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"content": "\n\u003cp class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">To steel herself for the monumental task of \u003ca href=\"https://www.kqed.org/voterguide\">voting\u003c/a> in California, Lauren Schwartz broke out bowls of chili and voter guides, and invited her friends to her San Francisco home for her annual pre-election party. \u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">It’s BYOB. Bring-your-own-ballot. \u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"> ”We have an insane number of propositions, and it’s too much for one person to go through,” Schwartz said.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Voters in the Golden State this election are considering 14 statewide ballot measures — tied with Colorado for the second-most out of any state in the country, according to \u003ca href=\"https://ballotpedia.org/2026_ballot_measures#Trends\">Ballotpedia\u003c/a>. \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/10/2026/10/261018-PROPOSITIONPARTY-NG-15-KQED-02480242.jpg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-12107272\" srcset=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/10/261018-PROPOSITIONPARTY-NG-15-KQED-02480242.jpg 2000w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/10/261018-PROPOSITIONPARTY-NG-15-KQED-02480242-160x107.jpg 160w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/10/261018-PROPOSITIONPARTY-NG-15-KQED-02480242-1536x1024.jpg 1536w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 2000px) 100vw, 2000px\" />\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">Lauren Schwartz speaks in support of San Francisco Proposition D during a proposition party at her home in San Francisco on Oct. 18, 2026. (Nina Glick/KQED)\u003c/figcaption>\u003c/figure>\n\n\n\n\u003cp class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Schwartz isn’t the only one who feels overwhelmed by the ballot: According to a September \u003ca href=\"https://www.ppic.org/publication/ppic-statewide-survey-californians-and-their-government-september-2026/?_gl=1*2vift5*_gcl_au*MTU3MjQxNDAxOS4xNzkzMDQ5NDU1\">poll\u003c/a> by the Public Policy Institute of California, nearly 80% of likely California voters surveyed thought the ballot had too many propositions. \u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">For over 20 years, Schwartz, a 61-year-old mother of two who lives in the city’s Monterey Heights neighborhood, has hosted ballot parties to help her and her friends dissect their ballots. The party is so popular that Schwartz has to keep a strict guest list. Only so many people can fit into her living room, she said.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">“Everybody that hears about it wishes they could come. People have FOMO about this party,” Schwartz said. \u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">On a Sunday evening in mid-October, around 11 people —mostly other parents she met at her kids’ former middle school — tucked into Schwartz’s living room, seated in a circle on every available chair and couch in the house. Over a potluck dinner of chili, cornbread and salad, they dove into their election materials. \u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\u003cp class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">One attendee, glass of wine in hand, asked, “ Why is San Francisco being charged more than the other counties?” referring to this election’s \u003ca href=\"https://www.kqed.org/voterguide/california/regional-measure-rtm\">Regional Transit Measure\u003c/a>, a regional sales tax to support local transit agencies.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">“Because there are more rich people here?” another guest said.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">“Because we have more public transit here?” someone else said.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Schwartz said her parties can last hours. Each guest volunteered to explain the pros and cons of a certain measure — which Schwartz assigned them to research ahead of the party. Guests had a variety of perspectives, both for, against and somewhere in between on San Francisco’s \u003ca href=\"https://www.kqed.org/voterguide/sanfrancisco/proposition-g\">Proposition G\u003c/a> — whether to reopen San Francisco’s Great Highway to cars. \u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Cara Pellegrini said she has been coming to Schwartz’s parties for over five years, and that they have become part of her voting process. This is the second ballot party she’s attended this election. \u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">“ This is one step in many in how we think about some of these issues. The more different perspectives I hear, I think it’s really useful,” Pellegrini said. \u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">While Schwartz has thrown ballot parties on her own, this year she sought help from the San Francisco-based company Sway, a nonpartisan online voting group platform. It helped distribute her group’s recommendations to a wider audience. \u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">“ I’ve had several friends say, ‘I wanna come,’ and I’m like, ‘No, no, no. We don’t have the room. You can sign up for Sway,’” Schwartz said. \u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003ch2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">\u003cstrong>“A Major Hit”\u003c/strong>\u003c/h2>\n\n\n\n\u003cp class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Sway is a \u003ca href=\"https://delcode.delaware.gov/title8/c001/sc15/\">public benefit corporation\u003c/a>, a for-profit company registered in Delaware, that works to benefit both its shareholders and a stated public good. The website allows its users to create and join “voting groups” based on shared values. \u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">“Particularly in places like California, where there’s so much ballot complexity, getting together in a group and talking through each one of these propositions and the implications is really important,” said Claire Shorall, CEO and co-founder of Sway.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cfigure class=\"wp-block-gallery has-nested-images columns-default is-cropped wp-block-gallery-5 is-layout-flex wp-block-gallery-is-layout-flex\">\n\u003cfigure class=\"wp-block-image size-full\">\u003cimg loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"2000\" height=\"1333\" data-id=\"12107271\" src=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/10/261018-PROPOSITIONPARTY-NG-12-KQED-ad6581b7.jpg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-12107271\" srcset=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/10/261018-PROPOSITIONPARTY-NG-12-KQED-ad6581b7.jpg 2000w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/10/261018-PROPOSITIONPARTY-NG-12-KQED-ad6581b7-160x107.jpg 160w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/10/261018-PROPOSITIONPARTY-NG-12-KQED-ad6581b7-1536x1024.jpg 1536w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 2000px) 100vw, 2000px\" />\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">Dave Sheer speaks about San Francisco Proposition C during a proposition party in San Francisco on Oct. 18, 2026. (Nina Glick/KQED)\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=\"12107279\" src=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/10/261027-PROPOSITIONPARTY-NG-16-KQED-1f6247f7.jpg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-12107279\" srcset=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/10/261027-PROPOSITIONPARTY-NG-16-KQED-1f6247f7.jpg 2000w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/10/261027-PROPOSITIONPARTY-NG-16-KQED-1f6247f7-160x107.jpg 160w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/10/261027-PROPOSITIONPARTY-NG-16-KQED-1f6247f7-1536x1024.jpg 1536w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 2000px) 100vw, 2000px\" />\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">An attendee writes notes during a ballot party at New Life Community Church in Oakland on Oct. 27, 2026. (Nina Glick/KQED)\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=\"12107277\" src=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/10/261027-PROPOSITIONPARTY-NG-10-KQED-f776498a.jpg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-12107277\" srcset=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/10/261027-PROPOSITIONPARTY-NG-10-KQED-f776498a.jpg 2000w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/10/261027-PROPOSITIONPARTY-NG-10-KQED-f776498a-160x107.jpg 160w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/10/261027-PROPOSITIONPARTY-NG-10-KQED-f776498a-1536x1024.jpg 1536w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 2000px) 100vw, 2000px\" />\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">Attendees watch a video in which former Congresswoman Katie Porter advocates for voters to vote no on Proposition 40 at a ballot party at New Life Community Church in Oakland on Oct. 27, 2026. (Nina Glick/KQED)\u003c/figcaption>\u003c/figure>\n\n\n\n\u003cfigure class=\"wp-block-image size-full\">\u003cimg loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"2000\" height=\"1333\" data-id=\"12107284\" src=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/10/261027-PROPOSITIONPARTY-NG-31-KQED-40f5f858.jpg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-12107284\" srcset=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/10/261027-PROPOSITIONPARTY-NG-31-KQED-40f5f858.jpg 2000w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/10/261027-PROPOSITIONPARTY-NG-31-KQED-40f5f858-160x107.jpg 160w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/10/261027-PROPOSITIONPARTY-NG-31-KQED-40f5f858-1536x1024.jpg 1536w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 2000px) 100vw, 2000px\" />\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">Cheryl Wilson looks at her ballot during a ballot party at New Life Community Church in Oakland on Oct. 27, 2026.\u003c/figcaption>\u003c/figure>\n\u003c/figure>\n\n\n\n\u003cp class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">The platform aims to increase the political influence of its users, so that any one voting group can amass the same power as special interest groups or lobbyists. \u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">One voting group, called “\u003ca href=\"https://www.sway.co/allies-against-aipac?ref=k3cgttyn\">Allies Against AIPAC\u003c/a>,” has over 10,000 registered voters, and it focuses on recommending a nationwide slate of candidates who don’t accept money from the American Israel Public Affairs Committee. Another group called “\u003ca href=\"https://www.sway.co/no-mrna?ref=k3cgttyn\">Pull mRNA Shots Off the Market\u003c/a>” has 44 members and supports candidates who want to discontinue access to mRNA vaccines. \u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">If a voting group is able to reach 25 users, an organizer can apply for a $500 credit card from Sway to go toward buying food, supplies or a venue to host a ballot party. (Schwartz’s group, simply called “\u003ca href=\"https://www.sway.co/sfpropositionparty?ref=k3cgttyn\">SF Proposition Party\u003c/a>,” has 26 members but did not apply for the offer.) \u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">The company formed in February 2025 — this is its first general election — and is funded by venture capital firms Neo, Long Journey Ventures and “a few angel investors,” according to a company FAQ page. The company does not currently make a profit, Shorall said.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">She said the ballot parties have been a “major hit:” Out of the nearly 7,000 voting groups on Sway, over 2,700 have applied to host one — although just over 250 nationwide hit the participant threshold necessary to receive the $500 credit card. The most Sway-sponsored ballot parties this election were in Texas, with 48; California was second with 36, according to the company. \u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003ch2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">\u003cstrong>On the Fence\u003c/strong>\u003c/h2>\n\n\n\n\u003cp class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">California voters feeling unprepared or uninformed about ballot issues is a problem that can contribute to low voter turnout and \u003ca href=\"https://www.ppic.org/publication/race-and-voting-in-california/\">disparities in voting\u003c/a> among different demographic groups, said Josh Clark, a senior social scientist at UC Berkeley’s Othering & Belonging Institute. He’s a qualitative researcher who studies why different demographic or socioeconomic groups vote more or less than others and which types of interventions are effective in improving turnout. \u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">“ People often who are on the fence about voting or who vote only inconsistently express a lack of confidence in their own knowledge or their own preparedness to vote,” Clark said, adding that voter focus groups in California often express feeling unprepared when it comes to the state’s ballot initiatives. \u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cfigure class=\"wp-block-gallery has-nested-images columns-default is-cropped wp-block-gallery-6 is-layout-flex wp-block-gallery-is-layout-flex\">\n\u003cfigure class=\"wp-block-image size-full\">\u003cimg loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"2000\" height=\"1333\" data-id=\"12107278\" src=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/10/261027-PROPOSITIONPARTY-NG-13-KQED-89516359.jpg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-12107278\" srcset=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/10/261027-PROPOSITIONPARTY-NG-13-KQED-89516359.jpg 2000w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/10/261027-PROPOSITIONPARTY-NG-13-KQED-89516359-160x107.jpg 160w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/10/261027-PROPOSITIONPARTY-NG-13-KQED-89516359-1536x1024.jpg 1536w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 2000px) 100vw, 2000px\" />\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">Michelle Mabry looks at her unfinished ballot during a ballot party at New Life Community Church in Oakland on Oct. 27, 2026. (Nina Glick/KQED)\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=\"12107275\" src=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/10/261027-PROPOSITIONPARTY-NG-5-KQED-c6e51cfb.jpg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-12107275\" srcset=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/10/261027-PROPOSITIONPARTY-NG-5-KQED-c6e51cfb.jpg 2000w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/10/261027-PROPOSITIONPARTY-NG-5-KQED-c6e51cfb-160x107.jpg 160w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/10/261027-PROPOSITIONPARTY-NG-5-KQED-c6e51cfb-1536x1024.jpg 1536w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 2000px) 100vw, 2000px\" />\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">Kimberly Walker-Moree wears a voting pin at a ballot party at New Life Community Church in Oakland on Oct. 27, 2026. (Nina Glick/KQED)\u003c/figcaption>\u003c/figure>\n\u003c/figure>\n\n\n\n\u003cp class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Those disparities are worse in midterm elections, Clark said. Just shy of \u003ca href=\"https://elections.cdn.sos.ca.gov/sov/2022-general/sov/03-voter-participation-stats-by-county.pdf\">42%\u003c/a> of eligible voters in California actually voted in the 2022 midterm general election, as opposed to nearly \u003ca href=\"https://admin.cdn.sos.ca.gov/elections/sov/2024-general/sov/03-voter-participation-stats-by-county.pdf\">60%\u003c/a> in the 2024 presidential general election, according to the California Secretary of State. \u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Clark said he’s been aware of ballot parties since 2016, when there were 17 statewide ballot propositions on California’s November ballot. These gatherings can help combat a reluctance to vote, he said.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">“ If you’re someone who is connected to a network or community of people where voting is the norm, then you can find voter guides, you can join ballot parties, and those are great,” he said.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\u003cp class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">But the question on Clark’s mind that Sway and similar civically minded tech organizations should ask is: “How do you reach people who aren’t looking to be reached?” \u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">“ My concern would be that this attracts someone who is already interested in learning about political issues and voting, and therefore, you aren’t going to reach a lot of people who are counting themselves out or feeling put off by the tenor of politics in the country,” he said. “Especially if those spaces are based on preexisting social networks.”\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Shorall said she’s received multiple emails from ballot party organizers who said someone voted for the first time as a result of one of the events.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">“ It is incumbent on us to create opportunities where people get to hear from folks that they already trust, and as much as possible, we tried to lower the barrier to entry,” she said.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003ch2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Unpacking the Election At Church\u003c/h2>\n\n\n\n\u003cp class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Tiffany Cowan of Alameda was scrolling on Instagram when she saw a post about someone who used Sway to host a ballot party. She said it was an “amazing idea,” and brought it to the pastor of her church, New Life Community Church in Oakland, who agreed.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"> ”Voting is a very high priority within our community,” Cowan said, adding that the church is made up predominantly of people of color. “ We wanted to create a space where people can be informed.”\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/10/2026/10/261027-PROPOSITIONPARTY-NG-9-KQED-6a340833.jpg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-12107276\" srcset=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/10/261027-PROPOSITIONPARTY-NG-9-KQED-6a340833.jpg 2000w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/10/261027-PROPOSITIONPARTY-NG-9-KQED-6a340833-160x107.jpg 160w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/10/261027-PROPOSITIONPARTY-NG-9-KQED-6a340833-1536x1024.jpg 1536w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 2000px) 100vw, 2000px\" />\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">Organizer Tiffany Cowan speaks about how different advocacy groups are advising voters to vote on propositions during a ballot party at New Life Community Church in Oakland on Oct. 27, 2026. (Nina Glick/KQED)\u003c/figcaption>\u003c/figure>\n\n\n\n\u003cp class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">One week before the election, over 60 people — a mix of church members, neighbors and families — attended the church’s first-ever ballot party. \u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Michelle Mabry said she came because it was close to her house and was looking for support with her ballot. \u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">“ It’s a very long ballot, and so I kind of need some direction,” she said. \u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">In particular, Mabry wanted more information about controversial measures like \u003ca href=\"https://www.kqed.org/voterguide/california/proposition-40\">Proposition 40\u003c/a>, the proposed one-time wealth tax targeted at the state’s billionaires. After the party, she said the discussions answered some of her questions, but she said she still had some “homework” to do before she felt ready to vote.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Brian Harrison, a lifelong Oakland resident, said the state’s numerous propositions also motivated him to attend. \u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">“ That is my biggest concern because they’re confusing. You’re hearing two different sides, and I don’t think I’m hearing a straight answer each time,” he said. “Hopefully, I get the answers I need to make the right decision.”\u003c/p>\n",
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>Voters in the Golden State this election are considering 14 statewide ballot measures — tied with Colorado for the second-most out of any state in the country, according to \u003ca href=\"https://ballotpedia.org/2026_ballot_measures#Trends\">Ballotpedia\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/10/2026/10/261018-PROPOSITIONPARTY-NG-15-KQED-02480242.jpg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-12107272\" srcset=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/10/261018-PROPOSITIONPARTY-NG-15-KQED-02480242.jpg 2000w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/10/261018-PROPOSITIONPARTY-NG-15-KQED-02480242-160x107.jpg 160w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/10/261018-PROPOSITIONPARTY-NG-15-KQED-02480242-1536x1024.jpg 1536w\" sizes=\"(min-width: 992px) min(100vw, 1536px), (min-width: 768px) min(100vw, 1280px), min(100vw, 1020px)\"/>\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">Lauren Schwartz speaks in support of San Francisco Proposition D during a proposition party at her home in San Francisco on Oct. 18, 2026.\u003ccite class=\"wp-inline-image-credit\"> (Nina Glick/KQED)\u003c/cite>\u003c/figcaption>\u003c/figure>\n",
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>Schwartz isn’t the only one who feels overwhelmed by the ballot: According to a September \u003ca href=\"https://www.ppic.org/publication/ppic-statewide-survey-californians-and-their-government-september-2026/?_gl=1*2vift5*_gcl_au*MTU3MjQxNDAxOS4xNzkzMDQ5NDU1\">poll\u003c/a> by the Public Policy Institute of California, nearly 80% of likely California voters surveyed thought the ballot had too many propositions. \u003c/p>\n",
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>For over 20 years, Schwartz, a 61-year-old mother of two who lives in the city’s Monterey Heights neighborhood, has hosted ballot parties to help her and her friends dissect their ballots. The party is so popular that Schwartz has to keep a strict guest list. Only so many people can fit into her living room, she said.\u003c/p>\n",
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"\n\u003cp>For over 20 years, Schwartz, a 61-year-old mother of two who lives in the city’s Monterey Heights neighborhood, has hosted ballot parties to help her and her friends dissect their ballots. The party is so popular that Schwartz has to keep a strict guest list. Only so many people can fit into her living room, she said.\u003c/p>\n"
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>“Everybody that hears about it wishes they could come. People have FOMO about this party,” Schwartz said. \u003c/p>\n",
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>On a Sunday evening in mid-October, around 11 people —mostly other parents she met at her kids’ former middle school — tucked into Schwartz’s living room, seated in a circle on every available chair and couch in the house. Over a potluck dinner of chili, cornbread and salad, they dove into their election materials. \u003c/p>\n",
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>One attendee, glass of wine in hand, asked, “ Why is San Francisco being charged more than the other counties?” referring to this election’s \u003ca href=\"https://www.kqed.org/voterguide/california/regional-measure-rtm\">Regional Transit Measure\u003c/a>, a regional sales tax to support local transit agencies.\u003c/p>\n",
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>“Because there are more rich people here?” another guest said.\u003c/p>\n",
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>“Because we have more public transit here?” someone else said.\u003c/p>\n",
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>Schwartz said her parties can last hours. Each guest volunteered to explain the pros and cons of a certain measure — which Schwartz assigned them to research ahead of the party. Guests had a variety of perspectives, both for, against and somewhere in between on San Francisco’s \u003ca href=\"https://www.kqed.org/voterguide/sanfrancisco/proposition-g\">Proposition G\u003c/a> — whether to reopen San Francisco’s Great Highway to cars. \u003c/p>\n",
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"\n\u003cp>Schwartz said her parties can last hours. Each guest volunteered to explain the pros and cons of a certain measure — which Schwartz assigned them to research ahead of the party. Guests had a variety of perspectives, both for, against and somewhere in between on San Francisco’s \u003ca href=\"https://www.kqed.org/voterguide/sanfrancisco/proposition-g\">Proposition G\u003c/a> — whether to reopen San Francisco’s Great Highway to cars. \u003c/p>\n"
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>Cara Pellegrini said she has been coming to Schwartz’s parties for over five years, and that they have become part of her voting process. This is the second ballot party she’s attended this election. \u003c/p>\n",
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"\n\u003cp>Cara Pellegrini said she has been coming to Schwartz’s parties for over five years, and that they have become part of her voting process. This is the second ballot party she’s attended this election. \u003c/p>\n"
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>“ This is one step in many in how we think about some of these issues. The more different perspectives I hear, I think it’s really useful,” Pellegrini said. \u003c/p>\n",
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>While Schwartz has thrown ballot parties on her own, this year she sought help from the San Francisco-based company Sway, a nonpartisan online voting group platform. It helped distribute her group’s recommendations to a wider audience. \u003c/p>\n",
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"\n\u003cp>While Schwartz has thrown ballot parties on her own, this year she sought help from the San Francisco-based company Sway, a nonpartisan online voting group platform. It helped distribute her group’s recommendations to a wider audience. \u003c/p>\n"
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>“ I’ve had several friends say, ‘I wanna come,’ and I’m like, ‘No, no, no. We don’t have the room. You can sign up for Sway,’” Schwartz said. \u003c/p>\n",
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"\n\u003cp>“ I’ve had several friends say, ‘I wanna come,’ and I’m like, ‘No, no, no. We don’t have the room. You can sign up for Sway,’” Schwartz said. \u003c/p>\n"
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>Sway is a \u003ca href=\"https://delcode.delaware.gov/title8/c001/sc15/\">public benefit corporation\u003c/a>, a for-profit company registered in Delaware, that works to benefit both its shareholders and a stated public good. The website allows its users to create and join “voting groups” based on shared values. \u003c/p>\n",
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>“Particularly in places like California, where there’s so much ballot complexity, getting together in a group and talking through each one of these propositions and the implications is really important,” said Claire Shorall, CEO and co-founder of Sway.\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/10/2026/10/261018-PROPOSITIONPARTY-NG-12-KQED-ad6581b7.jpg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-12107271\"/>\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">Dave Sheer speaks about San Francisco Proposition C during a proposition party in San Francisco on Oct. 18, 2026.\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/10/2026/10/261018-PROPOSITIONPARTY-NG-12-KQED-ad6581b7.jpg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-12107271\"/>\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">Dave Sheer speaks about San Francisco Proposition C during a proposition party in San Francisco on Oct. 18, 2026.\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/10/2026/10/261027-PROPOSITIONPARTY-NG-16-KQED-1f6247f7.jpg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-12107279\"/>\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">An attendee writes notes during a ballot party at New Life Community Church in Oakland on Oct. 27, 2026.\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/10/2026/10/261027-PROPOSITIONPARTY-NG-10-KQED-f776498a.jpg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-12107277\"/>\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">Attendees watch a video in which former Congresswoman Katie Porter advocates for voters to vote no on Proposition 40 at a ballot party at New Life Community Church in Oakland on Oct. 27, 2026.\u003c/figcaption>\u003c/figure>\n",
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"\n\u003cfigure class=\"wp-block-image size-large\">\u003cimg src=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/10/261027-PROPOSITIONPARTY-NG-10-KQED-f776498a.jpg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-12107277\"/>\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">Attendees watch a video in which former Congresswoman Katie Porter advocates for voters to vote no on Proposition 40 at a ballot party at New Life Community Church in Oakland on Oct. 27, 2026.\u003c/figcaption>\u003c/figure>\n"
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cfigure class=\"wp-block-image size-full\">\u003cimg src=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/10/261027-PROPOSITIONPARTY-NG-31-KQED-40f5f858.jpg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-12107284\"/>\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">Cheryl Wilson looks at her ballot during a ballot party at New Life Community Church in Oakland on Oct. 27, 2026.\u003c/figcaption>\u003c/figure>\n",
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>The platform aims to increase the political influence of its users, so that any one voting group can amass the same power as special interest groups or lobbyists. \u003c/p>\n",
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"\n\u003cp>The platform aims to increase the political influence of its users, so that any one voting group can amass the same power as special interest groups or lobbyists. \u003c/p>\n"
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>One voting group, called “\u003ca href=\"https://www.sway.co/allies-against-aipac?ref=k3cgttyn\">Allies Against AIPAC\u003c/a>,” has over 10,000 registered voters, and it focuses on recommending a nationwide slate of candidates who don’t accept money from the American Israel Public Affairs Committee. Another group called “\u003ca href=\"https://www.sway.co/no-mrna?ref=k3cgttyn\">Pull mRNA Shots Off the Market\u003c/a>” has 44 members and supports candidates who want to discontinue access to mRNA vaccines. \u003c/p>\n",
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"\n\u003cp>One voting group, called “\u003ca href=\"https://www.sway.co/allies-against-aipac?ref=k3cgttyn\">Allies Against AIPAC\u003c/a>,” has over 10,000 registered voters, and it focuses on recommending a nationwide slate of candidates who don’t accept money from the American Israel Public Affairs Committee. Another group called “\u003ca href=\"https://www.sway.co/no-mrna?ref=k3cgttyn\">Pull mRNA Shots Off the Market\u003c/a>” has 44 members and supports candidates who want to discontinue access to mRNA vaccines. \u003c/p>\n"
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>If a voting group is able to reach 25 users, an organizer can apply for a $500 credit card from Sway to go toward buying food, supplies or a venue to host a ballot party. (Schwartz’s group, simply called “\u003ca href=\"https://www.sway.co/sfpropositionparty?ref=k3cgttyn\">SF Proposition Party\u003c/a>,” has 26 members but did not apply for the offer.) \u003c/p>\n",
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"\n\u003cp>If a voting group is able to reach 25 users, an organizer can apply for a $500 credit card from Sway to go toward buying food, supplies or a venue to host a ballot party. (Schwartz’s group, simply called “\u003ca href=\"https://www.sway.co/sfpropositionparty?ref=k3cgttyn\">SF Proposition Party\u003c/a>,” has 26 members but did not apply for the offer.) \u003c/p>\n"
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>The company formed in February 2025 — this is its first general election — and is funded by venture capital firms Neo, Long Journey Ventures and “a few angel investors,” according to a company FAQ page. The company does not currently make a profit, Shorall said.\u003c/p>\n",
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"\n\u003cp>The company formed in February 2025 — this is its first general election — and is funded by venture capital firms Neo, Long Journey Ventures and “a few angel investors,” according to a company FAQ page. The company does not currently make a profit, Shorall said.\u003c/p>\n"
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>She said the ballot parties have been a “major hit:” Out of the nearly 7,000 voting groups on Sway, over 2,700 have applied to host one — although just over 250 nationwide hit the participant threshold necessary to receive the $500 credit card. The most Sway-sponsored ballot parties this election were in Texas, with 48; California was second with 36, according to the company. \u003c/p>\n",
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"\n\u003cp>She said the ballot parties have been a “major hit:” Out of the nearly 7,000 voting groups on Sway, over 2,700 have applied to host one — although just over 250 nationwide hit the participant threshold necessary to receive the $500 credit card. The most Sway-sponsored ballot parties this election were in Texas, with 48; California was second with 36, according to the company. \u003c/p>\n"
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>California voters feeling unprepared or uninformed about ballot issues is a problem that can contribute to low voter turnout and \u003ca href=\"https://www.ppic.org/publication/race-and-voting-in-california/\">disparities in voting\u003c/a> among different demographic groups, said Josh Clark, a senior social scientist at UC Berkeley’s Othering & Belonging Institute. He’s a qualitative researcher who studies why different demographic or socioeconomic groups vote more or less than others and which types of interventions are effective in improving turnout. \u003c/p>\n",
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>“ People often who are on the fence about voting or who vote only inconsistently express a lack of confidence in their own knowledge or their own preparedness to vote,” Clark said, adding that voter focus groups in California often express feeling unprepared when it comes to the state’s ballot initiatives. \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/10/2026/10/261027-PROPOSITIONPARTY-NG-13-KQED-89516359.jpg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-12107278\"/>\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">Michelle Mabry looks at her unfinished ballot during a ballot party at New Life Community Church in Oakland on Oct. 27, 2026.\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/10/2026/10/261027-PROPOSITIONPARTY-NG-13-KQED-89516359.jpg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-12107278\"/>\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">Michelle Mabry looks at her unfinished ballot during a ballot party at New Life Community Church in Oakland on Oct. 27, 2026.\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/10/2026/10/261027-PROPOSITIONPARTY-NG-5-KQED-c6e51cfb.jpg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-12107275\"/>\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">Kimberly Walker-Moree wears a voting pin at a ballot party at New Life Community Church in Oakland on Oct. 27, 2026.\u003c/figcaption>\u003c/figure>\n",
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>Those disparities are worse in midterm elections, Clark said. Just shy of \u003ca href=\"https://elections.cdn.sos.ca.gov/sov/2022-general/sov/03-voter-participation-stats-by-county.pdf\">42%\u003c/a> of eligible voters in California actually voted in the 2022 midterm general election, as opposed to nearly \u003ca href=\"https://admin.cdn.sos.ca.gov/elections/sov/2024-general/sov/03-voter-participation-stats-by-county.pdf\">60%\u003c/a> in the 2024 presidential general election, according to the California Secretary of State. \u003c/p>\n",
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"\n\u003cp>Those disparities are worse in midterm elections, Clark said. Just shy of \u003ca href=\"https://elections.cdn.sos.ca.gov/sov/2022-general/sov/03-voter-participation-stats-by-county.pdf\">42%\u003c/a> of eligible voters in California actually voted in the 2022 midterm general election, as opposed to nearly \u003ca href=\"https://admin.cdn.sos.ca.gov/elections/sov/2024-general/sov/03-voter-participation-stats-by-county.pdf\">60%\u003c/a> in the 2024 presidential general election, according to the California Secretary of State. \u003c/p>\n"
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>Clark said he’s been aware of ballot parties since 2016, when there were 17 statewide ballot propositions on California’s November ballot. These gatherings can help combat a reluctance to vote, he said.\u003c/p>\n",
"innerContent": [
"\n\u003cp>Clark said he’s been aware of ballot parties since 2016, when there were 17 statewide ballot propositions on California’s November ballot. These gatherings can help combat a reluctance to vote, he said.\u003c/p>\n"
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>“ If you’re someone who is connected to a network or community of people where voting is the norm, then you can find voter guides, you can join ballot parties, and those are great,” he said.\u003c/p>\n",
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"\n\u003cp>“ If you’re someone who is connected to a network or community of people where voting is the norm, then you can find voter guides, you can join ballot parties, and those are great,” he said.\u003c/p>\n"
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>But the question on Clark’s mind that Sway and similar civically minded tech organizations should ask is: “How do you reach people who aren’t looking to be reached?” \u003c/p>\n",
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>“ My concern would be that this attracts someone who is already interested in learning about political issues and voting, and therefore, you aren’t going to reach a lot of people who are counting themselves out or feeling put off by the tenor of politics in the country,” he said. “Especially if those spaces are based on preexisting social networks.”\u003c/p>\n",
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"\n\u003cp>“ My concern would be that this attracts someone who is already interested in learning about political issues and voting, and therefore, you aren’t going to reach a lot of people who are counting themselves out or feeling put off by the tenor of politics in the country,” he said. “Especially if those spaces are based on preexisting social networks.”\u003c/p>\n"
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>Shorall said she’s received multiple emails from ballot party organizers who said someone voted for the first time as a result of one of the events.\u003c/p>\n",
