mateo, Santa Clara or Sonoma counties:\u003c/strong>\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>You can vote at any voting location — known as Vote Centers — including your county registrar’s office.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>You can\u003ca href=\"https://caearlyvoting.sos.ca.gov/\"> find your voting location through the state’s lookup tool\u003c/a>.\u003c/p>\n\u003cfigure id=\"attachment_12082088\" class=\"wp-caption aligncenter\" style=\"max-width: 2000px\">\u003cimg loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"size-full wp-image-12082088\" src=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/05/003_KQED_SanFrancisco_Election2020_MailinBallot_10122020_qed.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"2000\" height=\"1333\" srcset=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/05/003_KQED_SanFrancisco_Election2020_MailinBallot_10122020_qed.jpg 2000w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/05/003_KQED_SanFrancisco_Election2020_MailinBallot_10122020_qed-160x107.jpg 160w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/05/003_KQED_SanFrancisco_Election2020_MailinBallot_10122020_qed-1536x1024.jpg 1536w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 2000px) 100vw, 2000px\">\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-caption-text\">A San Francisco official mail-in ballot for the Nov. 3, 2020, election. \u003ccite>(Beth LaBerge/KQED)\u003c/cite>\u003c/figcaption>\u003c/figure>\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Do I need to bring my ballot with me?\u003c/strong>\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>If you’d like to cast a ballot in person, it’s a good idea to bring the blank ballot you were mailed, as some counties may require you to vote provisionally if you don’t bring it. If you’re issued a new ballot when you vote in person, any ballot you left at home will be canceled.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Provisional votes are subject to extra checks — confirming that you’re actually registered to vote in California, or that you didn’t already complete and mail your ballot — and this extra layer of confirmation takes time. That means that although your vote will eventually be counted, it might not be tallied on Election Day itself.\u003c/p>\n\u003ch2>I still need to register to vote. What should I do? Can I do this on Election Day?\u003c/h2>\n\u003cp>The official deadline to\u003ca href=\"https://www.sos.ca.gov/elections/voter-registration/\"> register online to vote \u003c/a>is Monday, May 18.[aside postID=news_12081345 hero='https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/04/GettyImages-2272001355-2000x1334.jpg']Remember, if you’ve changed your name or the political party choice you previously registered to vote with, or you’ve moved address, you’ll need to\u003ca href=\"https://www.sos.ca.gov/elections/voter-registration/\"> reregister\u003c/a>.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>But if you miss the deadline to register, don’t panic: After May 18, you can still complete the\u003ca href=\"https://www.sos.ca.gov/elections/voter-registration/same-day-reg/\"> same-day voter registration\u003c/a> process (also known as “conditional voting”) and request your ballot in person at your county elections office or polling location.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>This system enables you to fill out and submit your ballot then and there, up until when polls close at 8 p.m. on Election Day.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>In addition to voter registration, many voting locations also offer replacement ballots, accessible voting machines and language assistance.\u003c/p>\n\u003ch2>\u003ca id=\"Howtofindyourclosestvotinglocationorballotdropoff\">\u003c/a>How can I find my voting location or ballot drop-off?\u003c/h2>\n\u003cp>Secure drop boxes \u003ca href=\"https://www.sos.ca.gov/elections/upcoming-elections/primary-election-june-2-2026\">open by May 5, and the first vote centers open \u003c/a>May 23 in certain counties, with more early voting locations opening May 30.\u003c/p>\n\u003cfigure id=\"attachment_12082116\" class=\"wp-caption aligncenter\" style=\"max-width: 2000px\">\u003cimg loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"size-full wp-image-12082116\" src=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/05/010_Oakland_ItzelDiazandFamily_09092021_qed.