"innerContent": [
"\n\u003cp>Shorall said she’s received multiple emails from ballot party organizers who said someone voted for the first time as a result of one of the events.\u003c/p>\n"
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>“ It is incumbent on us to create opportunities where people get to hear from folks that they already trust, and as much as possible, we tried to lower the barrier to entry,” she said.\u003c/p>\n",
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"\n\u003cp>“ It is incumbent on us to create opportunities where people get to hear from folks that they already trust, and as much as possible, we tried to lower the barrier to entry,” she said.\u003c/p>\n"
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"text": "Unpacking the Election At Church",
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>Tiffany Cowan of Alameda was scrolling on Instagram when she saw a post about someone who used Sway to host a ballot party. She said it was an “amazing idea,” and brought it to the pastor of her church, New Life Community Church in Oakland, who agreed.\u003c/p>\n",
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"\n\u003cp>Tiffany Cowan of Alameda was scrolling on Instagram when she saw a post about someone who used Sway to host a ballot party. She said it was an “amazing idea,” and brought it to the pastor of her church, New Life Community Church in Oakland, who agreed.\u003c/p>\n"
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp> ”Voting is a very high priority within our community,” Cowan said, adding that the church is made up predominantly of people of color. “ We wanted to create a space where people can be informed.”\u003c/p>\n",
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"\n\u003cp> ”Voting is a very high priority within our community,” Cowan said, adding that the church is made up predominantly of people of color. “ We wanted to create a space where people can be informed.”\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/10/2026/10/261027-PROPOSITIONPARTY-NG-9-KQED-6a340833.jpg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-12107276\" srcset=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/10/261027-PROPOSITIONPARTY-NG-9-KQED-6a340833.jpg 2000w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/10/261027-PROPOSITIONPARTY-NG-9-KQED-6a340833-160x107.jpg 160w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/10/261027-PROPOSITIONPARTY-NG-9-KQED-6a340833-1536x1024.jpg 1536w\" sizes=\"(min-width: 992px) min(100vw, 1536px), (min-width: 768px) min(100vw, 1280px), min(100vw, 1020px)\"/>\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">Organizer Tiffany Cowan speaks about how different advocacy groups are advising voters to vote on propositions during a ballot party at New Life Community Church in Oakland on Oct. 27, 2026.\u003ccite class=\"wp-inline-image-credit\"> (Nina Glick/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/10/2026/10/261027-PROPOSITIONPARTY-NG-9-KQED-6a340833.jpg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-12107276\"/>\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">Organizer Tiffany Cowan speaks about how different advocacy groups are advising voters to vote on propositions during a ballot party at New Life Community Church in Oakland on Oct. 27, 2026.\u003ccite class=\"wp-inline-image-credit\"> (Nina Glick/KQED)\u003c/cite>\u003c/figcaption>\u003c/figure>\n"
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>One week before the election, over 60 people — a mix of church members, neighbors and families — attended the church’s first-ever ballot party. \u003c/p>\n",
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>Michelle Mabry said she came because it was close to her house and was looking for support with her ballot. \u003c/p>\n",
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>“ It’s a very long ballot, and so I kind of need some direction,” she said. \u003c/p>\n",
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>In particular, Mabry wanted more information about controversial measures like \u003ca href=\"https://www.kqed.org/voterguide/california/proposition-40\">Proposition 40\u003c/a>, the proposed one-time wealth tax targeted at the state’s billionaires. After the party, she said the discussions answered some of her questions, but she said she still had some “homework” to do before she felt ready to vote.\u003c/p>\n",
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"\n\u003cp>In particular, Mabry wanted more information about controversial measures like \u003ca href=\"https://www.kqed.org/voterguide/california/proposition-40\">Proposition 40\u003c/a>, the proposed one-time wealth tax targeted at the state’s billionaires. After the party, she said the discussions answered some of her questions, but she said she still had some “homework” to do before she felt ready to vote.\u003c/p>\n"
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>Brian Harrison, a lifelong Oakland resident, said the state’s numerous propositions also motivated him to attend. \u003c/p>\n",
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>“ That is my biggest concern because they’re confusing. You’re hearing two different sides, and I don’t think I’m hearing a straight answer each time,” he said. “Hopefully, I get the answers I need to make the right decision.”\u003c/p>\n",
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"\n\u003cp>“ That is my biggest concern because they’re confusing. You’re hearing two different sides, and I don’t think I’m hearing a straight answer each time,” he said. “Hopefully, I get the answers I need to make the right decision.”\u003c/p>\n"
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"content": "\u003cdiv class=\"post-body\">\u003cp>\n\u003cp class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">To steel herself for the monumental task of \u003ca href=\"https://www.kqed.org/voterguide\">voting\u003c/a> in California, Lauren Schwartz broke out bowls of chili and voter guides, and invited her friends to her San Francisco home for her annual pre-election party. \u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">It’s BYOB. Bring-your-own-ballot. \u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"> ”We have an insane number of propositions, and it’s too much for one person to go through,” Schwartz said.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Voters in the Golden State this election are considering 14 statewide ballot measures — tied with Colorado for the second-most out of any state in the country, according to \u003ca href=\"https://ballotpedia.org/2026_ballot_measures#Trends\">Ballotpedia\u003c/a>. \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/10/2026/10/261018-PROPOSITIONPARTY-NG-15-KQED-02480242.jpg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-12107272\" srcset=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/10/261018-PROPOSITIONPARTY-NG-15-KQED-02480242.jpg 2000w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/10/261018-PROPOSITIONPARTY-NG-15-KQED-02480242-160x107.jpg 160w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/10/261018-PROPOSITIONPARTY-NG-15-KQED-02480242-1536x1024.jpg 1536w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 2000px) 100vw, 2000px\" />\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">Lauren Schwartz speaks in support of San Francisco Proposition D during a proposition party at her home in San Francisco on Oct. 18, 2026. (Nina Glick/KQED)\u003c/figcaption>\u003c/figure>\n\n\n\n\u003cp class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Schwartz isn’t the only one who feels overwhelmed by the ballot: According to a September \u003ca href=\"https://www.ppic.org/publication/ppic-statewide-survey-californians-and-their-government-september-2026/?_gl=1*2vift5*_gcl_au*MTU3MjQxNDAxOS4xNzkzMDQ5NDU1\">poll\u003c/a> by the Public Policy Institute of California, nearly 80% of likely California voters surveyed thought the ballot had too many propositions. \u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">For over 20 years, Schwartz, a 61-year-old mother of two who lives in the city’s Monterey Heights neighborhood, has hosted ballot parties to help her and her friends dissect their ballots. The party is so popular that Schwartz has to keep a strict guest list. Only so many people can fit into her living room, she said.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">“Everybody that hears about it wishes they could come. People have FOMO about this party,” Schwartz said. \u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">On a Sunday evening in mid-October, around 11 people —mostly other parents she met at her kids’ former middle school — tucked into Schwartz’s living room, seated in a circle on every available chair and couch in the house. Over a potluck dinner of chili, cornbread and salad, they dove into their election materials. \u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\u003cp class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">One attendee, glass of wine in hand, asked, “ Why is San Francisco being charged more than the other counties?” referring to this election’s \u003ca href=\"https://www.kqed.org/voterguide/california/regional-measure-rtm\">Regional Transit Measure\u003c/a>, a regional sales tax to support local transit agencies.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">“Because there are more rich people here?” another guest said.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">“Because we have more public transit here?” someone else said.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Schwartz said her parties can last hours. Each guest volunteered to explain the pros and cons of a certain measure — which Schwartz assigned them to research ahead of the party. Guests had a variety of perspectives, both for, against and somewhere in between on San Francisco’s \u003ca href=\"https://www.kqed.org/voterguide/sanfrancisco/proposition-g\">Proposition G\u003c/a> — whether to reopen San Francisco’s Great Highway to cars. \u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Cara Pellegrini said she has been coming to Schwartz’s parties for over five years, and that they have become part of her voting process. This is the second ballot party she’s attended this election. \u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">“ This is one step in many in how we think about some of these issues. The more different perspectives I hear, I think it’s really useful,” Pellegrini said. \u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">While Schwartz has thrown ballot parties on her own, this year she sought help from the San Francisco-based company Sway, a nonpartisan online voting group platform. It helped distribute her group’s recommendations to a wider audience. \u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">“ I’ve had several friends say, ‘I wanna come,’ and I’m like, ‘No, no, no. We don’t have the room. You can sign up for Sway,’” Schwartz said. \u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003ch2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">\u003cstrong>“A Major Hit”\u003c/strong>\u003c/h2>\n\n\n\n\u003cp class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Sway is a \u003ca href=\"https://delcode.delaware.gov/title8/c001/sc15/\">public benefit corporation\u003c/a>, a for-profit company registered in Delaware, that works to benefit both its shareholders and a stated public good. The website allows its users to create and join “voting groups” based on shared values. \u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">“Particularly in places like California, where there’s so much ballot complexity, getting together in a group and talking through each one of these propositions and the implications is really important,” said Claire Shorall, CEO and co-founder of Sway.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cfigure class=\"wp-block-gallery has-nested-images columns-default is-cropped wp-block-gallery-5 is-layout-flex wp-block-gallery-is-layout-flex\">\n\u003cfigure class=\"wp-block-image size-full\">\u003cimg loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"2000\" height=\"1333\" data-id=\"12107271\" src=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/10/261018-PROPOSITIONPARTY-NG-12-KQED-ad6581b7.jpg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-12107271\" srcset=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/10/261018-PROPOSITIONPARTY-NG-12-KQED-ad6581b7.jpg 2000w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/10/261018-PROPOSITIONPARTY-NG-12-KQED-ad6581b7-160x107.jpg 160w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/10/261018-PROPOSITIONPARTY-NG-12-KQED-ad6581b7-1536x1024.jpg 1536w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 2000px) 100vw, 2000px\" />\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">Dave Sheer speaks about San Francisco Proposition C during a proposition party in San Francisco on Oct. 18, 2026. (Nina Glick/KQED)\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=\"12107279\" src=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/10/261027-PROPOSITIONPARTY-NG-16-KQED-1f6247f7.jpg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-12107279\" srcset=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/10/261027-PROPOSITIONPARTY-NG-16-KQED-1f6247f7.jpg 2000w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/10/261027-PROPOSITIONPARTY-NG-16-KQED-1f6247f7-160x107.jpg 160w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/10/261027-PROPOSITIONPARTY-NG-16-KQED-1f6247f7-1536x1024.jpg 1536w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 2000px) 100vw, 2000px\" />\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">An attendee writes notes during a ballot party at New Life Community Church in Oakland on Oct. 27, 2026. (Nina Glick/KQED)\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=\"12107277\" src=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/10/261027-PROPOSITIONPARTY-NG-10-KQED-f776498a.jpg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-12107277\" srcset=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/10/261027-PROPOSITIONPARTY-NG-10-KQED-f776498a.jpg 2000w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/10/261027-PROPOSITIONPARTY-NG-10-KQED-f776498a-160x107.jpg 160w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/10/261027-PROPOSITIONPARTY-NG-10-KQED-f776498a-1536x1024.jpg 1536w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 2000px) 100vw, 2000px\" />\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">Attendees watch a video in which former Congresswoman Katie Porter advocates for voters to vote no on Proposition 40 at a ballot party at New Life Community Church in Oakland on Oct. 27, 2026. (Nina Glick/KQED)\u003c/figcaption>\u003c/figure>\n\n\n\n\u003cfigure class=\"wp-block-image size-full\">\u003cimg loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"2000\" height=\"1333\" data-id=\"12107284\" src=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/10/261027-PROPOSITIONPARTY-NG-31-KQED-40f5f858.jpg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-12107284\" srcset=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/10/261027-PROPOSITIONPARTY-NG-31-KQED-40f5f858.jpg 2000w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/10/261027-PROPOSITIONPARTY-NG-31-KQED-40f5f858-160x107.jpg 160w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/10/261027-PROPOSITIONPARTY-NG-31-KQED-40f5f858-1536x1024.jpg 1536w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 2000px) 100vw, 2000px\" />\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">Cheryl Wilson looks at her ballot during a ballot party at New Life Community Church in Oakland on Oct. 27, 2026.\u003c/figcaption>\u003c/figure>\n\u003c/figure>\n\n\n\n\u003cp class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">The platform aims to increase the political influence of its users, so that any one voting group can amass the same power as special interest groups or lobbyists. \u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">One voting group, called “\u003ca href=\"https://www.sway.co/allies-against-aipac?ref=k3cgttyn\">Allies Against AIPAC\u003c/a>,” has over 10,000 registered voters, and it focuses on recommending a nationwide slate of candidates who don’t accept money from the American Israel Public Affairs Committee. Another group called “\u003ca href=\"https://www.sway.co/no-mrna?ref=k3cgttyn\">Pull mRNA Shots Off the Market\u003c/a>” has 44 members and supports candidates who want to discontinue access to mRNA vaccines. \u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">If a voting group is able to reach 25 users, an organizer can apply for a $500 credit card from Sway to go toward buying food, supplies or a venue to host a ballot party. (Schwartz’s group, simply called “\u003ca href=\"https://www.sway.co/sfpropositionparty?ref=k3cgttyn\">SF Proposition Party\u003c/a>,” has 26 members but did not apply for the offer.) \u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">The company formed in February 2025 — this is its first general election — and is funded by venture capital firms Neo, Long Journey Ventures and “a few angel investors,” according to a company FAQ page. The company does not currently make a profit, Shorall said.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">She said the ballot parties have been a “major hit:” Out of the nearly 7,000 voting groups on Sway, over 2,700 have applied to host one — although just over 250 nationwide hit the participant threshold necessary to receive the $500 credit card. The most Sway-sponsored ballot parties this election were in Texas, with 48; California was second with 36, according to the company. \u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003ch2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">\u003cstrong>On the Fence\u003c/strong>\u003c/h2>\n\n\n\n\u003cp class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">California voters feeling unprepared or uninformed about ballot issues is a problem that can contribute to low voter turnout and \u003ca href=\"https://www.ppic.org/publication/race-and-voting-in-california/\">disparities in voting\u003c/a> among different demographic groups, said Josh Clark, a senior social scientist at UC Berkeley’s Othering & Belonging Institute. He’s a qualitative researcher who studies why different demographic or socioeconomic groups vote more or less than others and which types of interventions are effective in improving turnout. \u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">“ People often who are on the fence about voting or who vote only inconsistently express a lack of confidence in their own knowledge or their own preparedness to vote,” Clark said, adding that voter focus groups in California often express feeling unprepared when it comes to the state’s ballot initiatives. \u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cfigure class=\"wp-block-gallery has-nested-images columns-default is-cropped wp-block-gallery-6 is-layout-flex wp-block-gallery-is-layout-flex\">\n\u003cfigure class=\"wp-block-image size-full\">\u003cimg loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"2000\" height=\"1333\" data-id=\"12107278\" src=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/10/261027-PROPOSITIONPARTY-NG-13-KQED-89516359.jpg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-12107278\" srcset=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/10/261027-PROPOSITIONPARTY-NG-13-KQED-89516359.jpg 2000w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/10/261027-PROPOSITIONPARTY-NG-13-KQED-89516359-160x107.jpg 160w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/10/261027-PROPOSITIONPARTY-NG-13-KQED-89516359-1536x1024.jpg 1536w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 2000px) 100vw, 2000px\" />\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">Michelle Mabry looks at her unfinished ballot during a ballot party at New Life Community Church in Oakland on Oct. 27, 2026. (Nina Glick/KQED)\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=\"12107275\" src=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/10/261027-PROPOSITIONPARTY-NG-5-KQED-c6e51cfb.jpg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-12107275\" srcset=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/10/261027-PROPOSITIONPARTY-NG-5-KQED-c6e51cfb.jpg 2000w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/10/261027-PROPOSITIONPARTY-NG-5-KQED-c6e51cfb-160x107.jpg 160w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/10/261027-PROPOSITIONPARTY-NG-5-KQED-c6e51cfb-1536x1024.jpg 1536w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 2000px) 100vw, 2000px\" />\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">Kimberly Walker-Moree wears a voting pin at a ballot party at New Life Community Church in Oakland on Oct. 27, 2026. (Nina Glick/KQED)\u003c/figcaption>\u003c/figure>\n\u003c/figure>\n\n\n\n\u003cp class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Those disparities are worse in midterm elections, Clark said. Just shy of \u003ca href=\"https://elections.cdn.sos.ca.gov/sov/2022-general/sov/03-voter-participation-stats-by-county.pdf\">42%\u003c/a> of eligible voters in California actually voted in the 2022 midterm general election, as opposed to nearly \u003ca href=\"https://admin.cdn.sos.ca.gov/elections/sov/2024-general/sov/03-voter-participation-stats-by-county.pdf\">60%\u003c/a> in the 2024 presidential general election, according to the California Secretary of State. \u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Clark said he’s been aware of ballot parties since 2016, when there were 17 statewide ballot propositions on California’s November ballot. These gatherings can help combat a reluctance to vote, he said.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">“ If you’re someone who is connected to a network or community of people where voting is the norm, then you can find voter guides, you can join ballot parties, and those are great,” he said.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\u003cp class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">But the question on Clark’s mind that Sway and similar civically minded tech organizations should ask is: “How do you reach people who aren’t looking to be reached?” \u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">“ My concern would be that this attracts someone who is already interested in learning about political issues and voting, and therefore, you aren’t going to reach a lot of people who are counting themselves out or feeling put off by the tenor of politics in the country,” he said. “Especially if those spaces are based on preexisting social networks.”\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Shorall said she’s received multiple emails from ballot party organizers who said someone voted for the first time as a result of one of the events.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">“ It is incumbent on us to create opportunities where people get to hear from folks that they already trust, and as much as possible, we tried to lower the barrier to entry,” she said.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003ch2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Unpacking the Election At Church\u003c/h2>\n\n\n\n\u003cp class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Tiffany Cowan of Alameda was scrolling on Instagram when she saw a post about someone who used Sway to host a ballot party. She said it was an “amazing idea,” and brought it to the pastor of her church, New Life Community Church in Oakland, who agreed.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"> ”Voting is a very high priority within our community,” Cowan said, adding that the church is made up predominantly of people of color. “ We wanted to create a space where people can be informed.”\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/10/2026/10/261027-PROPOSITIONPARTY-NG-9-KQED-6a340833.jpg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-12107276\" srcset=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/10/261027-PROPOSITIONPARTY-NG-9-KQED-6a340833.jpg 2000w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/10/261027-PROPOSITIONPARTY-NG-9-KQED-6a340833-160x107.jpg 160w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/10/261027-PROPOSITIONPARTY-NG-9-KQED-6a340833-1536x1024.jpg 1536w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 2000px) 100vw, 2000px\" />\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">Organizer Tiffany Cowan speaks about how different advocacy groups are advising voters to vote on propositions during a ballot party at New Life Community Church in Oakland on Oct. 27, 2026. (Nina Glick/KQED)\u003c/figcaption>\u003c/figure>\n\n\n\n\u003cp class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">One week before the election, over 60 people — a mix of church members, neighbors and families — attended the church’s first-ever ballot party. \u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Michelle Mabry said she came because it was close to her house and was looking for support with her ballot. \u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">“ It’s a very long ballot, and so I kind of need some direction,” she said. \u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">In particular, Mabry wanted more information about controversial measures like \u003ca href=\"https://www.kqed.org/voterguide/california/proposition-40\">Proposition 40\u003c/a>, the proposed one-time wealth tax targeted at the state’s billionaires. After the party, she said the discussions answered some of her questions, but she said she still had some “homework” to do before she felt ready to vote.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Brian Harrison, a lifelong Oakland resident, said the state’s numerous propositions also motivated him to attend. \u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">“ That is my biggest concern because they’re confusing. You’re hearing two different sides, and I don’t think I’m hearing a straight answer each time,” he said. “Hopefully, I get the answers I need to make the right decision.”\u003c/p>\n\u003c/div>\u003c/p>",
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"slug": "where-to-vote-election-day-november-3-2026-california-governor-find-dropbox-near-me-where-is-my-polling-place",
"title": "Midterms 2026: Where to Vote on Election Day (and Why You Shouldn’t Mail Your Ballot)",
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"headTitle": "Midterms 2026: Where to Vote on Election Day (and Why You Shouldn’t Mail Your Ballot) | KQED",
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"content": "\n\u003cp class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Tuesday is \u003ca href=\"https://www.kqed.org/electionsnews\">Election Day\u003c/a> in California, so it’s your last chance to vote in the state’s general election — and to \u003ca href=\"https://www.kqed.org/voterguide/\">cast your vote\u003c/a> for who should be the next governor. \u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Luckily, you have lots of options for how to cast your vote on Election Day itself. \u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">One big thing to know: At this stage, officials say \u003ca href=\"https://www.kqed.org/news/12103028/should-you-use-usps-to-mail-your-midterm-ballot-heres-what-california-election-officials-say\">you should definitely \u003cem>not\u003c/em> mail your ballot\u003c/a> using a United States Postal Service mail collection box, since it now runs the risk of being postmarked too late to be counted.\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-ELECTIONSTOCKIMAGERY-09-BL-KQED-eb95111c.jpg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-12103668\" srcset=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/10/261008-ELECTIONSTOCKIMAGERY-09-BL-KQED-eb95111c.jpg 2000w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/10/261008-ELECTIONSTOCKIMAGERY-09-BL-KQED-eb95111c-160x107.jpg 160w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/10/261008-ELECTIONSTOCKIMAGERY-09-BL-KQED-eb95111c-1536x1024.jpg 1536w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 2000px) 100vw, 2000px\" />\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">A vote-by-mail ballot for the Nov. 3, 2026, general election on Oct. 8, 2026. (Beth LaBerge/KQED)\u003c/figcaption>\u003c/figure>\n\n\n\n\u003cp class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Keep reading for all the ways you can vote on Tuesday. If you’re still wanting to learn more about the candidates and measures on your ballot, including the candidates vying for state governor, \u003ca href=\"https://www.kqed.org/voterguide\">take a look at our comprehensive KQED voter guide.\u003c/a>\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">And if you’ve already filled out your ballot but you’re worried you’ve made a mistake, read \u003ca href=\"https://www.kqed.org/news/12103115/california-midterms-elections-2026-vote-for-governor-ballot-signature-how-to-correct-mistake\">our guide on addressing common ballot errors\u003c/a> before you submit it. The good news: If you’re \u003cem>really\u003c/em> concerned, you still have options to get a fresh ballot or vote in person, even on Tuesday.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003ch2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">I’ve filled out my ballot. Where can I submit it?\u003c/h2>\n\n\n\n\u003cp class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">First, \u003ca href=\"https://www.kqed.org/news/12103115/california-midterms-elections-2026-vote-for-governor-ballot-signature-how-to-correct-mistake\">make sure you’ve signed the back\u003c/a> of your ballot and included the right date and your address. (It can be easy to forget when you’re rushing.) Then:\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">\u003cstrong>Find a secure election drop box near you\u003c/strong>\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">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 “Drop Off Location” box.\u003c/li>\n\n\n\n\u003cli>Hit “Search” to see all the drop-off locations in that area.\u003c/li>\n\u003c/ul>\n\n\n\n\u003cp class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">\u003cstrong>Submit it at a voting location near you\u003c/strong>\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Use the \u003ca href=\"https://caearlyvoting.sos.ca.gov/\">state of California lookup tool\u003c/a> and check the “Early Voting” box to see all the Election Day voting locations near you. You can then take your ballot to one of these locations and hand-deliver it there and then.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\u003cp class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Another perk of dropping off your ballot at a voting location during operating hours: If 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/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">\u003cstrong>Do not mail your ballot using USPS on Tuesday\u003c/strong>\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Remember: State officials — and USPS — stress that \u003ca href=\"https://www.kqed.org/news/12103028/should-you-use-usps-to-mail-your-midterm-ballot-heres-what-california-election-officials-say\">you shouldn’t \u003cem>mail\u003c/em> your ballot on Election Day\u003c/a>, because there’s a real risk it might be postmarked too late for it to be counted at this stage. \u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Instead, find a secure official election drop box or take it to an open voting location and submit it there. You can also take it to the counter at an open post office on Tuesday and ask them to postmark it for Tuesday.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">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>, for reassurance that it’s on its way to being counted.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003ch2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">\u003cstrong>Where can I vote in person on Election Day?\u003c/strong>\u003c/h2>\n\n\n\n\u003cp class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Until 8 p.m. on Election Day, you can cast a ballot in person in every Bay Area county. \u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">That includes 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 class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">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\u003cp class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">\u003cstrong>If you live in San Francisco, Contra Costa or Solano counties:\u003c/strong>\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">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 class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">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 class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">\u003cstrong>If you live in Alameda, Marin, Napa, San Mateo, Santa Clara or Sonoma counties:\u003c/strong>\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">You can vote at any voting location — known as Vote Centers — in the county, including your county registrar’s office.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">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 class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">\u003cstrong>Do I need to bring my ballot with me?\u003c/strong>\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">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 class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">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\">\u003cstrong>I still need to register to vote. Can I do this on Election Day?\u003c/strong>\u003c/h2>\n\n\n\n\u003cp class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">If you’ve changed your name or would like to change the political party choice that you previously registered to vote with, or you’ve moved addresses, 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 class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">You can’t do this online on Election Day, but 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 polls close at 8 p.m. on Tuesday.\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-ELECTIONSTOCKIMAGERY-14-BL-KQED-25395098.jpg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-12103669\" srcset=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/10/261008-ELECTIONSTOCKIMAGERY-14-BL-KQED-25395098.jpg 2000w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/10/261008-ELECTIONSTOCKIMAGERY-14-BL-KQED-25395098-160x107.jpg 160w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/10/261008-ELECTIONSTOCKIMAGERY-14-BL-KQED-25395098-1536x1024.jpg 1536w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 2000px) 100vw, 2000px\" />\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">A vote-by-mail ballot for the Nov. 3, 2026, general election on Oct. 8, 2026. (Beth LaBerge/KQED)\u003c/figcaption>\u003c/figure>\n\n\n\n\u003cp class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">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\">\u003cstrong>I’m a registered voter, but my ballot never showed up. What should I do?\u003c/strong>\u003c/h2>\n\n\n\n\u003cp class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Don’t worry: You have time — and several options — to fix things and make sure you get to cast your vote by the time polls close at 8 p.m. on Tuesday. But you’ll need to take action in person by visiting your county elections office or polling location.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">\u003ca href=\"https://www.kqed.org/news/12105086/wheres-my-ballot-midterm-election-2026-need-replacement-ballot-vote-for-governor\">Read our guide on how you can still vote\u003c/a> if your ballot never arrived in the mail.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003ch2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">\u003cstrong>How can I contact my county directly about voting?\u003c/strong>\u003c/h2>\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 class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">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>Tuesday is \u003ca href=\"https://www.kqed.org/electionsnews\">Election Day\u003c/a> in California, so it’s your last chance to vote in the state’s general election — and to \u003ca href=\"https://www.kqed.org/voterguide/\">cast your vote\u003c/a> for who should be the next governor. \u003c/p>\n",
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"\n\u003cp>Tuesday is \u003ca href=\"https://www.kqed.org/electionsnews\">Election Day\u003c/a> in California, so it’s your last chance to vote in the state’s general election — and to \u003ca href=\"https://www.kqed.org/voterguide/\">cast your vote\u003c/a> for who should be the next governor. \u003c/p>\n"
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>Luckily, you have lots of options for how to cast your vote on Election Day itself. \u003c/p>\n",
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"\n\u003cp>Luckily, you have lots of options for how to cast your vote on Election Day itself. \u003c/p>\n"
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>One big thing to know: At this stage, officials say \u003ca href=\"https://www.kqed.org/news/12103028/should-you-use-usps-to-mail-your-midterm-ballot-heres-what-california-election-officials-say\">you should definitely \u003cem>not\u003c/em> mail your ballot\u003c/a> using a United States Postal Service mail collection box, since it now runs the risk of being postmarked too late to be counted.\u003c/p>\n",
"innerContent": [
"\n\u003cp>One big thing to know: At this stage, officials say \u003ca href=\"https://www.kqed.org/news/12103028/should-you-use-usps-to-mail-your-midterm-ballot-heres-what-california-election-officials-say\">you should definitely \u003cem>not\u003c/em> mail your ballot\u003c/a> using a United States Postal Service mail collection box, since it now runs the risk of being postmarked too late to be counted.\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-ELECTIONSTOCKIMAGERY-09-BL-KQED-eb95111c.jpg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-12103668\" srcset=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/10/261008-ELECTIONSTOCKIMAGERY-09-BL-KQED-eb95111c.jpg 2000w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/10/261008-ELECTIONSTOCKIMAGERY-09-BL-KQED-eb95111c-160x107.jpg 160w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/10/261008-ELECTIONSTOCKIMAGERY-09-BL-KQED-eb95111c-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 vote-by-mail ballot for the Nov. 3, 2026, general election on Oct. 8, 2026.\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/10/2026/10/261008-ELECTIONSTOCKIMAGERY-09-BL-KQED-eb95111c.jpg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-12103668\"/>\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">A vote-by-mail ballot for the Nov. 3, 2026, general election on Oct. 8, 2026.\u003ccite class=\"wp-inline-image-credit\"> (Beth LaBerge/KQED)\u003c/cite>\u003c/figcaption>\u003c/figure>\n"
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>Keep reading for all the ways you can vote on Tuesday. If you’re still wanting to learn more about the candidates and measures on your ballot, including the candidates vying for state governor, \u003ca href=\"https://www.kqed.org/voterguide\">take a look at our comprehensive KQED voter guide.\u003c/a>\u003c/p>\n",
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"\n\u003cp>Keep reading for all the ways you can vote on Tuesday. If you’re still wanting to learn more about the candidates and measures on your ballot, including the candidates vying for state governor, \u003ca href=\"https://www.kqed.org/voterguide\">take a look at our comprehensive KQED voter guide.\u003c/a>\u003c/p>\n"
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>And if you’ve already filled out your ballot but you’re worried you’ve made a mistake, read \u003ca href=\"https://www.kqed.org/news/12103115/california-midterms-elections-2026-vote-for-governor-ballot-signature-how-to-correct-mistake\">our guide on addressing common ballot errors\u003c/a> before you submit it. The good news: If you’re \u003cem>really\u003c/em> concerned, you still have options to get a fresh ballot or vote in person, even on Tuesday.\u003c/p>\n",
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"\n\u003cp>And if you’ve already filled out your ballot but you’re worried you’ve made a mistake, read \u003ca href=\"https://www.kqed.org/news/12103115/california-midterms-elections-2026-vote-for-governor-ballot-signature-how-to-correct-mistake\">our guide on addressing common ballot errors\u003c/a> before you submit it. The good news: If you’re \u003cem>really\u003c/em> concerned, you still have options to get a fresh ballot or vote in person, even on Tuesday.\u003c/p>\n"
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"blockName": "core/heading",
"attrs": {
"text": "I’ve filled out my ballot. Where can I submit it?",
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003ch2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">I’ve filled out my ballot. Where can I submit it?\u003c/h2>\n",
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>First, \u003ca href=\"https://www.kqed.org/news/12103115/california-midterms-elections-2026-vote-for-governor-ballot-signature-how-to-correct-mistake\">make sure you’ve signed the back\u003c/a> of your ballot and included the right date and your address. (It can be easy to forget when you’re rushing.) Then:\u003c/p>\n",
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"\n\u003cp>First, \u003ca href=\"https://www.kqed.org/news/12103115/california-midterms-elections-2026-vote-for-governor-ballot-signature-how-to-correct-mistake\">make sure you’ve signed the back\u003c/a> of your ballot and included the right date and your address. (It can be easy to forget when you’re rushing.) Then:\u003c/p>\n"
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Find a secure election drop box near you\u003c/strong>\u003c/p>\n",
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"\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Find a secure election drop box near you\u003c/strong>\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",
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"\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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"innerHTML": "\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>Hit “Search” to see all the drop-off locations in that area.\u003c/li>\n",
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>Use the \u003ca href=\"https://caearlyvoting.sos.ca.gov/\">state of California lookup tool\u003c/a> and check the “Early Voting” box to see all the Election Day voting locations near you. You can then take your ballot to one of these locations and hand-deliver it there and then.\u003c/p>\n",
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"\n\u003cp>Use the \u003ca href=\"https://caearlyvoting.sos.ca.gov/\">state of California lookup tool\u003c/a> and check the “Early Voting” box to see all the Election Day voting locations near you. You can then take your ballot to one of these locations and hand-deliver it there and then.\u003c/p>\n"
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>Another perk of dropping off your ballot at a voting location during operating hours: If 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/p>\n",
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"\n\u003cp>Another perk of dropping off your ballot at a voting location during operating hours: If 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/p>\n"
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Do not mail your ballot using USPS on Tuesday\u003c/strong>\u003c/p>\n",
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>Remember: State officials — and USPS — stress that \u003ca href=\"https://www.kqed.org/news/12103028/should-you-use-usps-to-mail-your-midterm-ballot-heres-what-california-election-officials-say\">you shouldn’t \u003cem>mail\u003c/em> your ballot on Election Day\u003c/a>, because there’s a real risk it might be postmarked too late for it to be counted at this stage. \u003c/p>\n",
"innerContent": [
"\n\u003cp>Remember: State officials — and USPS — stress that \u003ca href=\"https://www.kqed.org/news/12103028/should-you-use-usps-to-mail-your-midterm-ballot-heres-what-california-election-officials-say\">you shouldn’t \u003cem>mail\u003c/em> your ballot on Election Day\u003c/a>, because there’s a real risk it might be postmarked too late for it to be counted at this stage. \u003c/p>\n"
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>Instead, find a secure official election drop box or take it to an open voting location and submit it there. You can also take it to the counter at an open post office on Tuesday and ask them to postmark it for Tuesday.\u003c/p>\n",
"innerContent": [
"\n\u003cp>Instead, find a secure official election drop box or take it to an open voting location and submit it there. You can also take it to the counter at an open post office on Tuesday and ask them to postmark it for Tuesday.\u003c/p>\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>, for reassurance that 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>, for reassurance that it’s on its way to being counted.\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\">\u003cstrong>Where can I vote in person on Election Day?\u003c/strong>\u003c/h2>\n",
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"\n\u003ch2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">\u003cstrong>Where can I vote in person on Election Day?\u003c/strong>\u003c/h2>\n"
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>Until 8 p.m. on Election Day, you can cast a ballot in person in every Bay Area county. \u003c/p>\n",
"innerContent": [
"\n\u003cp>Until 8 p.m. on Election Day, you can cast a ballot in person in every Bay Area county. \u003c/p>\n"
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>That includes 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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"\n\u003cp>That includes 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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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>If you live in San Francisco, Contra Costa or Solano counties:\u003c/strong>\u003c/p>\n",
"innerContent": [
"\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 — in the county, including your county registrar’s office.\u003c/p>\n",
"innerContent": [
"\n\u003cp>You can vote at any voting location — known as Vote Centers — in the county, 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",
"innerContent": [
"\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",
"innerContent": [
"\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. Can I do this on Election Day?",
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003ch2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">\u003cstrong>I still need to register to vote. Can I do this on Election Day?\u003c/strong>\u003c/h2>\n",
"innerContent": [
"\n\u003ch2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">\u003cstrong>I still need to register to vote. Can I do this on Election Day?\u003c/strong>\u003c/h2>\n"
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>If you’ve changed your name or would like to change the political party choice that you previously registered to vote with, or you’ve moved addresses, you’ll need to \u003ca href=\"https://www.sos.ca.gov/elections/voter-registration/\">re-register\u003c/a>.\u003c/p>\n",
"innerContent": [
"\n\u003cp>If you’ve changed your name or would like to change the political party choice that you previously registered to vote with, or you’ve moved addresses, 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>You can’t do this online on Election Day, but 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 polls close at 8 p.m. on Tuesday.\u003c/p>\n",
"innerContent": [
"\n\u003cp>You can’t do this online on Election Day, but 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 polls close at 8 p.m. on Tuesday.\u003c/p>\n"
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"srcset": "https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/10/261008-ELECTIONSTOCKIMAGERY-14-BL-KQED-25395098.jpg 2000w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/10/261008-ELECTIONSTOCKIMAGERY-14-BL-KQED-25395098-160x107.jpg 160w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/10/261008-ELECTIONSTOCKIMAGERY-14-BL-KQED-25395098-1536x1024.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/10/2026/10/261008-ELECTIONSTOCKIMAGERY-14-BL-KQED-25395098.jpg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-12103669\" srcset=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/10/261008-ELECTIONSTOCKIMAGERY-14-BL-KQED-25395098.jpg 2000w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/10/261008-ELECTIONSTOCKIMAGERY-14-BL-KQED-25395098-160x107.jpg 160w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/10/261008-ELECTIONSTOCKIMAGERY-14-BL-KQED-25395098-1536x1024.jpg 1536w\" sizes=\"(min-width: 992px) min(100vw, 1536px), (min-width: 768px) min(100vw, 1280px), min(100vw, 1020px)\"/>\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">A vote-by-mail ballot for the Nov. 3, 2026, general election on Oct. 8, 2026.\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/10/2026/10/261008-ELECTIONSTOCKIMAGERY-14-BL-KQED-25395098.jpg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-12103669\"/>\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">A vote-by-mail ballot for the Nov. 3, 2026, general election on Oct. 8, 2026.\u003ccite class=\"wp-inline-image-credit\"> (Beth LaBerge/KQED)\u003c/cite>\u003c/figcaption>\u003c/figure>\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": "I’m a registered voter, but my ballot never showed up. What should I do?",
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003ch2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">\u003cstrong>I’m a registered voter, but my ballot never showed up. What should I do?\u003c/strong>\u003c/h2>\n",
"innerContent": [
"\n\u003ch2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">\u003cstrong>I’m a registered voter, but my ballot never showed up. What should I do?\u003c/strong>\u003c/h2>\n"
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>Don’t worry: You have time — and several options — to fix things and make sure you get to cast your vote by the time polls close at 8 p.m. on Tuesday. But you’ll need to take action in person by visiting your county elections office or polling location.\u003c/p>\n",
"innerContent": [
"\n\u003cp>Don’t worry: You have time — and several options — to fix things and make sure you get to cast your vote by the time polls close at 8 p.m. on Tuesday. But you’ll need to take action in person by visiting your county elections office or polling location.\u003c/p>\n"
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>\u003ca href=\"https://www.kqed.org/news/12105086/wheres-my-ballot-midterm-election-2026-need-replacement-ballot-vote-for-governor\">Read our guide on how you can still vote\u003c/a> if your ballot never arrived in the mail.\u003c/p>\n",
"innerContent": [
"\n\u003cp>\u003ca href=\"https://www.kqed.org/news/12105086/wheres-my-ballot-midterm-election-2026-need-replacement-ballot-vote-for-governor\">Read our guide on how you can still vote\u003c/a> if your ballot never arrived in the mail.\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\">\u003cstrong>How can I contact my county directly about voting?\u003c/strong>\u003c/h2>\n",
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"\n\u003ch2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">\u003cstrong>How can I contact my county directly about voting?\u003c/strong>\u003c/h2>\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",
"innerContent": [
"\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",
"innerContent": [
"\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",
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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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"excerpt": "Where to vote on Tuesday — and how to make sure you submit your ballot in time to be counted.",
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"title": "Midterms 2026: Where to Vote on Election Day (and Why You Shouldn’t Mail Your Ballot) | KQED",
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"headline": "Midterms 2026: Where to Vote on Election Day (and Why You Shouldn’t Mail Your Ballot)",
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"content": "\u003cdiv class=\"post-body\">\u003cp>\n\u003cp class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Tuesday is \u003ca href=\"https://www.kqed.org/electionsnews\">Election Day\u003c/a> in California, so it’s your last chance to vote in the state’s general election — and to \u003ca href=\"https://www.kqed.org/voterguide/\">cast your vote\u003c/a> for who should be the next governor. \u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Luckily, you have lots of options for how to cast your vote on Election Day itself. \u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">One big thing to know: At this stage, officials say \u003ca href=\"https://www.kqed.org/news/12103028/should-you-use-usps-to-mail-your-midterm-ballot-heres-what-california-election-officials-say\">you should definitely \u003cem>not\u003c/em> mail your ballot\u003c/a> using a United States Postal Service mail collection box, since it now runs the risk of being postmarked too late to be counted.\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-ELECTIONSTOCKIMAGERY-09-BL-KQED-eb95111c.jpg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-12103668\" srcset=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/10/261008-ELECTIONSTOCKIMAGERY-09-BL-KQED-eb95111c.jpg 2000w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/10/261008-ELECTIONSTOCKIMAGERY-09-BL-KQED-eb95111c-160x107.jpg 160w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/10/261008-ELECTIONSTOCKIMAGERY-09-BL-KQED-eb95111c-1536x1024.jpg 1536w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 2000px) 100vw, 2000px\" />\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">A vote-by-mail ballot for the Nov. 3, 2026, general election on Oct. 8, 2026. (Beth LaBerge/KQED)\u003c/figcaption>\u003c/figure>\n\n\n\n\u003cp class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Keep reading for all the ways you can vote on Tuesday. If you’re still wanting to learn more about the candidates and measures on your ballot, including the candidates vying for state governor, \u003ca href=\"https://www.kqed.org/voterguide\">take a look at our comprehensive KQED voter guide.\u003c/a>\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">And if you’ve already filled out your ballot but you’re worried you’ve made a mistake, read \u003ca href=\"https://www.kqed.org/news/12103115/california-midterms-elections-2026-vote-for-governor-ballot-signature-how-to-correct-mistake\">our guide on addressing common ballot errors\u003c/a> before you submit it. The good news: If you’re \u003cem>really\u003c/em> concerned, you still have options to get a fresh ballot or vote in person, even on Tuesday.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003ch2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">I’ve filled out my ballot. Where can I submit it?\u003c/h2>\n\n\n\n\u003cp class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">First, \u003ca href=\"https://www.kqed.org/news/12103115/california-midterms-elections-2026-vote-for-governor-ballot-signature-how-to-correct-mistake\">make sure you’ve signed the back\u003c/a> of your ballot and included the right date and your address. (It can be easy to forget when you’re rushing.) Then:\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">\u003cstrong>Find a secure election drop box near you\u003c/strong>\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">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 “Drop Off Location” box.\u003c/li>\n\n\n\n\u003cli>Hit “Search” to see all the drop-off locations in that area.\u003c/li>\n\u003c/ul>\n\n\n\n\u003cp class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">\u003cstrong>Submit it at a voting location near you\u003c/strong>\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Use the \u003ca href=\"https://caearlyvoting.sos.ca.gov/\">state of California lookup tool\u003c/a> and check the “Early Voting” box to see all the Election Day voting locations near you. You can then take your ballot to one of these locations and hand-deliver it there and then.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\u003cp class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Another perk of dropping off your ballot at a voting location during operating hours: If 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/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">\u003cstrong>Do not mail your ballot using USPS on Tuesday\u003c/strong>\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Remember: State officials — and USPS — stress that \u003ca href=\"https://www.kqed.org/news/12103028/should-you-use-usps-to-mail-your-midterm-ballot-heres-what-california-election-officials-say\">you shouldn’t \u003cem>mail\u003c/em> your ballot on Election Day\u003c/a>, because there’s a real risk it might be postmarked too late for it to be counted at this stage. \u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Instead, find a secure official election drop box or take it to an open voting location and submit it there. You can also take it to the counter at an open post office on Tuesday and ask them to postmark it for Tuesday.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">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>, for reassurance that it’s on its way to being counted.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003ch2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">\u003cstrong>Where can I vote in person on Election Day?\u003c/strong>\u003c/h2>\n\n\n\n\u003cp class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Until 8 p.m. on Election Day, you can cast a ballot in person in every Bay Area county. \u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">That includes 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 class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">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\u003cp class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">\u003cstrong>If you live in San Francisco, Contra Costa or Solano counties:\u003c/strong>\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">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 class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">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 class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">\u003cstrong>If you live in Alameda, Marin, Napa, San Mateo, Santa Clara or Sonoma counties:\u003c/strong>\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">You can vote at any voting location — known as Vote Centers — in the county, including your county registrar’s office.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">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 class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">\u003cstrong>Do I need to bring my ballot with me?\u003c/strong>\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">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 class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">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\">\u003cstrong>I still need to register to vote. Can I do this on Election Day?\u003c/strong>\u003c/h2>\n\n\n\n\u003cp class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">If you’ve changed your name or would like to change the political party choice that you previously registered to vote with, or you’ve moved addresses, 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 class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">You can’t do this online on Election Day, but 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 polls close at 8 p.m. on Tuesday.\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-ELECTIONSTOCKIMAGERY-14-BL-KQED-25395098.jpg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-12103669\" srcset=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/10/261008-ELECTIONSTOCKIMAGERY-14-BL-KQED-25395098.jpg 2000w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/10/261008-ELECTIONSTOCKIMAGERY-14-BL-KQED-25395098-160x107.jpg 160w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/10/261008-ELECTIONSTOCKIMAGERY-14-BL-KQED-25395098-1536x1024.jpg 1536w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 2000px) 100vw, 2000px\" />\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">A vote-by-mail ballot for the Nov. 3, 2026, general election on Oct. 8, 2026. (Beth LaBerge/KQED)\u003c/figcaption>\u003c/figure>\n\n\n\n\u003cp class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">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\">\u003cstrong>I’m a registered voter, but my ballot never showed up. What should I do?\u003c/strong>\u003c/h2>\n\n\n\n\u003cp class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Don’t worry: You have time — and several options — to fix things and make sure you get to cast your vote by the time polls close at 8 p.m. on Tuesday. But you’ll need to take action in person by visiting your county elections office or polling location.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">\u003ca href=\"https://www.kqed.org/news/12105086/wheres-my-ballot-midterm-election-2026-need-replacement-ballot-vote-for-governor\">Read our guide on how you can still vote\u003c/a> if your ballot never arrived in the mail.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003ch2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">\u003cstrong>How can I contact my county directly about voting?\u003c/strong>\u003c/h2>\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 class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">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": "the-election-fraud-evangelizers-targeting-rural-californians",
"title": "The Election Fraud Evangelizers Targeting Rural Californians",
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"headTitle": "The Election Fraud Evangelizers Targeting Rural Californians | KQED",
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"content": "\n\u003cp class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">\u003cbr>The Trump administration has been ramping up efforts to find voter fraud in California. Claims of voter fraud can have real-world consequences for communities. Today, Stanford Political Science Professor Justin Grimmer tells us about a group of traveling election skeptics who target mostly rural, conservative communities to spread their claims of fraud.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003ch2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">\u003cstrong>Episode Transcript\u003c/strong>\u003c/h2>\n\n\n\n\u003cp class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">\u003cem>This transcript is computer-generated. While our team has reviewed it, there may be errors.\u003c/em>\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">\u003cstrong>Ericka Cruz Guevarra:\u003c/strong> I’m Ericka Cruz Guevarra and welcome to The Bay, local news to keep you rooted. Justin Grimmer is obsessed with voter fraud. He’s a professor of political science at Stanford University and a senior fellow at the Hoover Institution. And he spent a lot of time researching elections. So when Donald Trump began making claims of voter fraud and manipulation after the 2020 election, Justin and his collaborators made it their mission to get to the bottom of it.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">\u003cstrong>Justin Grimmer:\u003c/strong> And so I, along with one of my post-docs and a collaborator, we began investigating these claims in gory, gory details, dove into the data to figure out what they were claiming and what evidence basis they had to make those claims. And what we found was those claims were lacking really any evidentiary basis at all, or were pointing out to patterns in the world that weren’t really evidence of fraud.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">\u003cstrong>Ericka Cruz Guevarra:\u003c/strong> Since then, claims of election fraud have become dangerously common, and Justin has kept pace, diving into these claims one by one. They’ve taken him all over the country to follow a growing movement of traveling election skeptics who visit mostly rural conservative communities to spread their claims of fraud.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">\u003cstrong>Justin Grimmer:\u003c/strong> This sort of campaign says every election is subject to this manipulation. And that is a troubling allegation for democracy. It’s a troubling allegation if you’re an election administrator in those places.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">\u003cstrong>Ericka Cruz Guevarra:\u003c/strong> Today, inside the movement of election fraud evangelizers and the real world impacts it has on the communities they visit. When did you first get wind of this movement of people?\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">\u003cstrong>Justin Grimmer:\u003c/strong> So it was the summer of 2021. We had just published our paper about the Trump campaign’s claims about the 2020 election and a reporter from the Philadelphia Inquirer called me. He said, I want to let you know that there is this kind of movement happening in Pennsylvania. There’s someone alleging that every election in our state is being manipulated. And the reason you should care is that this person is talking to our state legislature. And so in 2021, we began assembling the claims that this person, Doug Frank, was making. It became clear to us very quickly that there were other people in this space who were making similar sorts of claims. And it also became very clear that the claims were outlandish. They’re sort of, like, very quickly, we noticed a sort of statistical flaw in the argument. But nevertheless, the claims were popular, people seemed to be adopting them, people are very responsive to them.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">\u003cstrong>Ericka Cruz Guevarra:\u003c/strong> What you’re talking about is this research that you’re doing on specifically this sort of movement of people who really, it seems like, target these sort of rural, more conservative areas to spread these claims of voter fraud. Tell me a little bit more about this movement. Who are these people and what exactly are they doing?\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">\u003cstrong>Justin Grimmer:\u003c/strong> We could think about two parts to this movement. One part of the movement is a national movement of almost professional election skeptics who tour the country and make the claim that every election everywhere is being stolen. At the same time, they’re inspiring local movements of individuals who hear what these election skeptic have to say and then form groups of people who wanna investigate it themselves. And those individuals will begin an investigation where they see if they can find phantom voters or individuals who should not be on the voter file or they think should not on the vote file. So it’s a movement that’s happening both nationally and then very locally as these groups get together.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">\u003cstrong>Ericka Cruz Guevarra:\u003c/strong> And how did you go about actually studying this group of people?\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">\u003cstrong>Justin Grimmer:\u003c/strong> So what we decided to do was to start showing up where the election skeptics were presenting and talking to the people who were there, figuring out what it is about the movement that they find compelling, why do they think this argument is true and what sort of evidence are they basing their beliefs on?\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">\u003cstrong>Ericka Cruz Guevarra:\u003c/strong> So let’s talk about how this sort of plays out on the ground. For these sort of election fraud evangelizers, Justin, I mean, what is their MO, and how do they end up in places like Shasta County?\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">\u003cstrong>Justin Grimmer:\u003c/strong> My general impression is that they go where they are invited. And so this would explain why they end up in relatively conservative places, because individuals may learn about them from online social media like Telegram or from a sort of right-wing version of YouTube called Rumble will post their videos. So they learn about then. And when they’re invited to these places, it’ll either be local political activists who are interested in having them speak. And sometimes it’s entrepreneurial politicians. So we’ve seen both, for example, in Shasta County, political activists have helped support bringing these individuals in, and also some elected officials have supported it as well.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">\u003cstrong>Ericka Cruz Guevarra:\u003c/strong> And who is their audience? I mean, are these like town halls? Are these people who maybe otherwise don’t believe in these things, but are sitting there to be convinced?\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">\u003cstrong>Justin Grimmer:\u003c/strong> So one thing that they love to do, these election evangelizers or election skeptics, is they’ll go to public comment at county meetings. That’s often a prelude to those skeptics being invited back to give a longer presentation at the county meeting.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">\u003cstrong>Meeting tape\u003c/strong>: I want to see some hands as to how many people think in the United States there’s been some hacking with our computer system. Let’s see some…\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">\u003cstrong>Justin Grimmer:\u003c/strong> In parallel, when they make these visits, they’ll also do night time meetings. Sometimes they’ll be held in churches, sometimes in public forums. We attended a speech by a different election, a skeptic in Shasta County. It was hosted by a former county supervisor, Patrick Jones, at a holiday inn in Redding, California.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">\u003cstrong>Meeting tape\u003c/strong>: How many people think we’ve had hacking in California? Similar number. Now the important question. How many think we had hacking in Shasta County? And that’s what’s important to me.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">\u003cstrong>Justin Grimmer:\u003c/strong> In Shasta County, where we attended this presentation, the election skeptic that they brought in to speak was Jeffrey O’Donnell. He goes online by the moniker The Lone Raccoon. He is a heavier set gentleman, very thick gray beard with gray-shocked hair. He was slated to speak there in person. At the very last minute, it was revealed that he would be zooming in.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">\u003cstrong>Jeffrey O’Donnell\u003c/strong>: Well, hello, Shasta County. Hello! I feel like I’ve been with you in spirit for a long time…\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">\u003cstrong>Justin Grimmer:\u003c/strong> So the election skeptics are usually the main event. And so from his house in Florida, he presented a series of plots that he alleged revealed that Shasta County elections had been manipulated, including primary elections.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">\u003cstrong>Jeffrey O’Donnell\u003c/strong>: Alright, this is the math portion, so we’re going to take a deep breath, okay?\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">\u003cstrong>Justin Grimmer:\u003c/strong> The election skeptic will get up and they’ll regularly make reference to proof that the elections are being manipulated and by that they mean that they have some sort of statistical analysis that they’ve conducted where they’ve convinced themselves that this statistical analysis is evidence of fraud.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">\u003cstrong>Jeffrey O’Donnell\u003c/strong>: CVR analysis, 80%, 162, fit that abnormal pattern. That’s the pattern, that’s manipulation.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">\u003cstrong>Justin Grimmer:\u003c/strong> And if you were to hear this person speak and just listen to the cadence and they have a slideshow and in their sort of demeanor and their affect, you would almost think you were listening to a PhD political scientists or economists present results. It has all the same sort of trappings of a empirical social science presentation.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">\u003cstrong>Jeffrey O’Donnell\u003c/strong>: The result is the receipt of the bail-in votes is essentially random, or near enough random, to expect them to fall into your kind of random power, which is established in that matter.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">\u003cstrong>Ericka Cruz Guevarra:\u003c/strong> What do we know, Justin, about whether or not these statistics that they’re presenting, the stories that they are sharing, are true?\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">\u003cstrong>Justin Grimmer:\u003c/strong> So just one general, very important point is that it is essentially impossible to diagnose fraud from a statistical analysis alone. But one of the things that we’ve learned as we’ve dug into these models is that they’re often based on either statistical misunderstandings or data misunderstandings or a really unfortunate collision of the two. And as a result, every time we’ve analyzed these claims, we found them to not offer any support that fraud is occurring or offer any indication of fraud.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">\u003cstrong>Ericka Cruz Guevarra:\u003c/strong> These claims your analyzes have found are not true. But what have you learned about how else they try to sort of sweeten their argument and make it more convincing?\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">\u003cstrong>Justin Grimmer:\u003c/strong> One of the things that we’ve noticed, though, in a comprehensive analysis of what they’re saying, so many of these are videotapes, so we’re able to ingest them, transcribe them, and analyze them en masse, is that by and large, what they are actually doing, though, is telling personal stories about their adventures evangelizing about why elections are manipulated and what should be done about it. My suspicion is that they’ve learned that the statistical analyzes aren’t really gonna land with the audience. But these personal stories where they talk about being with secretaries of states or attorneys general, or advocating with elected officials to change the way ballots are counted. This is the kind of proof that resonates with the audience.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">\u003cstrong>Jeffrey O’Donnell\u003c/strong>: I wanted to equip all of you with the knowledge and the confidence, right, to be true to your convictions. I mean, most of you, I suspect, knew in your heart that we had a problem long before the first piece of evidence ever came out.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">\u003cstrong>Ericka Cruz Guevarra:\u003c/strong> I mean, yeah, it sounds like they really know how to work the crowds that they’re talking to.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">\u003cstrong>Justin Grimmer:\u003c/strong> I think they’re exceptional at it. This one individual, Doug Frank, I joke he’s much better at being a professor than I am, even though he’s not a professor. His affectation, his bow tie, he really presents the image in a way that I don’t think I’m able to. And\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">\u003cstrong>Ericka Cruz Guevarra:\u003c/strong> Coming up how false claims of voter fraud have real-world impacts on communities By the way, if you appreciate the local deep dives that we bring you on this show consider becoming a sustaining KQED member We can’t do this work without you. Just go to donate dot kqed.org/podcasts. I know your grad students sometimes join you on these trips and have actually talked to people in the audience. What have you all learned about why people show up and if they believe these claims?\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">\u003cstrong>Justin Grimmer:\u003c/strong> So one type of person who was there is a sort of hard and true conspiracy theorist. So I sat next to a gentleman who I often describe as the final boss of conspiracy theorists. He believed every conspiracy theory you had heard. Of course he believed the earth was flat. So there’s some people who are there who I think are very immersed in a sort online conspiratorial way of thinking. But our impression was that they’re not the bulk of the people there. There’s other folks who attend these events, again, for example, at this Holiday Inn event, that are skeptical about elections are run. They’ve been told repeatedly by the president and other prominent Republicans that there’s something wrong with elections. And so they have some intuition that something’s wrong. And they’re looking for a vehicle to get active and back into politics. For example, one woman who we observed at this Holiday Inn, she was texting a friend saying that she was at this event and then said, this is my way of sort of getting back into politics. Was like, gonna join this movement and fight for a thing that she was hearing needed to be fought for. And there’s a final group of people, there’s this sort of opposition that shows up as well. So there’s people usually more aligned with the left who show up and they observe what’s going on sometimes offer critical questions at these events.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">\u003cstrong>Meeting tape\u003c/strong>: Have a nice day. You’re hosting a liar. Have a Nice day.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">\u003cstrong>Justin Grimmer:\u003c/strong> Everyday folks can’t possibly track the statistics. The folks who present these statistics make it quite difficult. They’re not publishing papers, laying out their model. We’ve had to piece it together across many videos. And so instead they can rely upon these cues and you can really, I think, start to feel sympathy for these folks in these places because the kind of cues that they get in these meetings would indicate that perhaps this person has really uncovered something.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">\u003cstrong>Douglas Frank\u003c/strong>: What I did is I studied every county in California because California was a control case for me. I’m a scientist. I set up control studies. That’s what we do.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">\u003cstrong>Justin Grimmer:\u003c/strong> So for example, when Doug Frank gets up to speak, he makes the claim that he’s a Nobel Prize nominee in chemistry. That’s, just to be clear, not a thing that anyone could ever claim. Nobel Prize nominations are confidential for 50 years. He claims it happened in 1990. We’re still well within that confidential region there. He also claims to have published 60 peer-reviewed papers and to be a world leading physicist. So if someone with that pedigree stands up and tells you.