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"2000\" height=\"1333\" srcset=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/05/010_Oakland_ItzelDiazandFamily_09092021_qed.jpg 2000w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/05/010_Oakland_ItzelDiazandFamily_09092021_qed-160x107.jpg 160w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/05/010_Oakland_ItzelDiazandFamily_09092021_qed-1536x1024.jpg 1536w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 2000px) 100vw, 2000px\">\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-caption-text\">Porfirio Diaz drops off his ballot for California’s gubernatorial recall election at a ballot dropbox in Fruitvale on Sept. 9, 2021. \u003ccite>(Beth LaBerge/KQED)\u003c/cite>\u003c/figcaption>\u003c/figure>\n\u003cp>Visit the\u003ca href=\"https://caearlyvoting.sos.ca.gov/\"> state of California lookup tool\u003c/a>, where you can:\u003c/p>\n\u003cul>\n\u003cli>Enter your county (adding your city or ZIP code will give more localized results, but it’s optional)\u003c/li>\n\u003c/ul>\n\u003cul>\n\u003cli>Check the “Early Voting” and/or “Drop Off Location” boxes\u003c/li>\n\u003c/ul>\n\u003cul>\n\u003cli>Hit “Search” to see all the early voting and drop-off locations in that area\u003c/li>\n\u003c/ul>\n\u003cp>Remember that in-person voting hours may differ by location, and some locations may not be open every day.\u003c/p>\n\u003ch2>\u003ca id=\"Howtocontactyourcountydirectlyaboutvoting\">\u003c/a>How can I contact my county directly about voting?\u003c/h2>\n\u003cp>Across the Bay Area, elections officials are encouraging voters to reach out — early — with any questions or concerns. Here’s the contact information for your county:\u003c/p>\n\u003cul>\n\u003cli>\u003ca href=\"https://acvote.alamedacountyca.gov/index\">\u003cstrong>Alameda\u003c/strong>\u003c/a>: For information about voting by mail, registration and polling place lookup, call 510-267-8683.\u003c/li>\n\u003cli>\u003ca href=\"https://www.contracostavote.gov/elections/\">\u003cstrong>Contra Costa\u003c/strong>\u003c/a>: Call 925-335-7800 or email voter.services@vote.cccounty.us.\u003c/li>\n\u003cli>\u003ca href=\"https://www.marincounty.org/depts/rv\">\u003cstrong>Marin\u003c/strong>\u003c/a>: Call 415-473-6456 or go to the Marin County elections webpage to\u003ca href=\"https://www.marincounty.org/depts/rv/contact-us\"> send a form email\u003c/a>.\u003c/li>\n\u003cli>\u003ca href=\"https://www.countyofnapa.org/396/Elections\">\u003cstrong>Napa\u003c/strong>\u003c/a>: Call 707-253-4321 or email the elections office at elections@countyofnapa.org.\u003c/li>\n\u003cli>\u003ca href=\"https://sfelections.sfgov.org\">\u003cstrong>San Francisco\u003c/strong>\u003c/a>: Call 415-554-4375 or email sfvote@sfgov.org.\u003c/li>\n\u003cli>\u003ca href=\"https://www.smcacre.org/elections\">\u003cstrong>San Mateo\u003c/strong>\u003c/a>: Call 888-762-8683 or email registrar@smcacre.org.\u003c/li>\n\u003cli>\u003ca href=\"https://www.sccgov.org/sites/rov/Pages/Registrar-of-Voters.aspx\">\u003cstrong>Santa Clara\u003c/strong>\u003c/a>: Call toll-free at 866-430-VOTE (8683) or email registrar@rov.sccgov.org.\u003c/li>\n\u003cli>\u003ca href=\"https://www.solanocounty.com/depts/rov/default.asp\">\u003cstrong>Solano\u003c/strong>\u003c/a>\u003cstrong>: \u003c/strong>Call 707-784-6675 or 888-933-VOTE (8683). You can also email elections@solanocounty.com.\u003c/li>\n\u003cli>\u003ca href=\"https://sonomacounty.ca.gov/CRA/Registrar-of-Voters/\">\u003cstrong>Sonoma\u003c/strong>\u003c/a>: Call 707-565-6800 or toll-free at 800-750-8683.\u003c/li>\n\u003c/ul>\n\u003cp>The state also has a full list of \u003ca href=\"https://www.sos.ca.gov/elections/voting-resources/county-elections-offices/\">every county elections office in California\u003c/a>.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>[ad floatright]\u003c/p>\n",
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"content": "\u003cdiv class=\"post-body\">\u003cp>\u003cp>California voters: the state primary elections are here. And if you’re registered to vote, your ballot will be on its way in the next few days — ahead of Election Day itself on June 2.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Wondering where to drop off your completed mail-in ballot in the Bay Area? Or where can you vote in person, and find a polling place near you? What about if you prefer to vote on Election Day itself?\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Keep reading for everything you need to know about submitting your vote in the California primary elections. And if you’re looking for detailed information about what you’ll be voting on, \u003ca href=\"https://www.kqed.org/voterguide\">take a look at KQED’s Voter Guide.\u003c/a>\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003c/p>\u003c/div>",