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">\u003cstrong>Douglas Frank\u003c/strong>: I spent a month of my life last year analyzing every ballot passed in this state for the last 20 years. Why would I do such a thing? You know, I’m a masochist, right? I guess I’m scientist. I like numbers.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">\u003cstrong>Justin Grimmer:\u003c/strong> I’ve uncovered a statistical model that proves your county’s elections are being manipulated. And by the way, I’m going to tell you a lot of stories about positions of people who are in power who have listened to me, or people who were in power, who said they were going to listen to me and then backed out at the last minute because some cabal influenced them. I think a reasonable person could hear all that and think, perhaps there’s something here.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">\u003cstrong>Ericka Cruz Guevarra:\u003c/strong> Yeah it could be convincing.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">\u003cstrong>Justin Grimmer:\u003c/strong> Could be pretty convincing.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">\u003cstrong>Douglas Frank\u003c/strong>: Placer County and they were so mad at me because it turns out in their county I can predict the number of Republicans that voted in every precinct. I can predict the numbers of Democrats that voted every precint. I could predict the number of others that voted at every precinc. But to the one or two out of hundreds I can predict that accurately and I was using them as an example so first let me try it out…\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">\u003cstrong>Ericka Cruz Guevarra:\u003c/strong> True or not, this kind of messaging can have real consequences. And I wanna stick with this Shasta County example. How have you seen these claims impact the community there?\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">\u003cstrong>Justin Grimmer:\u003c/strong> Yeah, there’s been a big movement in Shasta County to change the way their elections are being run. So Shasta county attempted to just have hand count ballots only. California state legislature had to pass a law to say you can’t actually do that. So there’s money and litigation and time spent. And there’s also a very personal toll here on these people who are, I would describe. The heroes of American democracy, election administrators. So Shasta County had a fantastic election administrator, Kathy Darling-Allen. She was fantastic at her job, incredibly dedicated to her community, but this movement began to allege that she was involved in various conspiracies to manipulate the elections in Shasta county, or at least was standing to the side while those manipulations occurred. And as a result, there was a real physical toll on her. So it harmed her health. She ended up retiring because she was going into heart failure. And now there’s a new individual who’s running Shasta County’s elections, who is a well-known election skeptic in charge of their elections. And what we’ve seen from his work there, fortunately, he has little discretion in what could be done. There’s nice parameters from the law. But there’s some evidence that things have been running not as well without Kathy Darling Allen. And there’s been a bit more confusion.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">\u003cstrong>Ericka Cruz Guevarra:\u003c/strong> What have you learned about what it takes to convince people, otherwise, to believe in our elections?\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">\u003cstrong>Justin Grimmer:\u003c/strong> One of the very best things you could do is to volunteer at a polling place to help tabulate ballots, open envelopes, work with your local election administrators. You’re gonna see that this is a process with a large number of safeguards filled with people who are working very hard, who have a really inherent dedication to American democracy as it’s practiced on the ground. And it’s not comprised of people who are partisan or really trying to manipulate the results in a particular way. So just seeing, again, these heroes of American democracy as its practice in action seems to be the best way to restore faith in our elections. Yeah.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">\u003cstrong>Ericka Cruz Guevarra:\u003c/strong> My last question for you, Justin, another part of your research process is that sometimes you’ll actually present a rebuttal to the election fraud claims that are presented in some of these rural, more conservative counties. I wanna end by asking you, what motivates you to do that and to keep pushing back against fraud, even maybe if sometimes it feels in vain?\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">\u003cstrong>Justin Grimmer:\u003c/strong> I think as professors and as academics, there is a tendency to think about problems at the broadest scale. When I think in reality, one solution to this is that we need to deploy people to these places, to talk to them, to meet them where they are, to understand how they interact with the kind of arguments we make, to see that the people making these arguments are real people from real places. I often describe it perhaps a bit pejoratively as the sort of knife fight of democracy, where you’re sort of, you’re in it. You’re rebutting, you have, you are talking to these folks. It’s very one-to-one. It’s hard to scale this. But I think very important for even convincing a small number of people who might be on the margin that there are real reasons to trust American elections. I don’t see a way we’ll get out of this with broad national declarations. There’s not gonna be, in my opinion, really well-crafted advertising campaign that we could just deploy everywhere. I think the solution is that we have to engage folks where they are. And absolutely the solution’s going to be local.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">\u003cstrong>Ericka Cruz Guevarra:\u003c/strong> Well, Justin, it’s such a pleasure having you on. Thank you so much. Thank you. As we head into election week, Justin’s research feels more timely than ever. The Trump administration has been ramping up its efforts to find voter fraud in California, demanding that the state set aside the ballots of thousands of registered voters. They accuse of not being US citizens. They’ve even threatened local elections officials with subpoenas and criminal charges if they don’t comply. They’ve claimed without proof that California elections are rigged in Democrats’ favor because of non-citizen votes. Justin says that once the results come in, there’s sure to be even more criticism.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">\u003cstrong>Justin Grimmer:\u003c/strong> But voters can have an assurance that California elections are secure. It’s relatively easy to access the ballot and that there are many opportunities for those who want to vote to vote and many ways in which those who are not allowed to vote are prevented from voting.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">\u003cstrong>Ericka Cruz Guevarra:\u003c/strong> That was Justin Grimmer, a professor of political science at Stanford University and a senior fellow at the Hoover Institution. If you’re doing some last minute voting this week, be sure to check out KQED’s Voter Guide, which has a bunch of handy info on all the statewide and local races. kqed.org/voter guide is the link. Again, that’s kqed.org/voterguide. This conversation with Justin was pitched and produced by producer Gabriela Glueck. It was cut down and edited by Pauline Bartolone. Additional production support from me. Music courtesy of Audio Network and APM. If you wanna get in touch with us here at The Bay, feel free to send us an email. We’re at thebayatkqed.org. Support for The Bay is provided in part by the Osher Production Fund. 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. And I’m Ericka Cruz Guevarra. Happy election week, everybody. Talk to you next time.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">\u003cbr>\u003cem>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/em>\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">\u003c/p>\n",
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Ericka Cruz Guevarra:\u003c/strong> I’m Ericka Cruz Guevarra and welcome to The Bay, local news to keep you rooted. Justin Grimmer is obsessed with voter fraud. He’s a professor of political science at Stanford University and a senior fellow at the Hoover Institution. And he spent a lot of time researching elections. So when Donald Trump began making claims of voter fraud and manipulation after the 2020 election, Justin and his collaborators made it their mission to get to the bottom of it.\u003c/p>\n",
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"\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Ericka Cruz Guevarra:\u003c/strong> I’m Ericka Cruz Guevarra and welcome to The Bay, local news to keep you rooted. Justin Grimmer is obsessed with voter fraud. He’s a professor of political science at Stanford University and a senior fellow at the Hoover Institution. And he spent a lot of time researching elections. So when Donald Trump began making claims of voter fraud and manipulation after the 2020 election, Justin and his collaborators made it their mission to get to the bottom of it.\u003c/p>\n"
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Justin Grimmer:\u003c/strong> And so I, along with one of my post-docs and a collaborator, we began investigating these claims in gory, gory details, dove into the data to figure out what they were claiming and what evidence basis they had to make those claims. And what we found was those claims were lacking really any evidentiary basis at all, or were pointing out to patterns in the world that weren’t really evidence of fraud.\u003c/p>\n",
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"\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Justin Grimmer:\u003c/strong> And so I, along with one of my post-docs and a collaborator, we began investigating these claims in gory, gory details, dove into the data to figure out what they were claiming and what evidence basis they had to make those claims. And what we found was those claims were lacking really any evidentiary basis at all, or were pointing out to patterns in the world that weren’t really evidence of fraud.\u003c/p>\n"
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Ericka Cruz Guevarra:\u003c/strong> Since then, claims of election fraud have become dangerously common, and Justin has kept pace, diving into these claims one by one. They’ve taken him all over the country to follow a growing movement of traveling election skeptics who visit mostly rural conservative communities to spread their claims of fraud.\u003c/p>\n",
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"\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Ericka Cruz Guevarra:\u003c/strong> Since then, claims of election fraud have become dangerously common, and Justin has kept pace, diving into these claims one by one. They’ve taken him all over the country to follow a growing movement of traveling election skeptics who visit mostly rural conservative communities to spread their claims of fraud.\u003c/p>\n"
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Justin Grimmer:\u003c/strong> This sort of campaign says every election is subject to this manipulation. And that is a troubling allegation for democracy. It’s a troubling allegation if you’re an election administrator in those places.\u003c/p>\n",
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"\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Justin Grimmer:\u003c/strong> This sort of campaign says every election is subject to this manipulation. And that is a troubling allegation for democracy. It’s a troubling allegation if you’re an election administrator in those places.\u003c/p>\n"
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Ericka Cruz Guevarra:\u003c/strong> Today, inside the movement of election fraud evangelizers and the real world impacts it has on the communities they visit. When did you first get wind of this movement of people?\u003c/p>\n",
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"\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Ericka Cruz Guevarra:\u003c/strong> Today, inside the movement of election fraud evangelizers and the real world impacts it has on the communities they visit. When did you first get wind of this movement of people?\u003c/p>\n"
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Justin Grimmer:\u003c/strong> So it was the summer of 2021. We had just published our paper about the Trump campaign’s claims about the 2020 election and a reporter from the Philadelphia Inquirer called me. He said, I want to let you know that there is this kind of movement happening in Pennsylvania. There’s someone alleging that every election in our state is being manipulated. And the reason you should care is that this person is talking to our state legislature. And so in 2021, we began assembling the claims that this person, Doug Frank, was making. It became clear to us very quickly that there were other people in this space who were making similar sorts of claims. And it also became very clear that the claims were outlandish. They’re sort of, like, very quickly, we noticed a sort of statistical flaw in the argument. But nevertheless, the claims were popular, people seemed to be adopting them, people are very responsive to them.\u003c/p>\n",
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"\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Justin Grimmer:\u003c/strong> So it was the summer of 2021. We had just published our paper about the Trump campaign’s claims about the 2020 election and a reporter from the Philadelphia Inquirer called me. He said, I want to let you know that there is this kind of movement happening in Pennsylvania. There’s someone alleging that every election in our state is being manipulated. And the reason you should care is that this person is talking to our state legislature. And so in 2021, we began assembling the claims that this person, Doug Frank, was making. It became clear to us very quickly that there were other people in this space who were making similar sorts of claims. And it also became very clear that the claims were outlandish. They’re sort of, like, very quickly, we noticed a sort of statistical flaw in the argument. But nevertheless, the claims were popular, people seemed to be adopting them, people are very responsive to them.\u003c/p>\n"
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Ericka Cruz Guevarra:\u003c/strong> What you’re talking about is this research that you’re doing on specifically this sort of movement of people who really, it seems like, target these sort of rural, more conservative areas to spread these claims of voter fraud. Tell me a little bit more about this movement. Who are these people and what exactly are they doing?\u003c/p>\n",
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"\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Ericka Cruz Guevarra:\u003c/strong> What you’re talking about is this research that you’re doing on specifically this sort of movement of people who really, it seems like, target these sort of rural, more conservative areas to spread these claims of voter fraud. Tell me a little bit more about this movement. Who are these people and what exactly are they doing?\u003c/p>\n"
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Justin Grimmer:\u003c/strong> We could think about two parts to this movement. One part of the movement is a national movement of almost professional election skeptics who tour the country and make the claim that every election everywhere is being stolen. At the same time, they’re inspiring local movements of individuals who hear what these election skeptic have to say and then form groups of people who wanna investigate it themselves. And those individuals will begin an investigation where they see if they can find phantom voters or individuals who should not be on the voter file or they think should not on the vote file. So it’s a movement that’s happening both nationally and then very locally as these groups get together.\u003c/p>\n",
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"\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Justin Grimmer:\u003c/strong> We could think about two parts to this movement. One part of the movement is a national movement of almost professional election skeptics who tour the country and make the claim that every election everywhere is being stolen. At the same time, they’re inspiring local movements of individuals who hear what these election skeptic have to say and then form groups of people who wanna investigate it themselves. And those individuals will begin an investigation where they see if they can find phantom voters or individuals who should not be on the voter file or they think should not on the vote file. So it’s a movement that’s happening both nationally and then very locally as these groups get together.\u003c/p>\n"
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Ericka Cruz Guevarra:\u003c/strong> And how did you go about actually studying this group of people?\u003c/p>\n",
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"\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Ericka Cruz Guevarra:\u003c/strong> And how did you go about actually studying this group of people?\u003c/p>\n"
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Justin Grimmer:\u003c/strong> So what we decided to do was to start showing up where the election skeptics were presenting and talking to the people who were there, figuring out what it is about the movement that they find compelling, why do they think this argument is true and what sort of evidence are they basing their beliefs on?\u003c/p>\n",
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"\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Justin Grimmer:\u003c/strong> So what we decided to do was to start showing up where the election skeptics were presenting and talking to the people who were there, figuring out what it is about the movement that they find compelling, why do they think this argument is true and what sort of evidence are they basing their beliefs on?\u003c/p>\n"
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Ericka Cruz Guevarra:\u003c/strong> So let’s talk about how this sort of plays out on the ground. For these sort of election fraud evangelizers, Justin, I mean, what is their MO, and how do they end up in places like Shasta County?\u003c/p>\n",
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"\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Ericka Cruz Guevarra:\u003c/strong> So let’s talk about how this sort of plays out on the ground. For these sort of election fraud evangelizers, Justin, I mean, what is their MO, and how do they end up in places like Shasta County?\u003c/p>\n"
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Justin Grimmer:\u003c/strong> My general impression is that they go where they are invited. And so this would explain why they end up in relatively conservative places, because individuals may learn about them from online social media like Telegram or from a sort of right-wing version of YouTube called Rumble will post their videos. So they learn about then. And when they’re invited to these places, it’ll either be local political activists who are interested in having them speak. And sometimes it’s entrepreneurial politicians. So we’ve seen both, for example, in Shasta County, political activists have helped support bringing these individuals in, and also some elected officials have supported it as well.\u003c/p>\n",
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"\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Justin Grimmer:\u003c/strong> My general impression is that they go where they are invited. And so this would explain why they end up in relatively conservative places, because individuals may learn about them from online social media like Telegram or from a sort of right-wing version of YouTube called Rumble will post their videos. So they learn about then. And when they’re invited to these places, it’ll either be local political activists who are interested in having them speak. And sometimes it’s entrepreneurial politicians. So we’ve seen both, for example, in Shasta County, political activists have helped support bringing these individuals in, and also some elected officials have supported it as well.\u003c/p>\n"
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Ericka Cruz Guevarra:\u003c/strong> And who is their audience? I mean, are these like town halls? Are these people who maybe otherwise don’t believe in these things, but are sitting there to be convinced?\u003c/p>\n",
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"\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Ericka Cruz Guevarra:\u003c/strong> And who is their audience? I mean, are these like town halls? Are these people who maybe otherwise don’t believe in these things, but are sitting there to be convinced?\u003c/p>\n"
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Justin Grimmer:\u003c/strong> So one thing that they love to do, these election evangelizers or election skeptics, is they’ll go to public comment at county meetings. That’s often a prelude to those skeptics being invited back to give a longer presentation at the county meeting.\u003c/p>\n",
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"\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Justin Grimmer:\u003c/strong> So one thing that they love to do, these election evangelizers or election skeptics, is they’ll go to public comment at county meetings. That’s often a prelude to those skeptics being invited back to give a longer presentation at the county meeting.\u003c/p>\n"
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Meeting tape\u003c/strong>: I want to see some hands as to how many people think in the United States there’s been some hacking with our computer system. Let’s see some…\u003c/p>\n",
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"\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Meeting tape\u003c/strong>: I want to see some hands as to how many people think in the United States there’s been some hacking with our computer system. Let’s see some…\u003c/p>\n"
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Justin Grimmer:\u003c/strong> In parallel, when they make these visits, they’ll also do night time meetings. Sometimes they’ll be held in churches, sometimes in public forums. We attended a speech by a different election, a skeptic in Shasta County. It was hosted by a former county supervisor, Patrick Jones, at a holiday inn in Redding, California.\u003c/p>\n",
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"\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Justin Grimmer:\u003c/strong> In parallel, when they make these visits, they’ll also do night time meetings. Sometimes they’ll be held in churches, sometimes in public forums. We attended a speech by a different election, a skeptic in Shasta County. It was hosted by a former county supervisor, Patrick Jones, at a holiday inn in Redding, California.\u003c/p>\n"
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Meeting tape\u003c/strong>: How many people think we’ve had hacking in California? Similar number. Now the important question. How many think we had hacking in Shasta County? And that’s what’s important to me.\u003c/p>\n",
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"\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Meeting tape\u003c/strong>: How many people think we’ve had hacking in California? Similar number. Now the important question. How many think we had hacking in Shasta County? And that’s what’s important to me.\u003c/p>\n"
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Justin Grimmer:\u003c/strong> In Shasta County, where we attended this presentation, the election skeptic that they brought in to speak was Jeffrey O’Donnell. He goes online by the moniker The Lone Raccoon. He is a heavier set gentleman, very thick gray beard with gray-shocked hair. He was slated to speak there in person. At the very last minute, it was revealed that he would be zooming in.\u003c/p>\n",
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"\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Justin Grimmer:\u003c/strong> In Shasta County, where we attended this presentation, the election skeptic that they brought in to speak was Jeffrey O’Donnell. He goes online by the moniker The Lone Raccoon. He is a heavier set gentleman, very thick gray beard with gray-shocked hair. He was slated to speak there in person. At the very last minute, it was revealed that he would be zooming in.\u003c/p>\n"
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Jeffrey O’Donnell\u003c/strong>: Well, hello, Shasta County. Hello! I feel like I’ve been with you in spirit for a long time…\u003c/p>\n",
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"\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Jeffrey O’Donnell\u003c/strong>: Well, hello, Shasta County. Hello! I feel like I’ve been with you in spirit for a long time…\u003c/p>\n"
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Justin Grimmer:\u003c/strong> So the election skeptics are usually the main event. And so from his house in Florida, he presented a series of plots that he alleged revealed that Shasta County elections had been manipulated, including primary elections.\u003c/p>\n",
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"\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Justin Grimmer:\u003c/strong> So the election skeptics are usually the main event. And so from his house in Florida, he presented a series of plots that he alleged revealed that Shasta County elections had been manipulated, including primary elections.\u003c/p>\n"
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Jeffrey O’Donnell\u003c/strong>: Alright, this is the math portion, so we’re going to take a deep breath, okay?\u003c/p>\n",
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"\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Jeffrey O’Donnell\u003c/strong>: Alright, this is the math portion, so we’re going to take a deep breath, okay?\u003c/p>\n"
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Justin Grimmer:\u003c/strong> The election skeptic will get up and they’ll regularly make reference to proof that the elections are being manipulated and by that they mean that they have some sort of statistical analysis that they’ve conducted where they’ve convinced themselves that this statistical analysis is evidence of fraud.\u003c/p>\n",
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"\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Justin Grimmer:\u003c/strong> The election skeptic will get up and they’ll regularly make reference to proof that the elections are being manipulated and by that they mean that they have some sort of statistical analysis that they’ve conducted where they’ve convinced themselves that this statistical analysis is evidence of fraud.\u003c/p>\n"
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Jeffrey O’Donnell\u003c/strong>: CVR analysis, 80%, 162, fit that abnormal pattern. That’s the pattern, that’s manipulation.\u003c/p>\n",
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"\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Jeffrey O’Donnell\u003c/strong>: CVR analysis, 80%, 162, fit that abnormal pattern. That’s the pattern, that’s manipulation.\u003c/p>\n"
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Justin Grimmer:\u003c/strong> And if you were to hear this person speak and just listen to the cadence and they have a slideshow and in their sort of demeanor and their affect, you would almost think you were listening to a PhD political scientists or economists present results. It has all the same sort of trappings of a empirical social science presentation.\u003c/p>\n",
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"\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Justin Grimmer:\u003c/strong> And if you were to hear this person speak and just listen to the cadence and they have a slideshow and in their sort of demeanor and their affect, you would almost think you were listening to a PhD political scientists or economists present results. It has all the same sort of trappings of a empirical social science presentation.\u003c/p>\n"
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Jeffrey O’Donnell\u003c/strong>: The result is the receipt of the bail-in votes is essentially random, or near enough random, to expect them to fall into your kind of random power, which is established in that matter.\u003c/p>\n",
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"\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Jeffrey O’Donnell\u003c/strong>: The result is the receipt of the bail-in votes is essentially random, or near enough random, to expect them to fall into your kind of random power, which is established in that matter.\u003c/p>\n"
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Ericka Cruz Guevarra:\u003c/strong> What do we know, Justin, about whether or not these statistics that they’re presenting, the stories that they are sharing, are true?\u003c/p>\n",
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"\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Ericka Cruz Guevarra:\u003c/strong> What do we know, Justin, about whether or not these statistics that they’re presenting, the stories that they are sharing, are true?\u003c/p>\n"
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Justin Grimmer:\u003c/strong> So just one general, very important point is that it is essentially impossible to diagnose fraud from a statistical analysis alone. But one of the things that we’ve learned as we’ve dug into these models is that they’re often based on either statistical misunderstandings or data misunderstandings or a really unfortunate collision of the two. And as a result, every time we’ve analyzed these claims, we found them to not offer any support that fraud is occurring or offer any indication of fraud.\u003c/p>\n",
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"\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Justin Grimmer:\u003c/strong> So just one general, very important point is that it is essentially impossible to diagnose fraud from a statistical analysis alone. But one of the things that we’ve learned as we’ve dug into these models is that they’re often based on either statistical misunderstandings or data misunderstandings or a really unfortunate collision of the two. And as a result, every time we’ve analyzed these claims, we found them to not offer any support that fraud is occurring or offer any indication of fraud.\u003c/p>\n"
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Ericka Cruz Guevarra:\u003c/strong> These claims your analyzes have found are not true. But what have you learned about how else they try to sort of sweeten their argument and make it more convincing?\u003c/p>\n",
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"\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Ericka Cruz Guevarra:\u003c/strong> These claims your analyzes have found are not true. But what have you learned about how else they try to sort of sweeten their argument and make it more convincing?\u003c/p>\n"
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Justin Grimmer:\u003c/strong> One of the things that we’ve noticed, though, in a comprehensive analysis of what they’re saying, so many of these are videotapes, so we’re able to ingest them, transcribe them, and analyze them en masse, is that by and large, what they are actually doing, though, is telling personal stories about their adventures evangelizing about why elections are manipulated and what should be done about it. My suspicion is that they’ve learned that the statistical analyzes aren’t really gonna land with the audience. But these personal stories where they talk about being with secretaries of states or attorneys general, or advocating with elected officials to change the way ballots are counted. This is the kind of proof that resonates with the audience.\u003c/p>\n",
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"\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Justin Grimmer:\u003c/strong> One of the things that we’ve noticed, though, in a comprehensive analysis of what they’re saying, so many of these are videotapes, so we’re able to ingest them, transcribe them, and analyze them en masse, is that by and large, what they are actually doing, though, is telling personal stories about their adventures evangelizing about why elections are manipulated and what should be done about it. My suspicion is that they’ve learned that the statistical analyzes aren’t really gonna land with the audience. But these personal stories where they talk about being with secretaries of states or attorneys general, or advocating with elected officials to change the way ballots are counted. This is the kind of proof that resonates with the audience.\u003c/p>\n"
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Jeffrey O’Donnell\u003c/strong>: I wanted to equip all of you with the knowledge and the confidence, right, to be true to your convictions. I mean, most of you, I suspect, knew in your heart that we had a problem long before the first piece of evidence ever came out.\u003c/p>\n",
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"\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Jeffrey O’Donnell\u003c/strong>: I wanted to equip all of you with the knowledge and the confidence, right, to be true to your convictions. I mean, most of you, I suspect, knew in your heart that we had a problem long before the first piece of evidence ever came out.\u003c/p>\n"
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Ericka Cruz Guevarra:\u003c/strong> I mean, yeah, it sounds like they really know how to work the crowds that they’re talking to.\u003c/p>\n",
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"\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Ericka Cruz Guevarra:\u003c/strong> I mean, yeah, it sounds like they really know how to work the crowds that they’re talking to.\u003c/p>\n"
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Justin Grimmer:\u003c/strong> I think they’re exceptional at it. This one individual, Doug Frank, I joke he’s much better at being a professor than I am, even though he’s not a professor. His affectation, his bow tie, he really presents the image in a way that I don’t think I’m able to. And\u003c/p>\n",
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"\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Justin Grimmer:\u003c/strong> I think they’re exceptional at it. This one individual, Doug Frank, I joke he’s much better at being a professor than I am, even though he’s not a professor. His affectation, his bow tie, he really presents the image in a way that I don’t think I’m able to. And\u003c/p>\n"
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Ericka Cruz Guevarra:\u003c/strong> Coming up how false claims of voter fraud have real-world impacts on communities By the way, if you appreciate the local deep dives that we bring you on this show consider becoming a sustaining KQED member We can’t do this work without you. Just go to donate dot kqed.org/podcasts. I know your grad students sometimes join you on these trips and have actually talked to people in the audience. What have you all learned about why people show up and if they believe these claims?\u003c/p>\n",
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"\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Ericka Cruz Guevarra:\u003c/strong> Coming up how false claims of voter fraud have real-world impacts on communities By the way, if you appreciate the local deep dives that we bring you on this show consider becoming a sustaining KQED member We can’t do this work without you. Just go to donate dot kqed.org/podcasts. I know your grad students sometimes join you on these trips and have actually talked to people in the audience. What have you all learned about why people show up and if they believe these claims?\u003c/p>\n"
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Justin Grimmer:\u003c/strong> So one type of person who was there is a sort of hard and true conspiracy theorist. So I sat next to a gentleman who I often describe as the final boss of conspiracy theorists. He believed every conspiracy theory you had heard. Of course he believed the earth was flat. So there’s some people who are there who I think are very immersed in a sort online conspiratorial way of thinking. But our impression was that they’re not the bulk of the people there. There’s other folks who attend these events, again, for example, at this Holiday Inn event, that are skeptical about elections are run. They’ve been told repeatedly by the president and other prominent Republicans that there’s something wrong with elections. And so they have some intuition that something’s wrong. And they’re looking for a vehicle to get active and back into politics. For example, one woman who we observed at this Holiday Inn, she was texting a friend saying that she was at this event and then said, this is my way of sort of getting back into politics. Was like, gonna join this movement and fight for a thing that she was hearing needed to be fought for. And there’s a final group of people, there’s this sort of opposition that shows up as well. So there’s people usually more aligned with the left who show up and they observe what’s going on sometimes offer critical questions at these events.\u003c/p>\n",
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"\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Justin Grimmer:\u003c/strong> So one type of person who was there is a sort of hard and true conspiracy theorist. So I sat next to a gentleman who I often describe as the final boss of conspiracy theorists. He believed every conspiracy theory you had heard. Of course he believed the earth was flat. So there’s some people who are there who I think are very immersed in a sort online conspiratorial way of thinking. But our impression was that they’re not the bulk of the people there. There’s other folks who attend these events, again, for example, at this Holiday Inn event, that are skeptical about elections are run. They’ve been told repeatedly by the president and other prominent Republicans that there’s something wrong with elections. And so they have some intuition that something’s wrong. And they’re looking for a vehicle to get active and back into politics. For example, one woman who we observed at this Holiday Inn, she was texting a friend saying that she was at this event and then said, this is my way of sort of getting back into politics. Was like, gonna join this movement and fight for a thing that she was hearing needed to be fought for. And there’s a final group of people, there’s this sort of opposition that shows up as well. So there’s people usually more aligned with the left who show up and they observe what’s going on sometimes offer critical questions at these events.\u003c/p>\n"
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Meeting tape\u003c/strong>: Have a nice day. You’re hosting a liar. Have a Nice day.\u003c/p>\n",
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"\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Meeting tape\u003c/strong>: Have a nice day. You’re hosting a liar. Have a Nice day.\u003c/p>\n"
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Justin Grimmer:\u003c/strong> Everyday folks can’t possibly track the statistics. The folks who present these statistics make it quite difficult. They’re not publishing papers, laying out their model. We’ve had to piece it together across many videos. And so instead they can rely upon these cues and you can really, I think, start to feel sympathy for these folks in these places because the kind of cues that they get in these meetings would indicate that perhaps this person has really uncovered something.\u003c/p>\n",
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"\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Justin Grimmer:\u003c/strong> Everyday folks can’t possibly track the statistics. The folks who present these statistics make it quite difficult. They’re not publishing papers, laying out their model. We’ve had to piece it together across many videos. And so instead they can rely upon these cues and you can really, I think, start to feel sympathy for these folks in these places because the kind of cues that they get in these meetings would indicate that perhaps this person has really uncovered something.\u003c/p>\n"
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Douglas Frank\u003c/strong>: What I did is I studied every county in California because California was a control case for me. I’m a scientist. I set up control studies. That’s what we do.\u003c/p>\n",
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"\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Douglas Frank\u003c/strong>: What I did is I studied every county in California because California was a control case for me. I’m a scientist. I set up control studies. That’s what we do.\u003c/p>\n"
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Justin Grimmer:\u003c/strong> So for example, when Doug Frank gets up to speak, he makes the claim that he’s a Nobel Prize nominee in chemistry. That’s, just to be clear, not a thing that anyone could ever claim. Nobel Prize nominations are confidential for 50 years. He claims it happened in 1990. We’re still well within that confidential region there. He also claims to have published 60 peer-reviewed papers and to be a world leading physicist. So if someone with that pedigree stands up and tells you.\u003c/p>\n",
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"\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Justin Grimmer:\u003c/strong> So for example, when Doug Frank gets up to speak, he makes the claim that he’s a Nobel Prize nominee in chemistry. That’s, just to be clear, not a thing that anyone could ever claim. Nobel Prize nominations are confidential for 50 years. He claims it happened in 1990. We’re still well within that confidential region there. He also claims to have published 60 peer-reviewed papers and to be a world leading physicist. So if someone with that pedigree stands up and tells you.\u003c/p>\n"
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Douglas Frank\u003c/strong>: I spent a month of my life last year analyzing every ballot passed in this state for the last 20 years. Why would I do such a thing? You know, I’m a masochist, right? I guess I’m scientist. I like numbers.\u003c/p>\n",
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"\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Douglas Frank\u003c/strong>: I spent a month of my life last year analyzing every ballot passed in this state for the last 20 years. Why would I do such a thing? You know, I’m a masochist, right? I guess I’m scientist. I like numbers.\u003c/p>\n"
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Justin Grimmer:\u003c/strong> I’ve uncovered a statistical model that proves your county’s elections are being manipulated. And by the way, I’m going to tell you a lot of stories about positions of people who are in power who have listened to me, or people who were in power, who said they were going to listen to me and then backed out at the last minute because some cabal influenced them. I think a reasonable person could hear all that and think, perhaps there’s something here.\u003c/p>\n",
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"\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Justin Grimmer:\u003c/strong> I’ve uncovered a statistical model that proves your county’s elections are being manipulated. And by the way, I’m going to tell you a lot of stories about positions of people who are in power who have listened to me, or people who were in power, who said they were going to listen to me and then backed out at the last minute because some cabal influenced them. I think a reasonable person could hear all that and think, perhaps there’s something here.\u003c/p>\n"
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Ericka Cruz Guevarra:\u003c/strong> Yeah it could be convincing.\u003c/p>\n",
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Justin Grimmer:\u003c/strong> Could be pretty convincing.\u003c/p>\n",
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Douglas Frank\u003c/strong>: Placer County and they were so mad at me because it turns out in their county I can predict the number of Republicans that voted in every precinct. I can predict the numbers of Democrats that voted every precint. I could predict the number of others that voted at every precinc. But to the one or two out of hundreds I can predict that accurately and I was using them as an example so first let me try it out…\u003c/p>\n",
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Ericka Cruz Guevarra:\u003c/strong> True or not, this kind of messaging can have real consequences. And I wanna stick with this Shasta County example. How have you seen these claims impact the community there?\u003c/p>\n",
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"\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Ericka Cruz Guevarra:\u003c/strong> True or not, this kind of messaging can have real consequences. And I wanna stick with this Shasta County example. How have you seen these claims impact the community there?\u003c/p>\n"
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Justin Grimmer:\u003c/strong> Yeah, there’s been a big movement in Shasta County to change the way their elections are being run. So Shasta county attempted to just have hand count ballots only. California state legislature had to pass a law to say you can’t actually do that. So there’s money and litigation and time spent. And there’s also a very personal toll here on these people who are, I would describe. The heroes of American democracy, election administrators. So Shasta County had a fantastic election administrator, Kathy Darling-Allen. She was fantastic at her job, incredibly dedicated to her community, but this movement began to allege that she was involved in various conspiracies to manipulate the elections in Shasta county, or at least was standing to the side while those manipulations occurred. And as a result, there was a real physical toll on her. So it harmed her health. She ended up retiring because she was going into heart failure. And now there’s a new individual who’s running Shasta County’s elections, who is a well-known election skeptic in charge of their elections. And what we’ve seen from his work there, fortunately, he has little discretion in what could be done. There’s nice parameters from the law. But there’s some evidence that things have been running not as well without Kathy Darling Allen. And there’s been a bit more confusion.\u003c/p>\n",
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"\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Justin Grimmer:\u003c/strong> Yeah, there’s been a big movement in Shasta County to change the way their elections are being run. So Shasta county attempted to just have hand count ballots only. California state legislature had to pass a law to say you can’t actually do that. So there’s money and litigation and time spent. And there’s also a very personal toll here on these people who are, I would describe. The heroes of American democracy, election administrators. So Shasta County had a fantastic election administrator, Kathy Darling-Allen. She was fantastic at her job, incredibly dedicated to her community, but this movement began to allege that she was involved in various conspiracies to manipulate the elections in Shasta county, or at least was standing to the side while those manipulations occurred. And as a result, there was a real physical toll on her. So it harmed her health. She ended up retiring because she was going into heart failure. And now there’s a new individual who’s running Shasta County’s elections, who is a well-known election skeptic in charge of their elections. And what we’ve seen from his work there, fortunately, he has little discretion in what could be done. There’s nice parameters from the law. But there’s some evidence that things have been running not as well without Kathy Darling Allen. And there’s been a bit more confusion.\u003c/p>\n"
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Ericka Cruz Guevarra:\u003c/strong> What have you learned about what it takes to convince people, otherwise, to believe in our elections?\u003c/p>\n",
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Justin Grimmer:\u003c/strong> One of the very best things you could do is to volunteer at a polling place to help tabulate ballots, open envelopes, work with your local election administrators. You’re gonna see that this is a process with a large number of safeguards filled with people who are working very hard, who have a really inherent dedication to American democracy as it’s practiced on the ground. And it’s not comprised of people who are partisan or really trying to manipulate the results in a particular way. So just seeing, again, these heroes of American democracy as its practice in action seems to be the best way to restore faith in our elections. Yeah.\u003c/p>\n",
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"\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Justin Grimmer:\u003c/strong> One of the very best things you could do is to volunteer at a polling place to help tabulate ballots, open envelopes, work with your local election administrators. You’re gonna see that this is a process with a large number of safeguards filled with people who are working very hard, who have a really inherent dedication to American democracy as it’s practiced on the ground. And it’s not comprised of people who are partisan or really trying to manipulate the results in a particular way. So just seeing, again, these heroes of American democracy as its practice in action seems to be the best way to restore faith in our elections. Yeah.\u003c/p>\n"
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Ericka Cruz Guevarra:\u003c/strong> My last question for you, Justin, another part of your research process is that sometimes you’ll actually present a rebuttal to the election fraud claims that are presented in some of these rural, more conservative counties. I wanna end by asking you, what motivates you to do that and to keep pushing back against fraud, even maybe if sometimes it feels in vain?\u003c/p>\n",
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Justin Grimmer:\u003c/strong> I think as professors and as academics, there is a tendency to think about problems at the broadest scale. When I think in reality, one solution to this is that we need to deploy people to these places, to talk to them, to meet them where they are, to understand how they interact with the kind of arguments we make, to see that the people making these arguments are real people from real places. I often describe it perhaps a bit pejoratively as the sort of knife fight of democracy, where you’re sort of, you’re in it. You’re rebutting, you have, you are talking to these folks. It’s very one-to-one. It’s hard to scale this. But I think very important for even convincing a small number of people who might be on the margin that there are real reasons to trust American elections. I don’t see a way we’ll get out of this with broad national declarations. There’s not gonna be, in my opinion, really well-crafted advertising campaign that we could just deploy everywhere. I think the solution is that we have to engage folks where they are. And absolutely the solution’s going to be local.\u003c/p>\n",
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"\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Justin Grimmer:\u003c/strong> I think as professors and as academics, there is a tendency to think about problems at the broadest scale. When I think in reality, one solution to this is that we need to deploy people to these places, to talk to them, to meet them where they are, to understand how they interact with the kind of arguments we make, to see that the people making these arguments are real people from real places. I often describe it perhaps a bit pejoratively as the sort of knife fight of democracy, where you’re sort of, you’re in it. You’re rebutting, you have, you are talking to these folks. It’s very one-to-one. It’s hard to scale this. But I think very important for even convincing a small number of people who might be on the margin that there are real reasons to trust American elections. I don’t see a way we’ll get out of this with broad national declarations. There’s not gonna be, in my opinion, really well-crafted advertising campaign that we could just deploy everywhere. I think the solution is that we have to engage folks where they are. And absolutely the solution’s going to be local.\u003c/p>\n"
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Ericka Cruz Guevarra:\u003c/strong> Well, Justin, it’s such a pleasure having you on. Thank you so much. Thank you. As we head into election week, Justin’s research feels more timely than ever. The Trump administration has been ramping up its efforts to find voter fraud in California, demanding that the state set aside the ballots of thousands of registered voters. They accuse of not being US citizens. They’ve even threatened local elections officials with subpoenas and criminal charges if they don’t comply. They’ve claimed without proof that California elections are rigged in Democrats’ favor because of non-citizen votes. Justin says that once the results come in, there’s sure to be even more criticism.\u003c/p>\n",
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"\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Ericka Cruz Guevarra:\u003c/strong> Well, Justin, it’s such a pleasure having you on. Thank you so much. Thank you. As we head into election week, Justin’s research feels more timely than ever. The Trump administration has been ramping up its efforts to find voter fraud in California, demanding that the state set aside the ballots of thousands of registered voters. They accuse of not being US citizens. They’ve even threatened local elections officials with subpoenas and criminal charges if they don’t comply. They’ve claimed without proof that California elections are rigged in Democrats’ favor because of non-citizen votes. Justin says that once the results come in, there’s sure to be even more criticism.\u003c/p>\n"
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Justin Grimmer:\u003c/strong> But voters can have an assurance that California elections are secure. It’s relatively easy to access the ballot and that there are many opportunities for those who want to vote to vote and many ways in which those who are not allowed to vote are prevented from voting.\u003c/p>\n",
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Ericka Cruz Guevarra:\u003c/strong> That was Justin Grimmer, a professor of political science at Stanford University and a senior fellow at the Hoover Institution. If you’re doing some last minute voting this week, be sure to check out KQED’s Voter Guide, which has a bunch of handy info on all the statewide and local races. kqed.org/voter guide is the link. Again, that’s kqed.org/voterguide. This conversation with Justin was pitched and produced by producer Gabriela Glueck. It was cut down and edited by Pauline Bartolone. Additional production support from me. Music courtesy of Audio Network and APM. If you wanna get in touch with us here at The Bay, feel free to send us an email. We’re at thebayatkqed.org. Support for The Bay is provided in part by the Osher Production Fund. 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. And I’m Ericka Cruz Guevarra. Happy election week, everybody. Talk to you next time.\u003c/p>\n",
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"\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Ericka Cruz Guevarra:\u003c/strong> That was Justin Grimmer, a professor of political science at Stanford University and a senior fellow at the Hoover Institution. If you’re doing some last minute voting this week, be sure to check out KQED’s Voter Guide, which has a bunch of handy info on all the statewide and local races. kqed.org/voter guide is the link. Again, that’s kqed.org/voterguide. This conversation with Justin was pitched and produced by producer Gabriela Glueck. It was cut down and edited by Pauline Bartolone. Additional production support from me. Music courtesy of Audio Network and APM. If you wanna get in touch with us here at The Bay, feel free to send us an email. We’re at thebayatkqed.org. Support for The Bay is provided in part by the Osher Production Fund. 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. And I’m Ericka Cruz Guevarra. Happy election week, everybody. Talk to you next time.\u003c/p>\n"
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"title": "The Election Fraud Evangelizers Targeting Rural Californians | KQED",
"description": "The Trump administration has been ramping up efforts to find voter fraud in California. Claims of voter fraud can have real-world consequences for communities. Today, Stanford Political Science Professor Justin Grimmer tells us about a group of traveling election skeptics who target mostly rural, conservative communities to spread their claims of fraud. Episode Transcript This transcript is computer-generated. While our team has reviewed it, there may be errors. Ericka Cruz Guevarra: I'm Ericka Cruz Guevarra and welcome to The Bay, local news to keep you rooted. Justin Grimmer is obsessed with voter fraud. He's a professor of political science at Stanford",
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"content": "\u003cdiv class=\"post-body\">\u003cp>\n\u003cp class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">\u003cbr>The Trump administration has been ramping up efforts to find voter fraud in California. Claims of voter fraud can have real-world consequences for communities. Today, Stanford Political Science Professor Justin Grimmer tells us about a group of traveling election skeptics who target mostly rural, conservative communities to spread their claims of fraud.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003ch2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">\u003cstrong>Episode Transcript\u003c/strong>\u003c/h2>\n\n\n\n\u003cp class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">\u003cem>This transcript is computer-generated. While our team has reviewed it, there may be errors.\u003c/em>\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">\u003cstrong>Ericka Cruz Guevarra:\u003c/strong> I’m Ericka Cruz Guevarra and welcome to The Bay, local news to keep you rooted. Justin Grimmer is obsessed with voter fraud. He’s a professor of political science at Stanford University and a senior fellow at the Hoover Institution. And he spent a lot of time researching elections. So when Donald Trump began making claims of voter fraud and manipulation after the 2020 election, Justin and his collaborators made it their mission to get to the bottom of it.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">\u003cstrong>Justin Grimmer:\u003c/strong> And so I, along with one of my post-docs and a collaborator, we began investigating these claims in gory, gory details, dove into the data to figure out what they were claiming and what evidence basis they had to make those claims. And what we found was those claims were lacking really any evidentiary basis at all, or were pointing out to patterns in the world that weren’t really evidence of fraud.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">\u003cstrong>Ericka Cruz Guevarra:\u003c/strong> Since then, claims of election fraud have become dangerously common, and Justin has kept pace, diving into these claims one by one. They’ve taken him all over the country to follow a growing movement of traveling election skeptics who visit mostly rural conservative communities to spread their claims of fraud.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">\u003cstrong>Justin Grimmer:\u003c/strong> This sort of campaign says every election is subject to this manipulation. And that is a troubling allegation for democracy. It’s a troubling allegation if you’re an election administrator in those places.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">\u003cstrong>Ericka Cruz Guevarra:\u003c/strong> Today, inside the movement of election fraud evangelizers and the real world impacts it has on the communities they visit. When did you first get wind of this movement of people?\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">\u003cstrong>Justin Grimmer:\u003c/strong> So it was the summer of 2021. We had just published our paper about the Trump campaign’s claims about the 2020 election and a reporter from the Philadelphia Inquirer called me. He said, I want to let you know that there is this kind of movement happening in Pennsylvania. There’s someone alleging that every election in our state is being manipulated. And the reason you should care is that this person is talking to our state legislature. And so in 2021, we began assembling the claims that this person, Doug Frank, was making. It became clear to us very quickly that there were other people in this space who were making similar sorts of claims. And it also became very clear that the claims were outlandish. They’re sort of, like, very quickly, we noticed a sort of statistical flaw in the argument. But nevertheless, the claims were popular, people seemed to be adopting them, people are very responsive to them.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">\u003cstrong>Ericka Cruz Guevarra:\u003c/strong> What you’re talking about is this research that you’re doing on specifically this sort of movement of people who really, it seems like, target these sort of rural, more conservative areas to spread these claims of voter fraud. Tell me a little bit more about this movement. Who are these people and what exactly are they doing?\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">\u003cstrong>Justin Grimmer:\u003c/strong> We could think about two parts to this movement. One part of the movement is a national movement of almost professional election skeptics who tour the country and make the claim that every election everywhere is being stolen. At the same time, they’re inspiring local movements of individuals who hear what these election skeptic have to say and then form groups of people who wanna investigate it themselves. And those individuals will begin an investigation where they see if they can find phantom voters or individuals who should not be on the voter file or they think should not on the vote file. So it’s a movement that’s happening both nationally and then very locally as these groups get together.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">\u003cstrong>Ericka Cruz Guevarra:\u003c/strong> And how did you go about actually studying this group of people?\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">\u003cstrong>Justin Grimmer:\u003c/strong> So what we decided to do was to start showing up where the election skeptics were presenting and talking to the people who were there, figuring out what it is about the movement that they find compelling, why do they think this argument is true and what sort of evidence are they basing their beliefs on?\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">\u003cstrong>Ericka Cruz Guevarra:\u003c/strong> So let’s talk about how this sort of plays out on the ground. For these sort of election fraud evangelizers, Justin, I mean, what is their MO, and how do they end up in places like Shasta County?\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">\u003cstrong>Justin Grimmer:\u003c/strong> My general impression is that they go where they are invited. And so this would explain why they end up in relatively conservative places, because individuals may learn about them from online social media like Telegram or from a sort of right-wing version of YouTube called Rumble will post their videos. So they learn about then. And when they’re invited to these places, it’ll either be local political activists who are interested in having them speak. And sometimes it’s entrepreneurial politicians. So we’ve seen both, for example, in Shasta County, political activists have helped support bringing these individuals in, and also some elected officials have supported it as well.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">\u003cstrong>Ericka Cruz Guevarra:\u003c/strong> And who is their audience? I mean, are these like town halls? Are these people who maybe otherwise don’t believe in these things, but are sitting there to be convinced?\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">\u003cstrong>Justin Grimmer:\u003c/strong> So one thing that they love to do, these election evangelizers or election skeptics, is they’ll go to public comment at county meetings. That’s often a prelude to those skeptics being invited back to give a longer presentation at the county meeting.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">\u003cstrong>Meeting tape\u003c/strong>: I want to see some hands as to how many people think in the United States there’s been some hacking with our computer system. Let’s see some…\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">\u003cstrong>Justin Grimmer:\u003c/strong> In parallel, when they make these visits, they’ll also do night time meetings. Sometimes they’ll be held in churches, sometimes in public forums. We attended a speech by a different election, a skeptic in Shasta County. It was hosted by a former county supervisor, Patrick Jones, at a holiday inn in Redding, California.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">\u003cstrong>Meeting tape\u003c/strong>: How many people think we’ve had hacking in California? Similar number. Now the important question. How many think we had hacking in Shasta County? And that’s what’s important to me.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">\u003cstrong>Justin Grimmer:\u003c/strong> In Shasta County, where we attended this presentation, the election skeptic that they brought in to speak was Jeffrey O’Donnell. He goes online by the moniker The Lone Raccoon. He is a heavier set gentleman, very thick gray beard with gray-shocked hair. He was slated to speak there in person. At the very last minute, it was revealed that he would be zooming in.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">\u003cstrong>Jeffrey O’Donnell\u003c/strong>: Well, hello, Shasta County. Hello! I feel like I’ve been with you in spirit for a long time…\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">\u003cstrong>Justin Grimmer:\u003c/strong> So the election skeptics are usually the main event. And so from his house in Florida, he presented a series of plots that he alleged revealed that Shasta County elections had been manipulated, including primary elections.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">\u003cstrong>Jeffrey O’Donnell\u003c/strong>: Alright, this is the math portion, so we’re going to take a deep breath, okay?\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">\u003cstrong>Justin Grimmer:\u003c/strong> The election skeptic will get up and they’ll regularly make reference to proof that the elections are being manipulated and by that they mean that they have some sort of statistical analysis that they’ve conducted where they’ve convinced themselves that this statistical analysis is evidence of fraud.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">\u003cstrong>Jeffrey O’Donnell\u003c/strong>: CVR analysis, 80%, 162, fit that abnormal pattern. That’s the pattern, that’s manipulation.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">\u003cstrong>Justin Grimmer:\u003c/strong> And if you were to hear this person speak and just listen to the cadence and they have a slideshow and in their sort of demeanor and their affect, you would almost think you were listening to a PhD political scientists or economists present results. It has all the same sort of trappings of a empirical social science presentation.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">\u003cstrong>Jeffrey O’Donnell\u003c/strong>: The result is the receipt of the bail-in votes is essentially random, or near enough random, to expect them to fall into your kind of random power, which is established in that matter.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">\u003cstrong>Ericka Cruz Guevarra:\u003c/strong> What do we know, Justin, about whether or not these statistics that they’re presenting, the stories that they are sharing, are true?\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">\u003cstrong>Justin Grimmer:\u003c/strong> So just one general, very important point is that it is essentially impossible to diagnose fraud from a statistical analysis alone. But one of the things that we’ve learned as we’ve dug into these models is that they’re often based on either statistical misunderstandings or data misunderstandings or a really unfortunate collision of the two. And as a result, every time we’ve analyzed these claims, we found them to not offer any support that fraud is occurring or offer any indication of fraud.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">\u003cstrong>Ericka Cruz Guevarra:\u003c/strong> These claims your analyzes have found are not true. But what have you learned about how else they try to sort of sweeten their argument and make it more convincing?\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">\u003cstrong>Justin Grimmer:\u003c/strong> One of the things that we’ve noticed, though, in a comprehensive analysis of what they’re saying, so many of these are videotapes, so we’re able to ingest them, transcribe them, and analyze them en masse, is that by and large, what they are actually doing, though, is telling personal stories about their adventures evangelizing about why elections are manipulated and what should be done about it. My suspicion is that they’ve learned that the statistical analyzes aren’t really gonna land with the audience. But these personal stories where they talk about being with secretaries of states or attorneys general, or advocating with elected officials to change the way ballots are counted. This is the kind of proof that resonates with the audience.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">\u003cstrong>Jeffrey O’Donnell\u003c/strong>: I wanted to equip all of you with the knowledge and the confidence, right, to be true to your convictions. I mean, most of you, I suspect, knew in your heart that we had a problem long before the first piece of evidence ever came out.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">\u003cstrong>Ericka Cruz Guevarra:\u003c/strong> I mean, yeah, it sounds like they really know how to work the crowds that they’re talking to.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">\u003cstrong>Justin Grimmer:\u003c/strong> I think they’re exceptional at it. This one individual, Doug Frank, I joke he’s much better at being a professor than I am, even though he’s not a professor. His affectation, his bow tie, he really presents the image in a way that I don’t think I’m able to. And\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">\u003cstrong>Ericka Cruz Guevarra:\u003c/strong> Coming up how false claims of voter fraud have real-world impacts on communities By the way, if you appreciate the local deep dives that we bring you on this show consider becoming a sustaining KQED member We can’t do this work without you. Just go to donate dot kqed.org/podcasts. I know your grad students sometimes join you on these trips and have actually talked to people in the audience. What have you all learned about why people show up and if they believe these claims?\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">\u003cstrong>Justin Grimmer:\u003c/strong> So one type of person who was there is a sort of hard and true conspiracy theorist. So I sat next to a gentleman who I often describe as the final boss of conspiracy theorists. He believed every conspiracy theory you had heard. Of course he believed the earth was flat. So there’s some people who are there who I think are very immersed in a sort online conspiratorial way of thinking. But our impression was that they’re not the bulk of the people there. There’s other folks who attend these events, again, for example, at this Holiday Inn event, that are skeptical about elections are run. They’ve been told repeatedly by the president and other prominent Republicans that there’s something wrong with elections. And so they have some intuition that something’s wrong. And they’re looking for a vehicle to get active and back into politics. For example, one woman who we observed at this Holiday Inn, she was texting a friend saying that she was at this event and then said, this is my way of sort of getting back into politics. Was like, gonna join this movement and fight for a thing that she was hearing needed to be fought for. And there’s a final group of people, there’s this sort of opposition that shows up as well. So there’s people usually more aligned with the left who show up and they observe what’s going on sometimes offer critical questions at these events.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">\u003cstrong>Meeting tape\u003c/strong>: Have a nice day. You’re hosting a liar. Have a Nice day.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">\u003cstrong>Justin Grimmer:\u003c/strong> Everyday folks can’t possibly track the statistics. The folks who present these statistics make it quite difficult. They’re not publishing papers, laying out their model. We’ve had to piece it together across many videos. And so instead they can rely upon these cues and you can really, I think, start to feel sympathy for these folks in these places because the kind of cues that they get in these meetings would indicate that perhaps this person has really uncovered something.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">\u003cstrong>Douglas Frank\u003c/strong>: What I did is I studied every county in California because California was a control case for me. I’m a scientist. I set up control studies. That’s what we do.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">\u003cstrong>Justin Grimmer:\u003c/strong> So for example, when Doug Frank gets up to speak, he makes the claim that he’s a Nobel Prize nominee in chemistry. That’s, just to be clear, not a thing that anyone could ever claim. Nobel Prize nominations are confidential for 50 years. He claims it happened in 1990. We’re still well within that confidential region there. He also claims to have published 60 peer-reviewed papers and to be a world leading physicist. So if someone with that pedigree stands up and tells you.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">\u003cstrong>Douglas Frank\u003c/strong>: I spent a month of my life last year analyzing every ballot passed in this state for the last 20 years. Why would I do such a thing? You know, I’m a masochist, right? I guess I’m scientist. I like numbers.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">\u003cstrong>Justin Grimmer:\u003c/strong> I’ve uncovered a statistical model that proves your county’s elections are being manipulated. And by the way, I’m going to tell you a lot of stories about positions of people who are in power who have listened to me, or people who were in power, who said they were going to listen to me and then backed out at the last minute because some cabal influenced them. I think a reasonable person could hear all that and think, perhaps there’s something here.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">\u003cstrong>Ericka Cruz Guevarra:\u003c/strong> Yeah it could be convincing.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">\u003cstrong>Justin Grimmer:\u003c/strong> Could be pretty convincing.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">\u003cstrong>Douglas Frank\u003c/strong>: Placer County and they were so mad at me because it turns out in their county I can predict the number of Republicans that voted in every precinct. I can predict the numbers of Democrats that voted every precint. I could predict the number of others that voted at every precinc. But to the one or two out of hundreds I can predict that accurately and I was using them as an example so first let me try it out…\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">\u003cstrong>Ericka Cruz Guevarra:\u003c/strong> True or not, this kind of messaging can have real consequences. And I wanna stick with this Shasta County example. How have you seen these claims impact the community there?\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">\u003cstrong>Justin Grimmer:\u003c/strong> Yeah, there’s been a big movement in Shasta County to change the way their elections are being run. So Shasta county attempted to just have hand count ballots only. California state legislature had to pass a law to say you can’t actually do that. So there’s money and litigation and time spent. And there’s also a very personal toll here on these people who are, I would describe. The heroes of American democracy, election administrators. So Shasta County had a fantastic election administrator, Kathy Darling-Allen. She was fantastic at her job, incredibly dedicated to her community, but this movement began to allege that she was involved in various conspiracies to manipulate the elections in Shasta county, or at least was standing to the side while those manipulations occurred. And as a result, there was a real physical toll on her. So it harmed her health. She ended up retiring because she was going into heart failure. And now there’s a new individual who’s running Shasta County’s elections, who is a well-known election skeptic in charge of their elections. And what we’ve seen from his work there, fortunately, he has little discretion in what could be done. There’s nice parameters from the law. But there’s some evidence that things have been running not as well without Kathy Darling Allen. And there’s been a bit more confusion.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">\u003cstrong>Ericka Cruz Guevarra:\u003c/strong> What have you learned about what it takes to convince people, otherwise, to believe in our elections?\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">\u003cstrong>Justin Grimmer:\u003c/strong> One of the very best things you could do is to volunteer at a polling place to help tabulate ballots, open envelopes, work with your local election administrators. You’re gonna see that this is a process with a large number of safeguards filled with people who are working very hard, who have a really inherent dedication to American democracy as it’s practiced on the ground. And it’s not comprised of people who are partisan or really trying to manipulate the results in a particular way. So just seeing, again, these heroes of American democracy as its practice in action seems to be the best way to restore faith in our elections. Yeah.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">\u003cstrong>Ericka Cruz Guevarra:\u003c/strong> My last question for you, Justin, another part of your research process is that sometimes you’ll actually present a rebuttal to the election fraud claims that are presented in some of these rural, more conservative counties. I wanna end by asking you, what motivates you to do that and to keep pushing back against fraud, even maybe if sometimes it feels in vain?\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">\u003cstrong>Justin Grimmer:\u003c/strong> I think as professors and as academics, there is a tendency to think about problems at the broadest scale. When I think in reality, one solution to this is that we need to deploy people to these places, to talk to them, to meet them where they are, to understand how they interact with the kind of arguments we make, to see that the people making these arguments are real people from real places. I often describe it perhaps a bit pejoratively as the sort of knife fight of democracy, where you’re sort of, you’re in it. You’re rebutting, you have, you are talking to these folks. It’s very one-to-one. It’s hard to scale this. But I think very important for even convincing a small number of people who might be on the margin that there are real reasons to trust American elections. I don’t see a way we’ll get out of this with broad national declarations. There’s not gonna be, in my opinion, really well-crafted advertising campaign that we could just deploy everywhere. I think the solution is that we have to engage folks where they are. And absolutely the solution’s going to be local.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">\u003cstrong>Ericka Cruz Guevarra:\u003c/strong> Well, Justin, it’s such a pleasure having you on. Thank you so much. Thank you. As we head into election week, Justin’s research feels more timely than ever. The Trump administration has been ramping up its efforts to find voter fraud in California, demanding that the state set aside the ballots of thousands of registered voters. They accuse of not being US citizens. They’ve even threatened local elections officials with subpoenas and criminal charges if they don’t comply. They’ve claimed without proof that California elections are rigged in Democrats’ favor because of non-citizen votes. Justin says that once the results come in, there’s sure to be even more criticism.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">\u003cstrong>Justin Grimmer:\u003c/strong> But voters can have an assurance that California elections are secure. It’s relatively easy to access the ballot and that there are many opportunities for those who want to vote to vote and many ways in which those who are not allowed to vote are prevented from voting.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">\u003cstrong>Ericka Cruz Guevarra:\u003c/strong> That was Justin Grimmer, a professor of political science at Stanford University and a senior fellow at the Hoover Institution. If you’re doing some last minute voting this week, be sure to check out KQED’s Voter Guide, which has a bunch of handy info on all the statewide and local races. kqed.org/voter guide is the link. Again, that’s kqed.org/voterguide. This conversation with Justin was pitched and produced by producer Gabriela Glueck. It was cut down and edited by Pauline Bartolone. Additional production support from me. Music courtesy of Audio Network and APM. If you wanna get in touch with us here at The Bay, feel free to send us an email. We’re at thebayatkqed.org. Support for The Bay is provided in part by the Osher Production Fund. 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. And I’m Ericka Cruz Guevarra. Happy election week, everybody. Talk to you next time.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">\u003cbr>\u003cem>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/em>\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">\u003c/p>\n\u003c/div>\u003c/p>",