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"content": "\u003cdiv class=\"post-body\">\u003cp>\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Jump straight to:\u003c/strong>\u003c/p>\n\u003cul>\n\u003cli>\u003cstrong>\u003ca href=\"#Howtofindyourclosestvotinglocationorballotdropoff\">How to find your closest voting location or ballot drop-off\u003c/a>\u003c/strong>\u003c/li>\n\u003cli>\u003cstrong>\u003ca href=\"#HowtofindyourpollingplaceonElectionDay\">How to find your polling place on Election Day\u003c/a>\u003c/strong>\u003c/li>\n\u003cli>\u003cstrong>\u003ca href=\"#Howtocontactyourcountydirectlyaboutvoting\">How to contact your county directly about voting\u003c/a>\u003c/strong>\u003c/li>\n\u003c/ul>\n\u003cp>If you’re concerned you might have made a mistake when filling out your ballot, you can \u003ca href=\"https://www.kqed.org/news/12082075/california-primary-elections-2026-faq-governors-race-vote-ballot-signature-how-to-correct-mistake\">read our guide to addressing common errors on your ballot\u003c/a> (\u003cem>before\u003c/em> you mail it) — and find out \u003ca href=\"https://www.kqed.org/news/12082075/california-primary-elections-2026-faq-governors-race-vote-ballot-signature-how-to-correct-mistake\">how to get a fresh ballot or vote in person\u003c/a> if you really messed up.\u003c/p>\n\u003ch2>Can I mail my ballot through the Postal Service?\u003c/h2>\n\u003cp>Yes, you can mail your completed ballot via the U.S. Postal Service at any regular collection box. The envelope is postage paid, so it doesn’t require a stamp, and it’ll be counted as long as it’s\u003ca href=\"https://www.sos.ca.gov/elections\"> postmarked by Election Day and arrives at your county registrar’s office by June 2\u003c/a>.\u003c/p>\n\u003cfigure id=\"attachment_12082112\" class=\"wp-caption aligncenter\" style=\"max-width: 2000px\">\u003cimg loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"size-full wp-image-12082112\" src=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/05/004_Oakland_ItzelDiazandFamily_09092021_qed.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"2000\" height=\"1333\" srcset=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/05/004_Oakland_ItzelDiazandFamily_09092021_qed.jpg 2000w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/05/004_Oakland_ItzelDiazandFamily_09092021_qed-160x107.jpg 160w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/05/004_Oakland_ItzelDiazandFamily_09092021_qed-1536x1024.jpg 1536w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 2000px) 100vw, 2000px\">\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-caption-text\">Porfirio Diaz fills out his mail-in ballot for California’s gubernatorial recall election at his home in Oakland on Sept. 9, 2021. \u003ccite>(Beth LaBerge/KQED)\u003c/cite>\u003c/figcaption>\u003c/figure>\n\u003cp>If you’re planning to mail your ballot on Election Day itself, be \u003cem>very\u003c/em> sure you don’t miss the last collection time for that specific mailbox (which at many locations is 5 p.m. or earlier).\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>You also shouldn’t drop off your ballot on Election Day at a post office that’s already closed. Doing either of these things will mean your ballot will not be postmarked on Election Day and won’t be counted when it reaches your county’s election office.\u003c/p>\n\u003ch2>Can I drop off my ballot in a drop box or at a voting location?\u003c/h2>\n\u003cp>Once you complete your mail-in ballot, you can drop it off at an official drop box or voting location instead of mailing it via a U.S. Postal Service collection box. These drop boxes will \u003ca href=\"https://www.sos.ca.gov/elections/upcoming-elections/primary-election-june-2-2026\">open by May 5.\u003c/a>\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>A few reasons you might prefer to hand-deliver your completed ballot:\u003c/p>\n\u003cul>\n\u003cli>\u003cstrong>Peace of mind:\u003c/strong> There’s a satisfaction that comes with knowing your ballot should now travel straight to your county elections office rather than going through USPS collection and sorting for delivery\u003c/li>\n\u003cli>\u003cstrong>Timing:\u003c/strong> If it’s Election Day itself, using a drop box or a voting location to drop off your ballot is the best way to be sure it’ll reach your county elections office in time to be counted\u003c/li>\n\u003cli>\u003cstrong>Assistance:\u003c/strong> If you drop off your ballot at a voting location during operating hours and you have a few lingering questions about your ballot or the process, chances are good that you’ll find someone there to help answer them\u003c/li>\n\u003c/ul>\n\u003cp>Regardless of how you deliver it, you can\u003ca href=\"https://california.ballottrax.net/voter/\"> sign up to track your ballot’s progress with the “Where’s My Ballot?” online tool\u003c/a> and be reassured it’s on its way to being counted.