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"title": "Over 40% of Names on DOJ List of Alleged Noncitizens Are Not on California Voter Rolls, Analysis Finds",
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"content": "\n\u003cp class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">More than 4 in 10 names flagged as \u003ca href=\"https://www.kqed.org/news/12106418/santa-clara-county-rejects-trump-administration-voter-probe\">possible noncitizen voters\u003c/a> in California by the Trump administration cannot be found on the state’s voter rolls, according to a legal filing Saturday by an immigrant rights group.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">It’s the first outside analysis of a list that the \u003ca href=\"https://apnews.com/hub/us-department-of-justice\">Department of Justice\u003c/a> has used to threaten prosecution of election officials. The analysis also found that thousands of U.S. citizens appear to be flagged as ineligible to vote on the government’s list.\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/10/2026/06/251104-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 Nov. 4, 2025. (Joseph Geha/KQED)\u003c/figcaption>\u003c/figure>\n\n\n\n\u003cp class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">The contention was made in a filing by two data analysts at the University of California, Los Angeles. They analyzed the 20,930 names that the department demanded that California election officials treat as possible illegal voters by separating their ballots during the vote count on Election Day.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">\u003ca href=\"https://apnews.com/article/california-noncitizen-voting-trump-midterm-lawsuit-49cee0f4184b0ecb573f9f0274350642\">Multiple judges\u003c/a> have rejected the demand as unconstitutional and \u003ca href=\"https://apnews.com/article/california-noncitizen-voting-trump-midterm-lawsuit-481bed64919ad193e80e051d28beb2c0\">a threat to democracy\u003c/a>, and local and state officials have said the list appears riddled with errors.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003ch2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Court filing outlines problems with government list\u003c/h2>\n\n\n\n\u003cp class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">The breadth of the problems with the list was outlined in Saturday’s filing. It describes an analysis by two members of UCLA’s Voting Rights Project, who filed a lawsuit challenging it with the Los Angeles-based Coalition for Humane Immigrant Rights, or CHIRLA.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">The research found that 8,880 of the names, representing 42% of the entire list, do not correspond to anyone in California’s current voter file. It also found at least 22 are U.S. citizens, and many more may correspond to those of confirmed citizens.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">“The expert analysis further makes clear that the mandated voter list endangers a significant number of eligible California voter,” said the filing, which was cosigned by \u003ca href=\"https://apnews.com/hub/xavier-becerra\">Xavier Becerra\u003c/a>, the Democratic candidate for California governor and an adviser to the UCLA Voting Rights Project.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\u003cp class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">The Trump administration had objected to sharing the list, calling it a “fishing expedition” and noting that it included sensitive information. On Saturday, the federal prosecutor who spearheaded the Trump case in California called the analysis “bogus.”\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">“This is a bogus report by the activist illegal immigrant rights group CHIRLA,” Bill Essayli, who runs the U.S. Attorney’s office in Los Angeles, posted on X.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Also on Saturday, President Donald Trump bemoaned the legal rulings against his effort to force California to separate votes from the individuals his administration labels suspected noncitizens, even though one came from a judge he himself nominated.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">In a social media post, Trump claimed his Justice Department found “20,000, but potentially Hundreds of Thousands, and maybe even Millions,” of fraudulent votes, “and the Court has just ruled against it. Why would they reject fixing Election Fraud?”\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">The Trump administration has also \u003ca href=\"https://apnews.com/article/washington-noncitizen-voting-63c17a3eadc9ed232fbd897afbd29b9d\">urged Washington state to remove\u003c/a> what it says were 400 possible noncitizens on its rolls, though state election officials there say that list is also unreliable and includes one voter who cast ballots in the 1990s.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">The Justice Department has warned California election officials they could face criminal liability if they let noncitizens vote and \u003ca href=\"https://apnews.com/article/california-noncitizen-voting-trump-midterm-lawsuit-20714065e59fe13db0e53c711a3ca390\">issued subpoenas\u003c/a> of election offices there.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003ch2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Election officials say they have no time to investigate\u003c/h2>\n\n\n\n\u003cp class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Election officials have complained that the Trump administration has confronted them with lists of possible illegal voters at the last minute before Election Day, with no time to conduct the painstaking investigation required by law before removing someone from the rolls.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Multiple lawsuits have been filed to stop the administration from continuing to threaten local election officials.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">On Friday, a federal judge in California \u003ca href=\"https://apnews.com/article/california-noncitizen-voting-trump-midterm-lawsuit-49cee0f4184b0ecb573f9f0274350642\">ordered the Justice Department\u003c/a> to stop sending demands to state officials, a decision the Trump administration appealed Saturday. Several counties in the state had run quick checks of the Trump list and found numerous errors.\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-PRIMARYVOTERVOX-JY-08-KQED.jpg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-12085815\" srcset=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/06/20260602-PRIMARYVOTERVOX-JY-08-KQED.jpg 2000w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/06/20260602-PRIMARYVOTERVOX-JY-08-KQED-160x107.jpg 160w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/06/20260602-PRIMARYVOTERVOX-JY-08-KQED-1536x1024.jpg 1536w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 2000px) 100vw, 2000px\" />\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">Voters cast their ballots at the Parks Chapel AME Church in Oakland, California, on Tuesday, June 2, 2026. (Juliana Yamada for KQED)\u003c/figcaption>\u003c/figure>\n\n\n\n\u003cp class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Saturday’s broader analysis was possible because a federal judge on Friday ordered the Trump administration to share the list with the plaintiffs in the case.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">CHIRLA and the UCLA project sued the Homeland Security Department in early October to prevent it from using federal immigration data to challenge state voter rolls. The lawsuit \u003ca href=\"https://apnews.com/article/alabama-voter-purge-allen-secretary-state-judge-6cec74a5bc2afef14beae6827d4cf971\">cited examples in other states\u003c/a> where the federal government’s data has been proven \u003ca href=\"https://apnews.com/article/trump-elections-noncitizens-voting-save-lawsuit-a9612cfffa40c938e67b99f265c9e817\">to mistakenly include\u003c/a> thousands of citizens.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003ch2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Case argues that government’s methods pose risk to voting\u003c/h2>\n\n\n\n\u003cp class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">The case argued that the data-matching methods risk disenfranchising or deterring citizens from voting. On top of that, plaintiffs argued, the lists could disproportionately target naturalized citizens who are legally entitled to vote.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Applying the government’s methodology, the UCLA researchers found that nearly 7,500 naturalized citizens in the state were “highly likely” to be incorrectly flagged as ineligible.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">The researchers noted that the administration apparently removed the voter identification number from the names, making it harder for election officials to determine whether the flagged individuals were already on their rolls or were duplicates in the Justice Department list. They described the voter ID number as the most crucial data point.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">The Justice Department argues that there is just as much to lose if the ballots aren’t separated.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">“Every ballot cast by an ineligible voter cancels out the vote of an American citizen,” Kiersten V. Pels, a spokesperson for the department, wrote in an email. “The Department makes no apology for protecting those votes.”\u003c/p>\n",
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>The contention was made in a filing by two data analysts at the University of California, Los Angeles. They analyzed the 20,930 names that the department demanded that California election officials treat as possible illegal voters by separating their ballots during the vote count on Election Day.\u003c/p>\n",
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"\n\u003cp>The contention was made in a filing by two data analysts at the University of California, Los Angeles. They analyzed the 20,930 names that the department demanded that California election officials treat as possible illegal voters by separating their ballots during the vote count on Election Day.\u003c/p>\n"
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>\u003ca href=\"https://apnews.com/article/california-noncitizen-voting-trump-midterm-lawsuit-49cee0f4184b0ecb573f9f0274350642\">Multiple judges\u003c/a> have rejected the demand as unconstitutional and \u003ca href=\"https://apnews.com/article/california-noncitizen-voting-trump-midterm-lawsuit-481bed64919ad193e80e051d28beb2c0\">a threat to democracy\u003c/a>, and local and state officials have said the list appears riddled with errors.\u003c/p>\n",
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"\n\u003cp>\u003ca href=\"https://apnews.com/article/california-noncitizen-voting-trump-midterm-lawsuit-49cee0f4184b0ecb573f9f0274350642\">Multiple judges\u003c/a> have rejected the demand as unconstitutional and \u003ca href=\"https://apnews.com/article/california-noncitizen-voting-trump-midterm-lawsuit-481bed64919ad193e80e051d28beb2c0\">a threat to democracy\u003c/a>, and local and state officials have said the list appears riddled with errors.\u003c/p>\n"
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>The breadth of the problems with the list was outlined in Saturday’s filing. It describes an analysis by two members of UCLA’s Voting Rights Project, who filed a lawsuit challenging it with the Los Angeles-based Coalition for Humane Immigrant Rights, or CHIRLA.\u003c/p>\n",
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>The research found that 8,880 of the names, representing 42% of the entire list, do not correspond to anyone in California’s current voter file. It also found at least 22 are U.S. citizens, and many more may correspond to those of confirmed citizens.\u003c/p>\n",
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"\n\u003cp>The research found that 8,880 of the names, representing 42% of the entire list, do not correspond to anyone in California’s current voter file. It also found at least 22 are U.S. citizens, and many more may correspond to those of confirmed citizens.\u003c/p>\n"
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>“The expert analysis further makes clear that the mandated voter list endangers a significant number of eligible California voter,” said the filing, which was cosigned by \u003ca href=\"https://apnews.com/hub/xavier-becerra\">Xavier Becerra\u003c/a>, the Democratic candidate for California governor and an adviser to the UCLA Voting Rights Project.\u003c/p>\n",
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>The Trump administration had objected to sharing the list, calling it a “fishing expedition” and noting that it included sensitive information. On Saturday, the federal prosecutor who spearheaded the Trump case in California called the analysis “bogus.”\u003c/p>\n",
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>“This is a bogus report by the activist illegal immigrant rights group CHIRLA,” Bill Essayli, who runs the U.S. Attorney’s office in Los Angeles, posted on X.\u003c/p>\n",
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"\n\u003cp>“This is a bogus report by the activist illegal immigrant rights group CHIRLA,” Bill Essayli, who runs the U.S. Attorney’s office in Los Angeles, posted on X.\u003c/p>\n"
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>Also on Saturday, President Donald Trump bemoaned the legal rulings against his effort to force California to separate votes from the individuals his administration labels suspected noncitizens, even though one came from a judge he himself nominated.\u003c/p>\n",
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"\n\u003cp>Also on Saturday, President Donald Trump bemoaned the legal rulings against his effort to force California to separate votes from the individuals his administration labels suspected noncitizens, even though one came from a judge he himself nominated.\u003c/p>\n"
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>In a social media post, Trump claimed his Justice Department found “20,000, but potentially Hundreds of Thousands, and maybe even Millions,” of fraudulent votes, “and the Court has just ruled against it. Why would they reject fixing Election Fraud?”\u003c/p>\n",
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"\n\u003cp>In a social media post, Trump claimed his Justice Department found “20,000, but potentially Hundreds of Thousands, and maybe even Millions,” of fraudulent votes, “and the Court has just ruled against it. Why would they reject fixing Election Fraud?”\u003c/p>\n"
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>The Trump administration has also \u003ca href=\"https://apnews.com/article/washington-noncitizen-voting-63c17a3eadc9ed232fbd897afbd29b9d\">urged Washington state to remove\u003c/a> what it says were 400 possible noncitizens on its rolls, though state election officials there say that list is also unreliable and includes one voter who cast ballots in the 1990s.\u003c/p>\n",
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"\n\u003cp>The Trump administration has also \u003ca href=\"https://apnews.com/article/washington-noncitizen-voting-63c17a3eadc9ed232fbd897afbd29b9d\">urged Washington state to remove\u003c/a> what it says were 400 possible noncitizens on its rolls, though state election officials there say that list is also unreliable and includes one voter who cast ballots in the 1990s.\u003c/p>\n"
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>The Justice Department has warned California election officials they could face criminal liability if they let noncitizens vote and \u003ca href=\"https://apnews.com/article/california-noncitizen-voting-trump-midterm-lawsuit-20714065e59fe13db0e53c711a3ca390\">issued subpoenas\u003c/a> of election offices there.\u003c/p>\n",
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"\n\u003cp>The Justice Department has warned California election officials they could face criminal liability if they let noncitizens vote and \u003ca href=\"https://apnews.com/article/california-noncitizen-voting-trump-midterm-lawsuit-20714065e59fe13db0e53c711a3ca390\">issued subpoenas\u003c/a> of election offices there.\u003c/p>\n"
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>Election officials have complained that the Trump administration has confronted them with lists of possible illegal voters at the last minute before Election Day, with no time to conduct the painstaking investigation required by law before removing someone from the rolls.\u003c/p>\n",
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"\n\u003cp>Election officials have complained that the Trump administration has confronted them with lists of possible illegal voters at the last minute before Election Day, with no time to conduct the painstaking investigation required by law before removing someone from the rolls.\u003c/p>\n"
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>Multiple lawsuits have been filed to stop the administration from continuing to threaten local election officials.\u003c/p>\n",
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>On Friday, a federal judge in California \u003ca href=\"https://apnews.com/article/california-noncitizen-voting-trump-midterm-lawsuit-49cee0f4184b0ecb573f9f0274350642\">ordered the Justice Department\u003c/a> to stop sending demands to state officials, a decision the Trump administration appealed Saturday. Several counties in the state had run quick checks of the Trump list and found numerous errors.\u003c/p>\n",
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"\n\u003cp>On Friday, a federal judge in California \u003ca href=\"https://apnews.com/article/california-noncitizen-voting-trump-midterm-lawsuit-49cee0f4184b0ecb573f9f0274350642\">ordered the Justice Department\u003c/a> to stop sending demands to state officials, a decision the Trump administration appealed Saturday. Several counties in the state had run quick checks of the Trump list and found numerous errors.\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-PRIMARYVOTERVOX-JY-08-KQED.jpg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-12085815\" srcset=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/06/20260602-PRIMARYVOTERVOX-JY-08-KQED.jpg 2000w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/06/20260602-PRIMARYVOTERVOX-JY-08-KQED-160x107.jpg 160w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/06/20260602-PRIMARYVOTERVOX-JY-08-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 the Parks Chapel AME Church in Oakland, California, on Tuesday, June 2, 2026.\u003ccite class=\"wp-inline-image-credit\"> (Juliana Yamada for KQED)\u003c/cite>\u003c/figcaption>\u003c/figure>\n",
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>Saturday’s broader analysis was possible because a federal judge on Friday ordered the Trump administration to share the list with the plaintiffs in the case.\u003c/p>\n",
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>CHIRLA and the UCLA project sued the Homeland Security Department in early October to prevent it from using federal immigration data to challenge state voter rolls. The lawsuit \u003ca href=\"https://apnews.com/article/alabama-voter-purge-allen-secretary-state-judge-6cec74a5bc2afef14beae6827d4cf971\">cited examples in other states\u003c/a> where the federal government’s data has been proven \u003ca href=\"https://apnews.com/article/trump-elections-noncitizens-voting-save-lawsuit-a9612cfffa40c938e67b99f265c9e817\">to mistakenly include\u003c/a> thousands of citizens.\u003c/p>\n",
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"\n\u003cp>CHIRLA and the UCLA project sued the Homeland Security Department in early October to prevent it from using federal immigration data to challenge state voter rolls. The lawsuit \u003ca href=\"https://apnews.com/article/alabama-voter-purge-allen-secretary-state-judge-6cec74a5bc2afef14beae6827d4cf971\">cited examples in other states\u003c/a> where the federal government’s data has been proven \u003ca href=\"https://apnews.com/article/trump-elections-noncitizens-voting-save-lawsuit-a9612cfffa40c938e67b99f265c9e817\">to mistakenly include\u003c/a> thousands of citizens.\u003c/p>\n"
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>The case argued that the data-matching methods risk disenfranchising or deterring citizens from voting. On top of that, plaintiffs argued, the lists could disproportionately target naturalized citizens who are legally entitled to vote.\u003c/p>\n",
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>Applying the government’s methodology, the UCLA researchers found that nearly 7,500 naturalized citizens in the state were “highly likely” to be incorrectly flagged as ineligible.\u003c/p>\n",
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>The researchers noted that the administration apparently removed the voter identification number from the names, making it harder for election officials to determine whether the flagged individuals were already on their rolls or were duplicates in the Justice Department list. They described the voter ID number as the most crucial data point.\u003c/p>\n",
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"\n\u003cp>The researchers noted that the administration apparently removed the voter identification number from the names, making it harder for election officials to determine whether the flagged individuals were already on their rolls or were duplicates in the Justice Department list. They described the voter ID number as the most crucial data point.\u003c/p>\n"
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>The Justice Department argues that there is just as much to lose if the ballots aren’t separated.\u003c/p>\n",
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>“Every ballot cast by an ineligible voter cancels out the vote of an American citizen,” Kiersten V. Pels, a spokesperson for the department, wrote in an email. “The Department makes no apology for protecting those votes.”\u003c/p>\n",
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"excerpt": "More than 4 in 10 names flagged as possible noncitizen voters in California by the Trump administration can’t even be found on the state’s voter rolls. ",
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"content": "\u003cdiv class=\"post-body\">\u003cp>\n\u003cp class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">More than 4 in 10 names flagged as \u003ca href=\"https://www.kqed.org/news/12106418/santa-clara-county-rejects-trump-administration-voter-probe\">possible noncitizen voters\u003c/a> in California by the Trump administration cannot be found on the state’s voter rolls, according to a legal filing Saturday by an immigrant rights group.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">It’s the first outside analysis of a list that the \u003ca href=\"https://apnews.com/hub/us-department-of-justice\">Department of Justice\u003c/a> has used to threaten prosecution of election officials. The analysis also found that thousands of U.S. citizens appear to be flagged as ineligible to vote on the government’s list.\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/10/2026/06/251104-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 Nov. 4, 2025. (Joseph Geha/KQED)\u003c/figcaption>\u003c/figure>\n\n\n\n\u003cp class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">The contention was made in a filing by two data analysts at the University of California, Los Angeles. They analyzed the 20,930 names that the department demanded that California election officials treat as possible illegal voters by separating their ballots during the vote count on Election Day.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">\u003ca href=\"https://apnews.com/article/california-noncitizen-voting-trump-midterm-lawsuit-49cee0f4184b0ecb573f9f0274350642\">Multiple judges\u003c/a> have rejected the demand as unconstitutional and \u003ca href=\"https://apnews.com/article/california-noncitizen-voting-trump-midterm-lawsuit-481bed64919ad193e80e051d28beb2c0\">a threat to democracy\u003c/a>, and local and state officials have said the list appears riddled with errors.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003ch2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Court filing outlines problems with government list\u003c/h2>\n\n\n\n\u003cp class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">The breadth of the problems with the list was outlined in Saturday’s filing. It describes an analysis by two members of UCLA’s Voting Rights Project, who filed a lawsuit challenging it with the Los Angeles-based Coalition for Humane Immigrant Rights, or CHIRLA.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">The research found that 8,880 of the names, representing 42% of the entire list, do not correspond to anyone in California’s current voter file. It also found at least 22 are U.S. citizens, and many more may correspond to those of confirmed citizens.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">“The expert analysis further makes clear that the mandated voter list endangers a significant number of eligible California voter,” said the filing, which was cosigned by \u003ca href=\"https://apnews.com/hub/xavier-becerra\">Xavier Becerra\u003c/a>, the Democratic candidate for California governor and an adviser to the UCLA Voting Rights Project.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\u003cp class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">The Trump administration had objected to sharing the list, calling it a “fishing expedition” and noting that it included sensitive information. On Saturday, the federal prosecutor who spearheaded the Trump case in California called the analysis “bogus.”\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">“This is a bogus report by the activist illegal immigrant rights group CHIRLA,” Bill Essayli, who runs the U.S. Attorney’s office in Los Angeles, posted on X.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Also on Saturday, President Donald Trump bemoaned the legal rulings against his effort to force California to separate votes from the individuals his administration labels suspected noncitizens, even though one came from a judge he himself nominated.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">In a social media post, Trump claimed his Justice Department found “20,000, but potentially Hundreds of Thousands, and maybe even Millions,” of fraudulent votes, “and the Court has just ruled against it. Why would they reject fixing Election Fraud?”\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">The Trump administration has also \u003ca href=\"https://apnews.com/article/washington-noncitizen-voting-63c17a3eadc9ed232fbd897afbd29b9d\">urged Washington state to remove\u003c/a> what it says were 400 possible noncitizens on its rolls, though state election officials there say that list is also unreliable and includes one voter who cast ballots in the 1990s.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">The Justice Department has warned California election officials they could face criminal liability if they let noncitizens vote and \u003ca href=\"https://apnews.com/article/california-noncitizen-voting-trump-midterm-lawsuit-20714065e59fe13db0e53c711a3ca390\">issued subpoenas\u003c/a> of election offices there.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003ch2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Election officials say they have no time to investigate\u003c/h2>\n\n\n\n\u003cp class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Election officials have complained that the Trump administration has confronted them with lists of possible illegal voters at the last minute before Election Day, with no time to conduct the painstaking investigation required by law before removing someone from the rolls.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Multiple lawsuits have been filed to stop the administration from continuing to threaten local election officials.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">On Friday, a federal judge in California \u003ca href=\"https://apnews.com/article/california-noncitizen-voting-trump-midterm-lawsuit-49cee0f4184b0ecb573f9f0274350642\">ordered the Justice Department\u003c/a> to stop sending demands to state officials, a decision the Trump administration appealed Saturday. Several counties in the state had run quick checks of the Trump list and found numerous errors.\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-PRIMARYVOTERVOX-JY-08-KQED.jpg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-12085815\" srcset=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/06/20260602-PRIMARYVOTERVOX-JY-08-KQED.jpg 2000w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/06/20260602-PRIMARYVOTERVOX-JY-08-KQED-160x107.jpg 160w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/06/20260602-PRIMARYVOTERVOX-JY-08-KQED-1536x1024.jpg 1536w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 2000px) 100vw, 2000px\" />\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">Voters cast their ballots at the Parks Chapel AME Church in Oakland, California, on Tuesday, June 2, 2026. (Juliana Yamada for KQED)\u003c/figcaption>\u003c/figure>\n\n\n\n\u003cp class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Saturday’s broader analysis was possible because a federal judge on Friday ordered the Trump administration to share the list with the plaintiffs in the case.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">CHIRLA and the UCLA project sued the Homeland Security Department in early October to prevent it from using federal immigration data to challenge state voter rolls. The lawsuit \u003ca href=\"https://apnews.com/article/alabama-voter-purge-allen-secretary-state-judge-6cec74a5bc2afef14beae6827d4cf971\">cited examples in other states\u003c/a> where the federal government’s data has been proven \u003ca href=\"https://apnews.com/article/trump-elections-noncitizens-voting-save-lawsuit-a9612cfffa40c938e67b99f265c9e817\">to mistakenly include\u003c/a> thousands of citizens.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003ch2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Case argues that government’s methods pose risk to voting\u003c/h2>\n\n\n\n\u003cp class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">The case argued that the data-matching methods risk disenfranchising or deterring citizens from voting. On top of that, plaintiffs argued, the lists could disproportionately target naturalized citizens who are legally entitled to vote.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Applying the government’s methodology, the UCLA researchers found that nearly 7,500 naturalized citizens in the state were “highly likely” to be incorrectly flagged as ineligible.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">The researchers noted that the administration apparently removed the voter identification number from the names, making it harder for election officials to determine whether the flagged individuals were already on their rolls or were duplicates in the Justice Department list. They described the voter ID number as the most crucial data point.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">The Justice Department argues that there is just as much to lose if the ballots aren’t separated.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">“Every ballot cast by an ineligible voter cancels out the vote of an American citizen,” Kiersten V. Pels, a spokesperson for the department, wrote in an email. “The Department makes no apology for protecting those votes.”\u003c/p>\n\u003c/div>\u003c/p>",
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"slug": "central-valley-farmers-face-rising-costs-is-it-enough-to-flip-a-house-seat",
"title": "Central Valley Farmers Face Rising Costs. Is It Enough to Flip a House Seat?",
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"headTitle": "Central Valley Farmers Face Rising Costs. Is It Enough to Flip a House Seat? | KQED",
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"content": "\n\u003cp class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">TULARE — As he walks through a barn where brown Jersey cows are feeding, \u003ca href=\"https://www.kqed.org/news/12106857/in-tight-central-valley-race-trumps-policies-could-impact-agriculture-vote\">Landon Fernandes\u003c/a> picks up handfuls of the feed and lists the ingredients: alfalfa hay, corn silage, wheat mill run, canola meal, cotton seed and almond hulls. \u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">His family-owned dairy operation grows or buys everything to make the feed for more than 10,000 animals a day, and they change the recipe regularly based on fluctuating costs. Fernandes estimates it typically accounts for 40% of the farm’s expenses but has surged by 10% as feed costs have climbed over the last 12 months. \u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">“The hardest thing about farming is you can’t control your price,” he said. “So you do the best you can to control your inputs, but sometimes that’s out of your hands as well.” \u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Fernandes, 36, is a third-generation dairy farmer in Tulare and president of the Tulare County Farm Bureau. Like other farmers KQED spoke to ahead of the midterm election, he attributes those rising costs in part to President Donald Trump’s trade disputes and the war in Iran, which has \u003ca href=\"https://www.kqed.org/news/12104393/california-democrats-hope-iran-war-flips-the-script-on-gas-prices\">driven up fuel prices\u003c/a>. Unlike feed ingredients, diesel has no substitute; Fernandes needs it to power his tractors, and higher prices raise the surcharges that trucking companies bill him for deliveries.\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/10/2026/10/261021-CA22Farming-18-BL-KQED-c38c2790.jpg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-12106942\" srcset=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/10/261021-CA22Farming-18-BL-KQED-c38c2790.jpg 2000w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/10/261021-CA22Farming-18-BL-KQED-c38c2790-160x107.jpg 160w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/10/261021-CA22Farming-18-BL-KQED-c38c2790-1536x1024.jpg 1536w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 2000px) 100vw, 2000px\" />\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">Landon Fernandes inspects soil at his family’s dairy farm, Fernjo Farms, in Tulare on Oct. 21, 2026. (Beth LaBerge/KQED)\u003c/figcaption>\u003c/figure>\n\n\n\n\u003cp class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Those economic pressures — and their ties to Trump in the eyes of some farmers — could spell trouble for the Republican Party here in the Central Valley, home to the heart of California’s agricultural production as well as the state’s only true toss-up House race this year, according to the nonpartisan \u003ca href=\"https://www.cookpolitical.com/house/race/481926\">Cook Political Report\u003c/a>. \u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Dave Puglia, president and CEO of Western Growers, said he has never seen so many serious problems hit farmers all at once. The nonprofit represents family farmers in California, Arizona, Colorado and New Mexico.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">“There’s sort of an existential crisis feeling across the agriculture industry,” Puglia said. \u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Fernandes remembers shoveling manure, cleaning milk barns and cutting hay bales as a kid growing up on the ranch. It mostly produces milk that is processed into cheese, butter and whole milk powder, but they also planted an almond orchard in 2016 and a pistachio orchard in 2020 to diversify their income. \u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\u003cp class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">On top of rising costs for feed and fuel, the ranch is contending with falling milk prices, which Fernandes partly traces to Canada’s retaliatory tariffs on U.S. dairy, and rising labor costs, which he ties to the state minimum wage and agricultural overtime laws. The result, he said, is a “perfect storm” that has hurt his bottom line and forced him to draw on cash reserves and loans. \u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">A quarter of farmers rank the Trump administration as the most responsible for agriculture-related challenges, according to \u003ca href=\"https://www.amatoadvisors.com/farmer-poll\">an April survey\u003c/a> commissioned by the firm Amato Advisors and conducted by Farm Journal. Many costs, including diesel prices, have only risen since then.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">The same poll found that 4 in 10 farmers are “persuadable” this year — as in, they are considering voting for a different party than they usually do. In the 22nd Congressional District, which spans parts of five counties in the San Joaquin Valley and where \u003ca href=\"https://datausa.io/profile/geo/congressional-district-22-ca\">farming, fishing and forestry\u003c/a> are the top employment sectors, that could put Rep. David Valadao to the test in the Nov. 3 midterm. \u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">The Republican incumbent is \u003ca href=\"https://www.kqed.org/news/12103863/valadao-villegas-debate-and-the-fight-for-latino-voters-in-the-central-valley\">defending his seat\u003c/a> against progressive Democrat Randy Villegas in a redrawn district that Trump won in 2024. Both are courting the farm vote, which has typically leaned Republican. \u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Villegas, a community college professor and son of Mexican immigrants, is running an economic populist campaign. His strategy is to tie Valadao to Trump policies that are unpopular with farmers, like allowing duty-free imports of lean beef trimmings for 90 days this fall.\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/10/2026/10/261021-CA22Farming-42-BL-KQED-66e8cac7.jpg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-12106946\" srcset=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/10/261021-CA22Farming-42-BL-KQED-66e8cac7.jpg 2000w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/10/261021-CA22Farming-42-BL-KQED-66e8cac7-160x107.jpg 160w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/10/261021-CA22Farming-42-BL-KQED-66e8cac7-1536x1024.jpg 1536w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 2000px) 100vw, 2000px\" />\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">A farm in the Central Valley on Oct. 21, 2026. (Beth LaBerge/KQED)\u003c/figcaption>\u003c/figure>\n\n\n\n\u003cp class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">“When they announce they are going to import 300,000 metric tons of beef from across the world, they’re literally undercutting our own ranchers and farmers here in the Central Valley and across the country,” Villegas said in an interview \u003ca href=\"https://www.kqed.org/news/12105844/randy-villegas-has-a-theory-of-how-to-win-in-the-central-valley\">with KQED’s Political Breakdown\u003c/a>. \u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Valadao is the son of Portuguese immigrants who came to California as dairy farmers. \u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">He did not respond to KQED’s interview requests, but at a televised debate this month, he leaned into his farming roots and directed blame for high costs to the state’s Democratic-led Legislature. \u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">“The fact that our fuel is so much higher has a lot more to do with Sacramento than anything else,” he said. “If we really want to change prices, we really need to focus on Sacramento, get some of those refineries back up and going, and produce as much fuel as we can here locally.”\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\u003cp class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">That message resonates with farmers here, who also see the state’s regulatory environment, water shortages and labor costs as drivers of the current crisis.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">“In the past two years, I would definitely say there’s been increased unwanted activity in closures of farming businesses, flat out bankruptcies and asset sales, or more commonly, consolidation with larger and larger companies,” Puglia said. “I trace that as much to state policy as federal policy. I think both share some of the blame for that.”\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">While Republicans nationally struggle to separate themselves from Trump, Republican strategist Liz Mair said Valadao is an exception. He has “cut a very independent profile” by breaking with his party on immigration and voting to impeach Trump after the Jan. 6, 2021, attack on the Capitol, she said.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">“He is not a stereotypical Republican in any way, shape or form,” she said. “[That] has traditionally given him quite an advantage even in very tough election cycles.”\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Valadao has won six of the last seven elections despite Democrats’ edge in voter registration here. His only loss came in the 2018 “blue wave.” \u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">This year, Villegas will have the advantage of a district redrawn further in Democrats’ favor \u003ca href=\"https://www.kqed.org/news/12106022/california-democrats-rally-to-deliver-on-proposition-50-was-it-really-needed\">by Proposition 50\u003c/a>. Trump carried the 22nd Congressional District by almost 6 points in 2024 under the old lines, but if the redrawn boundaries were in effect, he would have won by less than 2, according to the California Target Book.\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/10/2026/10/261021-CA22Farming-34-BL-KQED-7ea7244f.jpg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-12106945\" srcset=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/10/261021-CA22Farming-34-BL-KQED-7ea7244f.jpg 2000w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/10/261021-CA22Farming-34-BL-KQED-7ea7244f-160x107.jpg 160w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/10/261021-CA22Farming-34-BL-KQED-7ea7244f-1536x1024.jpg 1536w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 2000px) 100vw, 2000px\" />\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">A campaign sign says, “Farmers for Hilton” in Tulare, in the Central Valley, on Oct. 21, 2026. (Beth LaBerge/KQED)\u003c/figcaption>\u003c/figure>\n\n\n\n\u003cp class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Valadao could also benefit from the district’s makeup. It’s a “unique district,” Mair said, where farmers don’t fit the same mold as farmers elsewhere in the country. \u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">“I think when you’re looking at California Central Valley farmers, they do tend to be a more conservative lot, but they’re not conservative in the way that MAGA is,” she said. “To me, there’s a libertarian versus big government conservative axis.” \u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Fernandes is a registered Republican because he sees the party as aligned with less government oversight, less red tape and more economic growth. His father once registered as a Democrat, he said, but politics were never a priority growing up. \u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">“We were always so busy working, we didn’t get too bogged down in the politics or the ‘drama’ as I call it sometimes,” 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/10/2026/10/261021-CA22Farming-13-BL-KQED-0ccda6c3.jpg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-12106941\" srcset=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/10/261021-CA22Farming-13-BL-KQED-0ccda6c3.jpg 2000w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/10/261021-CA22Farming-13-BL-KQED-0ccda6c3-160x107.jpg 160w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/10/261021-CA22Farming-13-BL-KQED-0ccda6c3-1536x1024.jpg 1536w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 2000px) 100vw, 2000px\" />\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">Dairy cows stand in a feeding pen at Fernjo Farms in Tulare on Oct. 21, 2026. (Beth LaBerge/KQED)\u003c/figcaption>\u003c/figure>\n\n\n\n\u003cp class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Even now, Fernandes insists he isn’t into politics. \u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">If he were to vote for a Democrat, he said, it would be a more moderate candidate than Villegas. Seeing Villegas rally alongside Democratic socialists like Vermont Sen. Bernie Sanders and New York Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez does not give him a “warm and fuzzy feeling,” he said. \u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Other farmers in the district told KQED they don’t think Villegas is truly courting their vote. Lee Guthrie, a Tulare County cattle rancher, believes Villegas is more focused on the laborers who work the farms. \u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">“I don’t think we’re his target voters,” she said. \u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\u003cp class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">The Kern County Farm Bureau, which has officially endorsed Valadao, said it hasn’t heard from Villegas at all. \u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">When asked whom he has approached in the agricultural industry, Villegas said he spoke to local farmers who are worried about \u003ca href=\"https://www.kqed.org/news/12016674/will-trump-deliver-more-water-to-californias-fields-farmers-hope-so\">water access\u003c/a>. He then pivoted to the \u003ca href=\"https://www.kqed.org/news/12104776/an-ice-surge-in-california-ahead-of-the-midterms-heres-what-we-know\">Trump administration’s attacks\u003c/a> on the people who make up much of the industry’s workforce. \u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">“Agriculture depends in large part on immigrant labor,” he said. “The fact that we are seeing that same workforce attacked by this administration is unjust.”\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">As Fernandes weighs his choice for Congress, Trump isn’t part of the calculation. \u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">“I’m pro-Valadao because Valadao is pro-ag,” he said. “Naturally, you’re going to vote for what better impacts you personally, your family, your business.”\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">For his part, Fernandes said he doesn’t know a single person in agriculture here who’s voting for Villegas.\u003c/p>\n",
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>TULARE — As he walks through a barn where brown Jersey cows are feeding, \u003ca href=\"https://www.kqed.org/news/12106857/in-tight-central-valley-race-trumps-policies-could-impact-agriculture-vote\">Landon Fernandes\u003c/a> picks up handfuls of the feed and lists the ingredients: alfalfa hay, corn silage, wheat mill run, canola meal, cotton seed and almond hulls. \u003c/p>\n",
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"\n\u003cp>TULARE — As he walks through a barn where brown Jersey cows are feeding, \u003ca href=\"https://www.kqed.org/news/12106857/in-tight-central-valley-race-trumps-policies-could-impact-agriculture-vote\">Landon Fernandes\u003c/a> picks up handfuls of the feed and lists the ingredients: alfalfa hay, corn silage, wheat mill run, canola meal, cotton seed and almond hulls. \u003c/p>\n"
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>His family-owned dairy operation grows or buys everything to make the feed for more than 10,000 animals a day, and they change the recipe regularly based on fluctuating costs. Fernandes estimates it typically accounts for 40% of the farm’s expenses but has surged by 10% as feed costs have climbed over the last 12 months. \u003c/p>\n",
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"\n\u003cp>His family-owned dairy operation grows or buys everything to make the feed for more than 10,000 animals a day, and they change the recipe regularly based on fluctuating costs. Fernandes estimates it typically accounts for 40% of the farm’s expenses but has surged by 10% as feed costs have climbed over the last 12 months. \u003c/p>\n"
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>“The hardest thing about farming is you can’t control your price,” he said. “So you do the best you can to control your inputs, but sometimes that’s out of your hands as well.” \u003c/p>\n",
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"\n\u003cp>“The hardest thing about farming is you can’t control your price,” he said. “So you do the best you can to control your inputs, but sometimes that’s out of your hands as well.” \u003c/p>\n"
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>Fernandes, 36, is a third-generation dairy farmer in Tulare and president of the Tulare County Farm Bureau. Like other farmers KQED spoke to ahead of the midterm election, he attributes those rising costs in part to President Donald Trump’s trade disputes and the war in Iran, which has \u003ca href=\"https://www.kqed.org/news/12104393/california-democrats-hope-iran-war-flips-the-script-on-gas-prices\">driven up fuel prices\u003c/a>. Unlike feed ingredients, diesel has no substitute; Fernandes needs it to power his tractors, and higher prices raise the surcharges that trucking companies bill him for deliveries.\u003c/p>\n",
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"\n\u003cp>Fernandes, 36, is a third-generation dairy farmer in Tulare and president of the Tulare County Farm Bureau. Like other farmers KQED spoke to ahead of the midterm election, he attributes those rising costs in part to President Donald Trump’s trade disputes and the war in Iran, which has \u003ca href=\"https://www.kqed.org/news/12104393/california-democrats-hope-iran-war-flips-the-script-on-gas-prices\">driven up fuel prices\u003c/a>. Unlike feed ingredients, diesel has no substitute; Fernandes needs it to power his tractors, and higher prices raise the surcharges that trucking companies bill him for deliveries.\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/10/2026/10/261021-CA22Farming-18-BL-KQED-c38c2790.jpg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-12106942\" srcset=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/10/261021-CA22Farming-18-BL-KQED-c38c2790.jpg 2000w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/10/261021-CA22Farming-18-BL-KQED-c38c2790-160x107.jpg 160w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/10/261021-CA22Farming-18-BL-KQED-c38c2790-1536x1024.jpg 1536w\" sizes=\"(min-width: 992px) min(100vw, 1536px), (min-width: 768px) min(100vw, 1280px), min(100vw, 1020px)\"/>\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">Landon Fernandes inspects soil at his family’s dairy farm, Fernjo Farms, in Tulare on Oct. 21, 2026.\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/10/2026/10/261021-CA22Farming-18-BL-KQED-c38c2790.jpg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-12106942\"/>\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">Landon Fernandes inspects soil at his family’s dairy farm, Fernjo Farms, in Tulare on Oct. 21, 2026.\u003ccite class=\"wp-inline-image-credit\"> (Beth LaBerge/KQED)\u003c/cite>\u003c/figcaption>\u003c/figure>\n"
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>Those economic pressures — and their ties to Trump in the eyes of some farmers — could spell trouble for the Republican Party here in the Central Valley, home to the heart of California’s agricultural production as well as the state’s only true toss-up House race this year, according to the nonpartisan \u003ca href=\"https://www.cookpolitical.com/house/race/481926\">Cook Political Report\u003c/a>. \u003c/p>\n",
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"\n\u003cp>Those economic pressures — and their ties to Trump in the eyes of some farmers — could spell trouble for the Republican Party here in the Central Valley, home to the heart of California’s agricultural production as well as the state’s only true toss-up House race this year, according to the nonpartisan \u003ca href=\"https://www.cookpolitical.com/house/race/481926\">Cook Political Report\u003c/a>. \u003c/p>\n"
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>Dave Puglia, president and CEO of Western Growers, said he has never seen so many serious problems hit farmers all at once. The nonprofit represents family farmers in California, Arizona, Colorado and New Mexico.\u003c/p>\n",
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"\n\u003cp>Dave Puglia, president and CEO of Western Growers, said he has never seen so many serious problems hit farmers all at once. The nonprofit represents family farmers in California, Arizona, Colorado and New Mexico.\u003c/p>\n"
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>“There’s sort of an existential crisis feeling across the agriculture industry,” Puglia said. \u003c/p>\n",
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>Fernandes remembers shoveling manure, cleaning milk barns and cutting hay bales as a kid growing up on the ranch. It mostly produces milk that is processed into cheese, butter and whole milk powder, but they also planted an almond orchard in 2016 and a pistachio orchard in 2020 to diversify their income. \u003c/p>\n",
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"\n\u003cp>Fernandes remembers shoveling manure, cleaning milk barns and cutting hay bales as a kid growing up on the ranch. It mostly produces milk that is processed into cheese, butter and whole milk powder, but they also planted an almond orchard in 2016 and a pistachio orchard in 2020 to diversify their income. \u003c/p>\n"
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>On top of rising costs for feed and fuel, the ranch is contending with falling milk prices, which Fernandes partly traces to Canada’s retaliatory tariffs on U.S. dairy, and rising labor costs, which he ties to the state minimum wage and agricultural overtime laws. The result, he said, is a “perfect storm” that has hurt his bottom line and forced him to draw on cash reserves and loans. \u003c/p>\n",
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"\n\u003cp>On top of rising costs for feed and fuel, the ranch is contending with falling milk prices, which Fernandes partly traces to Canada’s retaliatory tariffs on U.S. dairy, and rising labor costs, which he ties to the state minimum wage and agricultural overtime laws. The result, he said, is a “perfect storm” that has hurt his bottom line and forced him to draw on cash reserves and loans. \u003c/p>\n"
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>A quarter of farmers rank the Trump administration as the most responsible for agriculture-related challenges, according to \u003ca href=\"https://www.amatoadvisors.com/farmer-poll\">an April survey\u003c/a> commissioned by the firm Amato Advisors and conducted by Farm Journal. Many costs, including diesel prices, have only risen since then.\u003c/p>\n",
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"\n\u003cp>A quarter of farmers rank the Trump administration as the most responsible for agriculture-related challenges, according to \u003ca href=\"https://www.amatoadvisors.com/farmer-poll\">an April survey\u003c/a> commissioned by the firm Amato Advisors and conducted by Farm Journal. Many costs, including diesel prices, have only risen since then.\u003c/p>\n"
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>The same poll found that 4 in 10 farmers are “persuadable” this year — as in, they are considering voting for a different party than they usually do. In the 22nd Congressional District, which spans parts of five counties in the San Joaquin Valley and where \u003ca href=\"https://datausa.io/profile/geo/congressional-district-22-ca\">farming, fishing and forestry\u003c/a> are the top employment sectors, that could put Rep. David Valadao to the test in the Nov. 3 midterm. \u003c/p>\n",
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"\n\u003cp>The same poll found that 4 in 10 farmers are “persuadable” this year — as in, they are considering voting for a different party than they usually do. In the 22nd Congressional District, which spans parts of five counties in the San Joaquin Valley and where \u003ca href=\"https://datausa.io/profile/geo/congressional-district-22-ca\">farming, fishing and forestry\u003c/a> are the top employment sectors, that could put Rep. David Valadao to the test in the Nov. 3 midterm. \u003c/p>\n"
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>The Republican incumbent is \u003ca href=\"https://www.kqed.org/news/12103863/valadao-villegas-debate-and-the-fight-for-latino-voters-in-the-central-valley\">defending his seat\u003c/a> against progressive Democrat Randy Villegas in a redrawn district that Trump won in 2024. Both are courting the farm vote, which has typically leaned Republican. \u003c/p>\n",
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"\n\u003cp>The Republican incumbent is \u003ca href=\"https://www.kqed.org/news/12103863/valadao-villegas-debate-and-the-fight-for-latino-voters-in-the-central-valley\">defending his seat\u003c/a> against progressive Democrat Randy Villegas in a redrawn district that Trump won in 2024. Both are courting the farm vote, which has typically leaned Republican. \u003c/p>\n"
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>Villegas, a community college professor and son of Mexican immigrants, is running an economic populist campaign. His strategy is to tie Valadao to Trump policies that are unpopular with farmers, like allowing duty-free imports of lean beef trimmings for 90 days this fall.\u003c/p>\n",
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"\n\u003cp>Villegas, a community college professor and son of Mexican immigrants, is running an economic populist campaign. His strategy is to tie Valadao to Trump policies that are unpopular with farmers, like allowing duty-free imports of lean beef trimmings for 90 days this fall.\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/10/2026/10/261021-CA22Farming-42-BL-KQED-66e8cac7.jpg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-12106946\" srcset=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/10/261021-CA22Farming-42-BL-KQED-66e8cac7.jpg 2000w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/10/261021-CA22Farming-42-BL-KQED-66e8cac7-160x107.jpg 160w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/10/261021-CA22Farming-42-BL-KQED-66e8cac7-1536x1024.jpg 1536w\" sizes=\"(min-width: 992px) min(100vw, 1536px), (min-width: 768px) min(100vw, 1280px), min(100vw, 1020px)\"/>\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">A farm in the Central Valley on Oct. 21, 2026.\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/10/2026/10/261021-CA22Farming-42-BL-KQED-66e8cac7.jpg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-12106946\"/>\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">A farm in the Central Valley on Oct. 21, 2026.\u003ccite class=\"wp-inline-image-credit\"> (Beth LaBerge/KQED)\u003c/cite>\u003c/figcaption>\u003c/figure>\n"
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>“When they announce they are going to import 300,000 metric tons of beef from across the world, they’re literally undercutting our own ranchers and farmers here in the Central Valley and across the country,” Villegas said in an interview \u003ca href=\"https://www.kqed.org/news/12105844/randy-villegas-has-a-theory-of-how-to-win-in-the-central-valley\">with KQED’s Political Breakdown\u003c/a>. \u003c/p>\n",
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"\n\u003cp>“When they announce they are going to import 300,000 metric tons of beef from across the world, they’re literally undercutting our own ranchers and farmers here in the Central Valley and across the country,” Villegas said in an interview \u003ca href=\"https://www.kqed.org/news/12105844/randy-villegas-has-a-theory-of-how-to-win-in-the-central-valley\">with KQED’s Political Breakdown\u003c/a>. \u003c/p>\n"
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>Valadao is the son of Portuguese immigrants who came to California as dairy farmers. \u003c/p>\n",
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>He did not respond to KQED’s interview requests, but at a televised debate this month, he leaned into his farming roots and directed blame for high costs to the state’s Democratic-led Legislature. \u003c/p>\n",
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"\n\u003cp>He did not respond to KQED’s interview requests, but at a televised debate this month, he leaned into his farming roots and directed blame for high costs to the state’s Democratic-led Legislature. \u003c/p>\n"
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>“The fact that our fuel is so much higher has a lot more to do with Sacramento than anything else,” he said. “If we really want to change prices, we really need to focus on Sacramento, get some of those refineries back up and going, and produce as much fuel as we can here locally.”\u003c/p>\n",
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"\n\u003cp>“The fact that our fuel is so much higher has a lot more to do with Sacramento than anything else,” he said. “If we really want to change prices, we really need to focus on Sacramento, get some of those refineries back up and going, and produce as much fuel as we can here locally.”\u003c/p>\n"
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>That message resonates with farmers here, who also see the state’s regulatory environment, water shortages and labor costs as drivers of the current crisis.\u003c/p>\n",
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"\n\u003cp>That message resonates with farmers here, who also see the state’s regulatory environment, water shortages and labor costs as drivers of the current crisis.\u003c/p>\n"
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>“In the past two years, I would definitely say there’s been increased unwanted activity in closures of farming businesses, flat out bankruptcies and asset sales, or more commonly, consolidation with larger and larger companies,” Puglia said. “I trace that as much to state policy as federal policy. I think both share some of the blame for that.”\u003c/p>\n",
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"\n\u003cp>“In the past two years, I would definitely say there’s been increased unwanted activity in closures of farming businesses, flat out bankruptcies and asset sales, or more commonly, consolidation with larger and larger companies,” Puglia said. “I trace that as much to state policy as federal policy. I think both share some of the blame for that.”\u003c/p>\n"
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>While Republicans nationally struggle to separate themselves from Trump, Republican strategist Liz Mair said Valadao is an exception. He has “cut a very independent profile” by breaking with his party on immigration and voting to impeach Trump after the Jan. 6, 2021, attack on the Capitol, she said.\u003c/p>\n",
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"\n\u003cp>While Republicans nationally struggle to separate themselves from Trump, Republican strategist Liz Mair said Valadao is an exception. He has “cut a very independent profile” by breaking with his party on immigration and voting to impeach Trump after the Jan. 6, 2021, attack on the Capitol, she said.\u003c/p>\n"
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>“He is not a stereotypical Republican in any way, shape or form,” she said. “[That] has traditionally given him quite an advantage even in very tough election cycles.”\u003c/p>\n",
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"\n\u003cp>“He is not a stereotypical Republican in any way, shape or form,” she said. “[That] has traditionally given him quite an advantage even in very tough election cycles.”\u003c/p>\n"
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>Valadao has won six of the last seven elections despite Democrats’ edge in voter registration here. His only loss came in the 2018 “blue wave.” \u003c/p>\n",
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"\n\u003cp>Valadao has won six of the last seven elections despite Democrats’ edge in voter registration here. His only loss came in the 2018 “blue wave.” \u003c/p>\n"
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>This year, Villegas will have the advantage of a district redrawn further in Democrats’ favor \u003ca href=\"https://www.kqed.org/news/12106022/california-democrats-rally-to-deliver-on-proposition-50-was-it-really-needed\">by Proposition 50\u003c/a>. Trump carried the 22nd Congressional District by almost 6 points in 2024 under the old lines, but if the redrawn boundaries were in effect, he would have won by less than 2, according to the California Target Book.\u003c/p>\n",
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>Valadao could also benefit from the district’s makeup. It’s a “unique district,” Mair said, where farmers don’t fit the same mold as farmers elsewhere in the country. \u003c/p>\n",
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"\n\u003cp>Valadao could also benefit from the district’s makeup. It’s a “unique district,” Mair said, where farmers don’t fit the same mold as farmers elsewhere in the country. \u003c/p>\n"
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>“I think when you’re looking at California Central Valley farmers, they do tend to be a more conservative lot, but they’re not conservative in the way that MAGA is,” she said. “To me, there’s a libertarian versus big government conservative axis.” \u003c/p>\n",
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"\n\u003cp>“I think when you’re looking at California Central Valley farmers, they do tend to be a more conservative lot, but they’re not conservative in the way that MAGA is,” she said. “To me, there’s a libertarian versus big government conservative axis.” \u003c/p>\n"
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>Fernandes is a registered Republican because he sees the party as aligned with less government oversight, less red tape and more economic growth. His father once registered as a Democrat, he said, but politics were never a priority growing up. \u003c/p>\n",
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"\n\u003cp>Fernandes is a registered Republican because he sees the party as aligned with less government oversight, less red tape and more economic growth. His father once registered as a Democrat, he said, but politics were never a priority growing up. \u003c/p>\n"
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>“We were always so busy working, we didn’t get too bogged down in the politics or the ‘drama’ as I call it sometimes,” he said. \u003c/p>\n",
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"\n\u003cp>“We were always so busy working, we didn’t get too bogged down in the politics or the ‘drama’ as I call it sometimes,” he said. \u003c/p>\n"
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>Even now, Fernandes insists he isn’t into politics. \u003c/p>\n",
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>If he were to vote for a Democrat, he said, it would be a more moderate candidate than Villegas. Seeing Villegas rally alongside Democratic socialists like Vermont Sen. Bernie Sanders and New York Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez does not give him a “warm and fuzzy feeling,” he said. \u003c/p>\n",
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"\n\u003cp>If he were to vote for a Democrat, he said, it would be a more moderate candidate than Villegas. Seeing Villegas rally alongside Democratic socialists like Vermont Sen. Bernie Sanders and New York Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez does not give him a “warm and fuzzy feeling,” he said. \u003c/p>\n"
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>Other farmers in the district told KQED they don’t think Villegas is truly courting their vote. Lee Guthrie, a Tulare County cattle rancher, believes Villegas is more focused on the laborers who work the farms. \u003c/p>\n",
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"\n\u003cp>Other farmers in the district told KQED they don’t think Villegas is truly courting their vote. Lee Guthrie, a Tulare County cattle rancher, believes Villegas is more focused on the laborers who work the farms. \u003c/p>\n"
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>The Kern County Farm Bureau, which has officially endorsed Valadao, said it hasn’t heard from Villegas at all. \u003c/p>\n",
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"\n\u003cp>The Kern County Farm Bureau, which has officially endorsed Valadao, said it hasn’t heard from Villegas at all. \u003c/p>\n"
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>When asked whom he has approached in the agricultural industry, Villegas said he spoke to local farmers who are worried about \u003ca href=\"https://www.kqed.org/news/12016674/will-trump-deliver-more-water-to-californias-fields-farmers-hope-so\">water access\u003c/a>. He then pivoted to the \u003ca href=\"https://www.kqed.org/news/12104776/an-ice-surge-in-california-ahead-of-the-midterms-heres-what-we-know\">Trump administration’s attacks\u003c/a> on the people who make up much of the industry’s workforce. \u003c/p>\n",
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"\n\u003cp>When asked whom he has approached in the agricultural industry, Villegas said he spoke to local farmers who are worried about \u003ca href=\"https://www.kqed.org/news/12016674/will-trump-deliver-more-water-to-californias-fields-farmers-hope-so\">water access\u003c/a>. He then pivoted to the \u003ca href=\"https://www.kqed.org/news/12104776/an-ice-surge-in-california-ahead-of-the-midterms-heres-what-we-know\">Trump administration’s attacks\u003c/a> on the people who make up much of the industry’s workforce. \u003c/p>\n"
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>“Agriculture depends in large part on immigrant labor,” he said. “The fact that we are seeing that same workforce attacked by this administration is unjust.”\u003c/p>\n",
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"\n\u003cp>“Agriculture depends in large part on immigrant labor,” he said. “The fact that we are seeing that same workforce attacked by this administration is unjust.”\u003c/p>\n"
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>As Fernandes weighs his choice for Congress, Trump isn’t part of the calculation. \u003c/p>\n",
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>“I’m pro-Valadao because Valadao is pro-ag,” he said. “Naturally, you’re going to vote for what better impacts you personally, your family, your business.”\u003c/p>\n",
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"\n\u003cp>“I’m pro-Valadao because Valadao is pro-ag,” he said. “Naturally, you’re going to vote for what better impacts you personally, your family, your business.”\u003c/p>\n"
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>For his part, Fernandes said he doesn’t know a single person in agriculture here who’s voting for Villegas.\u003c/p>\n",
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"\n\u003cp>For his part, Fernandes said he doesn’t know a single person in agriculture here who’s voting for Villegas.\u003c/p>\n"
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"excerpt": "Farmers and ranchers are typically a reliable Republican voting bloc, but that may shift this midterm election as federal policies drive discontent among agricultural communities. ",
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"title": "Central Valley Farmers Face Rising Costs. Is It Enough to Flip a House Seat? | KQED",