\u003c/p>\n\u003ch2>\u003ca id=\"HowtofindyourpollingplaceonElectionDay\">\u003c/a>Where can I vote in person on Election Day?\u003c/h2>\n\u003cp>On Election Day, in-person voting is still available at every county registrar’s office (also known as your county’s elections office) in the Bay Area. If you’re a San Francisco voter, this location will be City Hall.\u003ca href=\"https://www.sos.ca.gov/elections/voting-resources/county-elections-offices\"> Find your county registrar’s office and opening hours.\u003c/a>\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Check your mail-in ballot to see where you can vote and whether you’ve been assigned a specific polling place.\u003c/p>\n\u003cfigure id=\"attachment_12082113\" class=\"wp-caption aligncenter\" style=\"max-width: 2000px\">\u003cimg loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"size-full wp-image-12082113\" src=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/05/023_KQED_SanFrancisco_Election2020_TanyaYule_10092020_qed.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"2000\" height=\"1333\" srcset=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/05/023_KQED_SanFrancisco_Election2020_TanyaYule_10092020_qed.jpg 2000w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/05/023_KQED_SanFrancisco_Election2020_TanyaYule_10092020_qed-160x107.jpg 160w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/05/023_KQED_SanFrancisco_Election2020_TanyaYule_10092020_qed-1536x1024.jpg 1536w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 2000px) 100vw, 2000px\">\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-caption-text\">A San Francisco resident hands their mail-in ballot to USPS employee Elmer Padilla on Oct. 9, 2020. \u003ccite>(Beth LaBerge/KQED)\u003c/cite>\u003c/figcaption>\u003c/figure>\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>If you live in San Francisco, Contra Costa or Solano counties:\u003c/strong>\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>You are assigned a specific polling place, though Contra Costa County election officials say they can process your ballot no matter where you show up to vote.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>But even if you live in a county that assigns you a particular polling place, you can still vote at\u003ca href=\"https://www.sos.ca.gov/elections/voting-resources/county-elections-offices\"> your county registrar’s office\u003c/a>.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>If you live in Alameda, Marin, Napa, San Mateo, Santa Clara or Sonoma counties:\u003c/strong>\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>You can vote at any voting location — known as Vote Centers — including your county registrar’s office.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>You can\u003ca href=\"https://caearlyvoting.sos.ca.gov/\"> find your voting location through the state’s lookup tool\u003c/a>.\u003c/p>\n\u003cfigure id=\"attachment_12082088\" class=\"wp-caption aligncenter\" style=\"max-width: 2000px\">\u003cimg loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"size-full wp-image-12082088\" src=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/05/003_KQED_SanFrancisco_Election2020_MailinBallot_10122020_qed.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"2000\" height=\"1333\" srcset=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/05/003_KQED_SanFrancisco_Election2020_MailinBallot_10122020_qed.jpg 2000w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/05/003_KQED_SanFrancisco_Election2020_MailinBallot_10122020_qed-160x107.jpg 160w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/05/003_KQED_SanFrancisco_Election2020_MailinBallot_10122020_qed-1536x1024.jpg 1536w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 2000px) 100vw, 2000px\">\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-caption-text\">A San Francisco official mail-in ballot for the Nov. 3, 2020, election. \u003ccite>(Beth LaBerge/KQED)\u003c/cite>\u003c/figcaption>\u003c/figure>\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Do I need to bring my ballot with me?\u003c/strong>\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>If you’d like to cast a ballot in person, it’s a good idea to bring the blank ballot you were mailed, as some counties may require you to vote provisionally if you don’t bring it. If you’re issued a new ballot when you vote in person, any ballot you left at home will be canceled.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Provisional votes are subject to extra checks — confirming that you’re actually registered to vote in California, or that you didn’t already complete and mail your ballot — and this extra layer of confirmation takes time. That means that although your vote will eventually be counted, it might not be tallied on Election Day itself.\u003c/p>\n\u003ch2>I still need to register to vote. What should I do? Can I do this on Election Day?\u003c/h2>\n\u003cp>The official deadline to\u003ca href=\"https://www.sos.ca.gov/elections/voter-registration/\"> register online to vote \u003c/a>is Monday, May 18.\u003c/p>\u003c/div>",
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"content": "\u003cdiv class=\"post-body\">\u003cp>Remember, if you’ve changed your name or the political party choice you previously registered to vote with, or you’ve moved address, you’ll need to\u003ca href=\"https://www.sos.ca.gov/elections/voter-registration/\"> reregister\u003c/a>.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>But if you miss the deadline to register, don’t panic: After May 18, you can still complete the\u003ca href=\"https://www.sos.ca.gov/elections/voter-registration/same-day-reg/\"> same-day voter registration\u003c/a> process (also known as “conditional voting”) and request your ballot in person at your county elections office or polling location.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>This system enables you to fill out and submit your ballot then and there, up until when polls close at 8 p.m. on Election Day.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>In addition to voter registration, many voting locations also offer replacement ballots, accessible voting machines and language assistance.\u003c/p>\n\u003ch2>\u003ca id=\"Howtofindyourclosestvotinglocationorballotdropoff\">\u003c/a>How can I find my voting location or ballot drop-off?\u003c/h2>\n\u003cp>Secure drop boxes \u003ca href=\"https://www.sos.ca.gov/elections/upcoming-elections/primary-election-june-2-2026\">open by May 5, and the first vote centers open \u003c/a>May 23 in certain counties, with more early voting locations opening May 30.\u003c/p>\n\u003cfigure id=\"attachment_12082116\" class=\"wp-caption aligncenter\" style=\"max-width: 2000px\">\u003cimg loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"size-full wp-image-12082116\" src=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/05/010_Oakland_ItzelDiazandFamily_09092021_qed.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"2000\" height=\"1333\" srcset=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/05/010_Oakland_ItzelDiazandFamily_09092021_qed.jpg 2000w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/05/010_Oakland_ItzelDiazandFamily_09092021_qed-160x107.jpg 160w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/05/010_Oakland_ItzelDiazandFamily_09092021_qed-1536x1024.jpg 1536w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 2000px) 100vw, 2000px\">\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-caption-text\">Porfirio Diaz drops off his ballot for California’s gubernatorial recall election at a ballot dropbox in Fruitvale on Sept. 9, 2021. \u003ccite>(Beth LaBerge/KQED)\u003c/cite>\u003c/figcaption>\u003c/figure>\n\u003cp>Visit the\u003ca href=\"https://caearlyvoting.sos.ca.gov/\"> state of California lookup tool\u003c/a>, where you can:\u003c/p>\n\u003cul>\n\u003cli>Enter your county (adding your city or ZIP code will give more localized results, but it’s optional)\u003c/li>\n\u003c/ul>\n\u003cul>\n\u003cli>Check the “Early Voting” and/or “Drop Off Location” boxes\u003c/li>\n\u003c/ul>\n\u003cul>\n\u003cli>Hit “Search” to see all the early voting and drop-off locations in that area\u003c/li>\n\u003c/ul>\n\u003cp>Remember that in-person voting hours may differ by location, and some locations may not be open every day.\u003c/p>\n\u003ch2>\u003ca id=\"Howtocontactyourcountydirectlyaboutvoting\">\u003c/a>How can I contact my county directly about voting?\u003c/h2>\n\u003cp>Across the Bay Area, elections officials are encouraging voters to reach out — early — with any questions or concerns. Here’s the contact information for your county:\u003c/p>\n\u003cul>\n\u003cli>\u003ca href=\"https://acvote.alamedacountyca.gov/index\">\u003cstrong>Alameda\u003c/strong>\u003c/a>: For information about voting by mail, registration and polling place lookup, call 510-267-8683.\u003c/li>\n\u003cli>\u003ca href=\"https://www.contracostavote.gov/elections/\">\u003cstrong>Contra Costa\u003c/strong>\u003c/a>: Call 925-335-7800 or email voter.services@vote.cccounty.us.\u003c/li>\n\u003cli>\u003ca href=\"https://www.marincounty.org/depts/rv\">\u003cstrong>Marin\u003c/strong>\u003c/a>: Call 415-473-6456 or go to the Marin County elections webpage to\u003ca href=\"https://www.marincounty.org/depts/rv/contact-us\"> send a form email\u003c/a>.\u003c/li>\n\u003cli>\u003ca href=\"https://www.countyofnapa.org/396/Elections\">\u003cstrong>Napa\u003c/strong>\u003c/a>: Call 707-253-4321 or email the elections office at elections@countyofnapa.org.\u003c/li>\n\u003cli>\u003ca href=\"https://sfelections.sfgov.org\">\u003cstrong>San Francisco\u003c/strong>\u003c/a>: Call 415-554-4375 or email sfvote@sfgov.org.\u003c/li>\n\u003cli>\u003ca href=\"https://www.smcacre.org/elections\">\u003cstrong>San Mateo\u003c/strong>\u003c/a>: Call 888-762-8683 or email registrar@smcacre.org.\u003c/li>\n\u003cli>\u003ca href=\"https://www.sccgov.org/sites/rov/Pages/Registrar-of-Voters.aspx\">\u003cstrong>Santa Clara\u003c/strong>\u003c/a>: Call toll-free at 866-430-VOTE (8683) or email registrar@rov.sccgov.org.\u003c/li>\n\u003cli>\u003ca href=\"https://www.solanocounty.com/depts/rov/default.asp\">\u003cstrong>Solano\u003c/strong>\u003c/a>\u003cstrong>: \u003c/strong>Call 707-784-6675 or 888-933-VOTE (8683). You can also email elections@solanocounty.com.\u003c/li>\n\u003cli>\u003ca href=\"https://sonomacounty.ca.gov/CRA/Registrar-of-Voters/\">\u003cstrong>Sonoma\u003c/strong>\u003c/a>: Call 707-565-6800 or toll-free at 800-750-8683.\u003c/li>\n\u003c/ul>\n\u003cp>The state also has a full list of \u003ca href=\"https://www.sos.ca.gov/elections/voting-resources/county-elections-offices/\">every county elections office in California\u003c/a>.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003c/p>\u003c/div>",
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"content": "\u003cp>\u003cspan style=\"font-weight: 400\">With federal health care subsidies set to expire, Democrats are pushing to make next year’s midterm elections a referendum on Republicans’ approach to health care. Part of their strategy is \u003ca href=\"https://www.kqed.org/news/12060682/california-at-forefront-as-democrats-tap-doctors-for-high-stakes-house-races\">recruiting doctors to run for office\u003c/a> in 2026. Scott and Marisa talk with Guy about this tactic and how it’s playing out in two key California congressional races. \u003c/span>\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Check out \u003ca class=\"c-link c-link--underline\" href=\"https://www.kqed.org/newsletters/political-breakdown\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" data-stringify-link=\"https://www.kqed.org/newsletters/political-breakdown\" data-sk=\"tooltip_parent\">Political Breakdown’s weekly newsletter\u003c/a>, delivered straight to your inbox.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>[ad fullwidth]\u003c/p>\u003cp>\u003c/p>\n",
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"excerpt": "Assemblymember Jasmeet Bains and Rep. Ami Bera are two California doctors running in GOP-held seats seen as key to Democrats’ chances of flipping the House.",
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"content": "\u003cdiv class=\"post-body\">\u003cp>\u003cp>\u003cspan style=\"font-weight: 400\">With federal health care subsidies set to expire, Democrats are pushing to make next year’s midterm elections a referendum on Republicans’ approach to health care. Part of their strategy is \u003ca href=\"https://www.kqed.org/news/12060682/california-at-forefront-as-democrats-tap-doctors-for-high-stakes-house-races\">recruiting doctors to run for office\u003c/a> in 2026. Scott and Marisa talk with Guy about this tactic and how it’s playing out in two key California congressional races. \u003c/span>\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Check out \u003ca class=\"c-link c-link--underline\" href=\"https://www.kqed.org/newsletters/political-breakdown\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" data-stringify-link=\"https://www.kqed.org/newsletters/political-breakdown\" data-sk=\"tooltip_parent\">Political Breakdown’s weekly newsletter\u003c/a>, delivered straight to your inbox.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003c/p>\u003c/div>",
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