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"content": "\u003cdiv class=\"post-body\">\u003cp>\n\u003cp class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">TULARE — As he walks through a barn where brown Jersey cows are feeding, \u003ca href=\"https://www.kqed.org/news/12106857/in-tight-central-valley-race-trumps-policies-could-impact-agriculture-vote\">Landon Fernandes\u003c/a> picks up handfuls of the feed and lists the ingredients: alfalfa hay, corn silage, wheat mill run, canola meal, cotton seed and almond hulls. \u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">His family-owned dairy operation grows or buys everything to make the feed for more than 10,000 animals a day, and they change the recipe regularly based on fluctuating costs. Fernandes estimates it typically accounts for 40% of the farm’s expenses but has surged by 10% as feed costs have climbed over the last 12 months. \u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">“The hardest thing about farming is you can’t control your price,” he said. “So you do the best you can to control your inputs, but sometimes that’s out of your hands as well.” \u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Fernandes, 36, is a third-generation dairy farmer in Tulare and president of the Tulare County Farm Bureau. Like other farmers KQED spoke to ahead of the midterm election, he attributes those rising costs in part to President Donald Trump’s trade disputes and the war in Iran, which has \u003ca href=\"https://www.kqed.org/news/12104393/california-democrats-hope-iran-war-flips-the-script-on-gas-prices\">driven up fuel prices\u003c/a>. Unlike feed ingredients, diesel has no substitute; Fernandes needs it to power his tractors, and higher prices raise the surcharges that trucking companies bill him for deliveries.\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/10/2026/10/261021-CA22Farming-18-BL-KQED-c38c2790.jpg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-12106942\" srcset=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/10/261021-CA22Farming-18-BL-KQED-c38c2790.jpg 2000w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/10/261021-CA22Farming-18-BL-KQED-c38c2790-160x107.jpg 160w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/10/261021-CA22Farming-18-BL-KQED-c38c2790-1536x1024.jpg 1536w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 2000px) 100vw, 2000px\" />\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">Landon Fernandes inspects soil at his family’s dairy farm, Fernjo Farms, in Tulare on Oct. 21, 2026. (Beth LaBerge/KQED)\u003c/figcaption>\u003c/figure>\n\n\n\n\u003cp class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Those economic pressures — and their ties to Trump in the eyes of some farmers — could spell trouble for the Republican Party here in the Central Valley, home to the heart of California’s agricultural production as well as the state’s only true toss-up House race this year, according to the nonpartisan \u003ca href=\"https://www.cookpolitical.com/house/race/481926\">Cook Political Report\u003c/a>. \u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Dave Puglia, president and CEO of Western Growers, said he has never seen so many serious problems hit farmers all at once. The nonprofit represents family farmers in California, Arizona, Colorado and New Mexico.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">“There’s sort of an existential crisis feeling across the agriculture industry,” Puglia said. \u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Fernandes remembers shoveling manure, cleaning milk barns and cutting hay bales as a kid growing up on the ranch. It mostly produces milk that is processed into cheese, butter and whole milk powder, but they also planted an almond orchard in 2016 and a pistachio orchard in 2020 to diversify their income. \u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\u003cp class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">On top of rising costs for feed and fuel, the ranch is contending with falling milk prices, which Fernandes partly traces to Canada’s retaliatory tariffs on U.S. dairy, and rising labor costs, which he ties to the state minimum wage and agricultural overtime laws. The result, he said, is a “perfect storm” that has hurt his bottom line and forced him to draw on cash reserves and loans. \u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">A quarter of farmers rank the Trump administration as the most responsible for agriculture-related challenges, according to \u003ca href=\"https://www.amatoadvisors.com/farmer-poll\">an April survey\u003c/a> commissioned by the firm Amato Advisors and conducted by Farm Journal. Many costs, including diesel prices, have only risen since then.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">The same poll found that 4 in 10 farmers are “persuadable” this year — as in, they are considering voting for a different party than they usually do. In the 22nd Congressional District, which spans parts of five counties in the San Joaquin Valley and where \u003ca href=\"https://datausa.io/profile/geo/congressional-district-22-ca\">farming, fishing and forestry\u003c/a> are the top employment sectors, that could put Rep. David Valadao to the test in the Nov. 3 midterm. \u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">The Republican incumbent is \u003ca href=\"https://www.kqed.org/news/12103863/valadao-villegas-debate-and-the-fight-for-latino-voters-in-the-central-valley\">defending his seat\u003c/a> against progressive Democrat Randy Villegas in a redrawn district that Trump won in 2024. Both are courting the farm vote, which has typically leaned Republican. \u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Villegas, a community college professor and son of Mexican immigrants, is running an economic populist campaign. His strategy is to tie Valadao to Trump policies that are unpopular with farmers, like allowing duty-free imports of lean beef trimmings for 90 days this fall.\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/10/2026/10/261021-CA22Farming-42-BL-KQED-66e8cac7.jpg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-12106946\" srcset=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/10/261021-CA22Farming-42-BL-KQED-66e8cac7.jpg 2000w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/10/261021-CA22Farming-42-BL-KQED-66e8cac7-160x107.jpg 160w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/10/261021-CA22Farming-42-BL-KQED-66e8cac7-1536x1024.jpg 1536w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 2000px) 100vw, 2000px\" />\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">A farm in the Central Valley on Oct. 21, 2026. (Beth LaBerge/KQED)\u003c/figcaption>\u003c/figure>\n\n\n\n\u003cp class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">“When they announce they are going to import 300,000 metric tons of beef from across the world, they’re literally undercutting our own ranchers and farmers here in the Central Valley and across the country,” Villegas said in an interview \u003ca href=\"https://www.kqed.org/news/12105844/randy-villegas-has-a-theory-of-how-to-win-in-the-central-valley\">with KQED’s Political Breakdown\u003c/a>. \u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Valadao is the son of Portuguese immigrants who came to California as dairy farmers. \u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">He did not respond to KQED’s interview requests, but at a televised debate this month, he leaned into his farming roots and directed blame for high costs to the state’s Democratic-led Legislature. \u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">“The fact that our fuel is so much higher has a lot more to do with Sacramento than anything else,” he said. “If we really want to change prices, we really need to focus on Sacramento, get some of those refineries back up and going, and produce as much fuel as we can here locally.”\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\u003cp class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">That message resonates with farmers here, who also see the state’s regulatory environment, water shortages and labor costs as drivers of the current crisis.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">“In the past two years, I would definitely say there’s been increased unwanted activity in closures of farming businesses, flat out bankruptcies and asset sales, or more commonly, consolidation with larger and larger companies,” Puglia said. “I trace that as much to state policy as federal policy. I think both share some of the blame for that.”\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">While Republicans nationally struggle to separate themselves from Trump, Republican strategist Liz Mair said Valadao is an exception. He has “cut a very independent profile” by breaking with his party on immigration and voting to impeach Trump after the Jan. 6, 2021, attack on the Capitol, she said.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">“He is not a stereotypical Republican in any way, shape or form,” she said. “[That] has traditionally given him quite an advantage even in very tough election cycles.”\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Valadao has won six of the last seven elections despite Democrats’ edge in voter registration here. His only loss came in the 2018 “blue wave.” \u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">This year, Villegas will have the advantage of a district redrawn further in Democrats’ favor \u003ca href=\"https://www.kqed.org/news/12106022/california-democrats-rally-to-deliver-on-proposition-50-was-it-really-needed\">by Proposition 50\u003c/a>. Trump carried the 22nd Congressional District by almost 6 points in 2024 under the old lines, but if the redrawn boundaries were in effect, he would have won by less than 2, according to the California Target Book.\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/10/2026/10/261021-CA22Farming-34-BL-KQED-7ea7244f.jpg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-12106945\" srcset=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/10/261021-CA22Farming-34-BL-KQED-7ea7244f.jpg 2000w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/10/261021-CA22Farming-34-BL-KQED-7ea7244f-160x107.jpg 160w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/10/261021-CA22Farming-34-BL-KQED-7ea7244f-1536x1024.jpg 1536w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 2000px) 100vw, 2000px\" />\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">A campaign sign says, “Farmers for Hilton” in Tulare, in the Central Valley, on Oct. 21, 2026. (Beth LaBerge/KQED)\u003c/figcaption>\u003c/figure>\n\n\n\n\u003cp class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Valadao could also benefit from the district’s makeup. It’s a “unique district,” Mair said, where farmers don’t fit the same mold as farmers elsewhere in the country. \u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">“I think when you’re looking at California Central Valley farmers, they do tend to be a more conservative lot, but they’re not conservative in the way that MAGA is,” she said. “To me, there’s a libertarian versus big government conservative axis.” \u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Fernandes is a registered Republican because he sees the party as aligned with less government oversight, less red tape and more economic growth. His father once registered as a Democrat, he said, but politics were never a priority growing up. \u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">“We were always so busy working, we didn’t get too bogged down in the politics or the ‘drama’ as I call it sometimes,” 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/10/2026/10/261021-CA22Farming-13-BL-KQED-0ccda6c3.jpg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-12106941\" srcset=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/10/261021-CA22Farming-13-BL-KQED-0ccda6c3.jpg 2000w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/10/261021-CA22Farming-13-BL-KQED-0ccda6c3-160x107.jpg 160w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/10/261021-CA22Farming-13-BL-KQED-0ccda6c3-1536x1024.jpg 1536w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 2000px) 100vw, 2000px\" />\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">Dairy cows stand in a feeding pen at Fernjo Farms in Tulare on Oct. 21, 2026. (Beth LaBerge/KQED)\u003c/figcaption>\u003c/figure>\n\n\n\n\u003cp class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Even now, Fernandes insists he isn’t into politics. \u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">If he were to vote for a Democrat, he said, it would be a more moderate candidate than Villegas. Seeing Villegas rally alongside Democratic socialists like Vermont Sen. Bernie Sanders and New York Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez does not give him a “warm and fuzzy feeling,” he said. \u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Other farmers in the district told KQED they don’t think Villegas is truly courting their vote. Lee Guthrie, a Tulare County cattle rancher, believes Villegas is more focused on the laborers who work the farms. \u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">“I don’t think we’re his target voters,” she said. \u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\u003cp class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">The Kern County Farm Bureau, which has officially endorsed Valadao, said it hasn’t heard from Villegas at all. \u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">When asked whom he has approached in the agricultural industry, Villegas said he spoke to local farmers who are worried about \u003ca href=\"https://www.kqed.org/news/12016674/will-trump-deliver-more-water-to-californias-fields-farmers-hope-so\">water access\u003c/a>. He then pivoted to the \u003ca href=\"https://www.kqed.org/news/12104776/an-ice-surge-in-california-ahead-of-the-midterms-heres-what-we-know\">Trump administration’s attacks\u003c/a> on the people who make up much of the industry’s workforce. \u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">“Agriculture depends in large part on immigrant labor,” he said. “The fact that we are seeing that same workforce attacked by this administration is unjust.”\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">As Fernandes weighs his choice for Congress, Trump isn’t part of the calculation. \u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">“I’m pro-Valadao because Valadao is pro-ag,” he said. “Naturally, you’re going to vote for what better impacts you personally, your family, your business.”\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">For his part, Fernandes said he doesn’t know a single person in agriculture here who’s voting for Villegas.\u003c/p>\n\u003c/div>\u003c/p>",
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"title": "What Would Democrat Xavier Becerra Prioritize If Elected Governor?",
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"content": "\n\u003cp class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Xavier Becerra is poised to become California’s next governor. The former Health and Human Services Secretary emerged victorious from a messy primary that pitted him against a long list of fellow Democrats. He was stuck in single digits but surged after former Rep. Eric Swalwell dropped out amid allegations of sexual assault and misconduct. \u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Since June, Becerra has had an easy sprint to the Nov. 3 election, with recent polls showing him at least 25 points ahead of his opponent, Republican Steve Hilton.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Becerra joins Marisa and Scott in studio to discuss his plan for the state if he is elected next week.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Don’t forget to use \u003ca href=\"https://www.kqed.org/voterguide\">KQED’s voter guide\u003c/a> when filling out your ballot!\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Plus, 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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"\n\u003cp>Xavier Becerra is poised to become California’s next governor. The former Health and Human Services Secretary emerged victorious from a messy primary that pitted him against a long list of fellow Democrats. He was stuck in single digits but surged after former Rep. Eric Swalwell dropped out amid allegations of sexual assault and misconduct. \u003c/p>\n"
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>Since June, Becerra has had an easy sprint to the Nov. 3 election, with recent polls showing him at least 25 points ahead of his opponent, Republican Steve Hilton.\u003c/p>\n",
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>Don’t forget to use \u003ca href=\"https://www.kqed.org/voterguide\">KQED’s voter guide\u003c/a> when filling out your ballot!\u003c/p>\n",
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"\n\u003cp>Don’t forget to use \u003ca href=\"https://www.kqed.org/voterguide\">KQED’s voter guide\u003c/a> when filling out your ballot!\u003c/p>\n"
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>Plus, 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",
"innerContent": [
"\n\u003cp>Plus, 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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"excerpt": "Democrat Xavier Becerra walks through his day one priorities if elected governor. ",
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"content": "\u003cdiv class=\"post-body\">\u003cp>\n\u003cp class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Xavier Becerra is poised to become California’s next governor. The former Health and Human Services Secretary emerged victorious from a messy primary that pitted him against a long list of fellow Democrats. He was stuck in single digits but surged after former Rep. Eric Swalwell dropped out amid allegations of sexual assault and misconduct. \u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Since June, Becerra has had an easy sprint to the Nov. 3 election, with recent polls showing him at least 25 points ahead of his opponent, Republican Steve Hilton.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Becerra joins Marisa and Scott in studio to discuss his plan for the state if he is elected next week.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Don’t forget to use \u003ca href=\"https://www.kqed.org/voterguide\">KQED’s voter guide\u003c/a> when filling out your ballot!\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Plus, 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": "advocates-defend-noncitizen-voting-in-sf-school-board-races-as-trump-targets-voter-rolls",
"title": "Advocates Defend Noncitizen Voting in SF School Board Races, as Trump Targets Voter Rolls",
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"headTitle": "Advocates Defend Noncitizen Voting in SF School Board Races, as Trump Targets Voter Rolls | KQED",
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"content": "\n\u003cp class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">As the Trump administration’s \u003ca href=\"https://www.kqed.org/news/12107158/judge-rejects-trump-administration-bid-to-set-aside-20000-california-ballots\">scrutiny\u003c/a> of California’s election system intensifies, advocates in San Francisco are calling for the city to stand by a program that allows \u003ca href=\"https://www.kqed.org/news/11424662/trump-election-complicates-noncitizen-voting-in-s-f\">noncitizen parents\u003c/a> to vote in local school board elections.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">In 2016, voters \u003ca href=\"https://sfelections.org/results/20161108w/index.html\">approved\u003c/a> Measure N, granting noncitizen residents with a child in the San Francisco Unified School District the right to vote for members of the city’s Board of Education. \u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">A \u003ca href=\"https://www.kqed.org/news/11923048/a-fight-is-brewing-over-local-noncitizen-voting\">yearslong legal battle\u003c/a> between the city and a conservative nonprofit over the legality of the program soon followed. A state appeals court ultimately \u003ca href=\"https://law.justia.com/cases/california/court-of-appeal/2023/a165899.html\">ruled\u003c/a> in 2022 that the city does, in fact, have the authority to include noncitizen parents in school board elections.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cfigure class=\"wp-block-image size-full\">\u003cimg loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"1920\" height=\"1280\" src=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2022/11/012_KQED_CityHallSFVoting_11082022.jpg\" alt=\"Voters seated at desks to vote.\" class=\"wp-image-11931540\" srcset=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2022/11/012_KQED_CityHallSFVoting_11082022.jpg 1920w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2022/11/012_KQED_CityHallSFVoting_11082022-800x533.jpg 800w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2022/11/012_KQED_CityHallSFVoting_11082022-1020x680.jpg 1020w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2022/11/012_KQED_CityHallSFVoting_11082022-160x107.jpg 160w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2022/11/012_KQED_CityHallSFVoting_11082022-1536x1024.jpg 1536w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 1920px) 100vw, 1920px\" />\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">Voters fill the City Hall Voting Center in San Francisco on Election Day, Nov. 8, 2022. (Beth LaBerge/KQED)\u003c/figcaption>\u003c/figure>\n\n\n\n\u003cp class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Hundreds of noncitizen parents have \u003ca href=\"https://caasf.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/03/23-CAA-ImmigrationVotingReport-F2-edit.pdf\">since\u003c/a> legally voted with special ballots that only include school board races. The \u003ca href=\"https://www.kqed.org/news/11902654/sf-school-board-recall-how-to-vote-as-a-noncitizen-parent\">2022 school board recall\u003c/a> saw the highest turnout, with 235 eligible noncitizens participating in an election that was decided by thousands of votes.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">The same organizers who rallied for Measure N now worry that eligible noncitizen parents will skip Tuesday’s competitive \u003ca href=\"https://www.kqed.org/voterguide/sanfrancisco/school\">school board election\u003c/a> out of fear that they will also be targeted as part of the White House’s criminal investigation into noncitizen voting in California.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">“People start to pull back from their rights because there’s fear that they’re going to get caught up in this dragnet,” said Annette Wong, managing director of programs at the civil rights group Chinese for Affirmative Action.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003ch2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Who decides who votes in local elections?\u003c/h2>\n\n\n\n\u003cp class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Earlier this month, the U.S. Department of Justice \u003ca href=\"https://www.kqed.org/news/12106418/santa-clara-county-rejects-trump-administration-voter-probe\">sent letters\u003c/a> to all the county registrars in the state directing them to hold off counting thousands of ballots it alleges were sent to noncitizens.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">In San Francisco, federal officials demanded the personal information of 441 individuals, including Social Security numbers and driver’s license numbers. City Attorney David Chiu refused the administration’s requests in a letter on Tuesday, stating that they “violate state and local law.”\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">A federal judge also \u003ca href=\"https://www.kqed.org/news/12107158/judge-rejects-trump-administration-bid-to-set-aside-20000-california-ballots\">denied\u003c/a> on Wednesday a request from the Trump administration to order California election officials to set aside 20,000 ballots from all over the state.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">It’s not clear if the list from the federal government correlates with San Francisco’s noncitizen voting program. However, independent legal experts agreed that the city has the legal authority to include noncitizen parents in local elections.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\u003cp class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">“In the U.S., for better or worse, elections are run at the state and local level,” said Matt Coles, professor at UC Law San Francisco. \u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">In the 2022 case that settled the legal fight over Measure N, the court ruled that the California Constitution grants cities the power to expand voting rights for local offices.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">“No locality could let a noncitizen vote for a member of the U.S. House of Representatives, for example,” Coles said, adding that Congress has made it a \u003ca href=\"https://www.law.cornell.edu/uscode/text/18/611\">crime\u003c/a> for noncitizens to vote in federal elections, which includes voting in a presidential race.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">To register for a school board election, eligible noncitizens must fill out a different form than the one used by citizen voters. And city officials told KQED — in 2022 and 2026 — that the information of noncitizen voters is kept in a local database separate from the statewide system that contains the personal details of citizen voters. \u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">The city’s \u003ca href=\"https://sfelections.org/tools/edu_portal/index.html\">noncitizen voter information portal\u003c/a>, however, makes an important caveat: the name and address of those who register can be accessed by other government agencies and political campaigns — just like citizen voters.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">A few \u003ca href=\"https://ballotpedia.org/Laws_permitting_noncitizens_to_vote_in_the_United_States\">dozen cities\u003c/a> across the country — most of them in Vermont and Maryland — allow noncitizens to vote in local elections. After San Francisco expanded the franchise, \u003ca href=\"https://www.washingtonpost.com/dc-md-va/2022/10/04/dc-council-noncitizen-vote-elections/\">Washington, D.C.\u003c/a> followed suit in 2022. That same year, voters in Oakland \u003ca href=\"https://www.kqed.org/news/12012228/after-two-years-of-waiting-noncitizen-parents-still-cant-vote-in-oakland-school-board-elections\">approved\u003c/a> a similar program — which has not yet been implemented.\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-ELECTIONSTOCKIMAGERY-14-BL-KQED-25395098.jpg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-12103669\" srcset=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/10/261008-ELECTIONSTOCKIMAGERY-14-BL-KQED-25395098.jpg 2000w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/10/261008-ELECTIONSTOCKIMAGERY-14-BL-KQED-25395098-160x107.jpg 160w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/10/261008-ELECTIONSTOCKIMAGERY-14-BL-KQED-25395098-1536x1024.jpg 1536w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 2000px) 100vw, 2000px\" />\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">A vote-by-mail ballot for the Nov. 3, 2026, general election on Oct. 8, 2026. (Beth LaBerge/KQED)\u003c/figcaption>\u003c/figure>\n\n\n\n\u003cp class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">“Having these pathbreaker jurisdictions like San Francisco also goes to show how you can administer elections in which noncitizens are not eligible to vote in federal elections — but are able to vote in local elections,” said Emily Rong Zhang, assistant professor at UC Berkeley School of Law.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">This also means that San Francisco has a responsibility to this group of voters, she added. \u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">“The city of San Francisco has a duty to ensure that all eligible voters in the upcoming election can cast their ballots without voter intimidation,” she said. “Regardless of whether they’re voting in federal elections or local elections.”\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003ch2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">What advocates are telling noncitizen parents\u003c/h2>\n\n\n\n\u003cp class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">This month, the Trump administration \u003ca href=\"https://www.justice.gov/opa/pr/justice-department-charges-28-foreign-nationals-california-election-crimes\">announced\u003c/a> charges against 28 noncitizen Californians, all of them legal residents, for illegally voting or registering to vote. None have been convicted, but those accused represent just 0.0001% of registered voters in the state.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">In a statement, federal officials said this is part of their efforts to “combat and root out fraud in U.S. elections and protect electoral integrity.”\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Wong from CAA disagreed.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\u003cp class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">“What we’re seeing here with these efforts is an intent to scare people out of voting,” she said, and added that this year, she’s talked to nervous parents who are unsure whether to vote in the upcoming school board election.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">“At this moment, we’re not encouraging people to register and vote no matter what. We’re also not discouraging people,” she said. “What we are saying is — if this is something that you want to do, come talk to us and we can help you navigate that process safely.”\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">If someone is worried that voting in a school board election may impact the future of their immigration case, Wong recommended they also talk with an immigration attorney. \u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">“Even if you voted legally as a noncitizen, it’s still important to flag it,” she said, and pointed out that anyone can request their voting record from the Department of Elections.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">This agency can also provide a verification letter that lists the criteria set up for noncitizens to vote in school board elections, and that also confirms they voted in a specific school board election.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">\u003cem>KQED’s\u003c/em> \u003ca href=\"https://www.kqed.org/author/gmarzorati\">\u003cem>Guy Marzorati\u003c/em>\u003c/a> \u003cem>contributed to this report.\u003c/em>\u003c/p>\n",
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"\n\u003cp>As the Trump administration’s \u003ca href=\"https://www.kqed.org/news/12107158/judge-rejects-trump-administration-bid-to-set-aside-20000-california-ballots\">scrutiny\u003c/a> of California’s election system intensifies, advocates in San Francisco are calling for the city to stand by a program that allows \u003ca href=\"https://www.kqed.org/news/11424662/trump-election-complicates-noncitizen-voting-in-s-f\">noncitizen parents\u003c/a> to vote in local school board elections.\u003c/p>\n"
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>In 2016, voters \u003ca href=\"https://sfelections.org/results/20161108w/index.html\">approved\u003c/a> Measure N, granting noncitizen residents with a child in the San Francisco Unified School District the right to vote for members of the city’s Board of Education. \u003c/p>\n",
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"\n\u003cp>In 2016, voters \u003ca href=\"https://sfelections.org/results/20161108w/index.html\">approved\u003c/a> Measure N, granting noncitizen residents with a child in the San Francisco Unified School District the right to vote for members of the city’s Board of Education. \u003c/p>\n"
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>A \u003ca href=\"https://www.kqed.org/news/11923048/a-fight-is-brewing-over-local-noncitizen-voting\">yearslong legal battle\u003c/a> between the city and a conservative nonprofit over the legality of the program soon followed. A state appeals court ultimately \u003ca href=\"https://law.justia.com/cases/california/court-of-appeal/2023/a165899.html\">ruled\u003c/a> in 2022 that the city does, in fact, have the authority to include noncitizen parents in school board elections.\u003c/p>\n",
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"\n\u003cp>A \u003ca href=\"https://www.kqed.org/news/11923048/a-fight-is-brewing-over-local-noncitizen-voting\">yearslong legal battle\u003c/a> between the city and a conservative nonprofit over the legality of the program soon followed. A state appeals court ultimately \u003ca href=\"https://law.justia.com/cases/california/court-of-appeal/2023/a165899.html\">ruled\u003c/a> in 2022 that the city does, in fact, have the authority to include noncitizen parents in school board elections.\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/10/2022/11/012_KQED_CityHallSFVoting_11082022.jpg\" alt=\"Voters seated at desks to vote.\" class=\"wp-image-11931540\" srcset=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2022/11/012_KQED_CityHallSFVoting_11082022.jpg 1920w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2022/11/012_KQED_CityHallSFVoting_11082022-800x533.jpg 800w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2022/11/012_KQED_CityHallSFVoting_11082022-1020x680.jpg 1020w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2022/11/012_KQED_CityHallSFVoting_11082022-160x107.jpg 160w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2022/11/012_KQED_CityHallSFVoting_11082022-1536x1024.jpg 1536w\" sizes=\"(min-width: 992px) min(100vw, 1536px), (min-width: 768px) min(100vw, 1280px), min(100vw, 1020px)\"/>\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">Voters fill the City Hall Voting Center in San Francisco on Election Day, Nov. 8, 2022.\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/10/2022/11/012_KQED_CityHallSFVoting_11082022.jpg\" alt=\"Voters seated at desks to vote.\" class=\"wp-image-11931540\"/>\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">Voters fill the City Hall Voting Center in San Francisco on Election Day, Nov. 8, 2022.\u003ccite class=\"wp-inline-image-credit\"> (Beth LaBerge/KQED)\u003c/cite>\u003c/figcaption>\u003c/figure>\n"
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>Hundreds of noncitizen parents have \u003ca href=\"https://caasf.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/03/23-CAA-ImmigrationVotingReport-F2-edit.pdf\">since\u003c/a> legally voted with special ballots that only include school board races. The \u003ca href=\"https://www.kqed.org/news/11902654/sf-school-board-recall-how-to-vote-as-a-noncitizen-parent\">2022 school board recall\u003c/a> saw the highest turnout, with 235 eligible noncitizens participating in an election that was decided by thousands of votes.\u003c/p>\n",
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"\n\u003cp>Hundreds of noncitizen parents have \u003ca href=\"https://caasf.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/03/23-CAA-ImmigrationVotingReport-F2-edit.pdf\">since\u003c/a> legally voted with special ballots that only include school board races. The \u003ca href=\"https://www.kqed.org/news/11902654/sf-school-board-recall-how-to-vote-as-a-noncitizen-parent\">2022 school board recall\u003c/a> saw the highest turnout, with 235 eligible noncitizens participating in an election that was decided by thousands of votes.\u003c/p>\n"
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>The same organizers who rallied for Measure N now worry that eligible noncitizen parents will skip Tuesday’s competitive \u003ca href=\"https://www.kqed.org/voterguide/sanfrancisco/school\">school board election\u003c/a> out of fear that they will also be targeted as part of the White House’s criminal investigation into noncitizen voting in California.\u003c/p>\n",
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"\n\u003cp>The same organizers who rallied for Measure N now worry that eligible noncitizen parents will skip Tuesday’s competitive \u003ca href=\"https://www.kqed.org/voterguide/sanfrancisco/school\">school board election\u003c/a> out of fear that they will also be targeted as part of the White House’s criminal investigation into noncitizen voting in California.\u003c/p>\n"
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>“People start to pull back from their rights because there’s fear that they’re going to get caught up in this dragnet,” said Annette Wong, managing director of programs at the civil rights group Chinese for Affirmative Action.\u003c/p>\n",
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"\n\u003cp>“People start to pull back from their rights because there’s fear that they’re going to get caught up in this dragnet,” said Annette Wong, managing director of programs at the civil rights group Chinese for Affirmative Action.\u003c/p>\n"
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>Earlier this month, the U.S. Department of Justice \u003ca href=\"https://www.kqed.org/news/12106418/santa-clara-county-rejects-trump-administration-voter-probe\">sent letters\u003c/a> to all the county registrars in the state directing them to hold off counting thousands of ballots it alleges were sent to noncitizens.\u003c/p>\n",
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"\n\u003cp>Earlier this month, the U.S. Department of Justice \u003ca href=\"https://www.kqed.org/news/12106418/santa-clara-county-rejects-trump-administration-voter-probe\">sent letters\u003c/a> to all the county registrars in the state directing them to hold off counting thousands of ballots it alleges were sent to noncitizens.\u003c/p>\n"
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>In San Francisco, federal officials demanded the personal information of 441 individuals, including Social Security numbers and driver’s license numbers. City Attorney David Chiu refused the administration’s requests in a letter on Tuesday, stating that they “violate state and local law.”\u003c/p>\n",
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"\n\u003cp>In San Francisco, federal officials demanded the personal information of 441 individuals, including Social Security numbers and driver’s license numbers. City Attorney David Chiu refused the administration’s requests in a letter on Tuesday, stating that they “violate state and local law.”\u003c/p>\n"
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>A federal judge also \u003ca href=\"https://www.kqed.org/news/12107158/judge-rejects-trump-administration-bid-to-set-aside-20000-california-ballots\">denied\u003c/a> on Wednesday a request from the Trump administration to order California election officials to set aside 20,000 ballots from all over the state.\u003c/p>\n",
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"\n\u003cp>A federal judge also \u003ca href=\"https://www.kqed.org/news/12107158/judge-rejects-trump-administration-bid-to-set-aside-20000-california-ballots\">denied\u003c/a> on Wednesday a request from the Trump administration to order California election officials to set aside 20,000 ballots from all over the state.\u003c/p>\n"
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>It’s not clear if the list from the federal government correlates with San Francisco’s noncitizen voting program. However, independent legal experts agreed that the city has the legal authority to include noncitizen parents in local elections.\u003c/p>\n",
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"\n\u003cp>It’s not clear if the list from the federal government correlates with San Francisco’s noncitizen voting program. However, independent legal experts agreed that the city has the legal authority to include noncitizen parents in local elections.\u003c/p>\n"
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>“In the U.S., for better or worse, elections are run at the state and local level,” said Matt Coles, professor at UC Law San Francisco. \u003c/p>\n",
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"\n\u003cp>“In the U.S., for better or worse, elections are run at the state and local level,” said Matt Coles, professor at UC Law San Francisco. \u003c/p>\n"
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>In the 2022 case that settled the legal fight over Measure N, the court ruled that the California Constitution grants cities the power to expand voting rights for local offices.\u003c/p>\n",
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"\n\u003cp>In the 2022 case that settled the legal fight over Measure N, the court ruled that the California Constitution grants cities the power to expand voting rights for local offices.\u003c/p>\n"
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>“No locality could let a noncitizen vote for a member of the U.S. House of Representatives, for example,” Coles said, adding that Congress has made it a \u003ca href=\"https://www.law.cornell.edu/uscode/text/18/611\">crime\u003c/a> for noncitizens to vote in federal elections, which includes voting in a presidential race.\u003c/p>\n",
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"\n\u003cp>“No locality could let a noncitizen vote for a member of the U.S. House of Representatives, for example,” Coles said, adding that Congress has made it a \u003ca href=\"https://www.law.cornell.edu/uscode/text/18/611\">crime\u003c/a> for noncitizens to vote in federal elections, which includes voting in a presidential race.\u003c/p>\n"
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>To register for a school board election, eligible noncitizens must fill out a different form than the one used by citizen voters. And city officials told KQED — in 2022 and 2026 — that the information of noncitizen voters is kept in a local database separate from the statewide system that contains the personal details of citizen voters. \u003c/p>\n",
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"\n\u003cp>To register for a school board election, eligible noncitizens must fill out a different form than the one used by citizen voters. And city officials told KQED — in 2022 and 2026 — that the information of noncitizen voters is kept in a local database separate from the statewide system that contains the personal details of citizen voters. \u003c/p>\n"
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>The city’s \u003ca href=\"https://sfelections.org/tools/edu_portal/index.html\">noncitizen voter information portal\u003c/a>, however, makes an important caveat: the name and address of those who register can be accessed by other government agencies and political campaigns — just like citizen voters.\u003c/p>\n",
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"\n\u003cp>The city’s \u003ca href=\"https://sfelections.org/tools/edu_portal/index.html\">noncitizen voter information portal\u003c/a>, however, makes an important caveat: the name and address of those who register can be accessed by other government agencies and political campaigns — just like citizen voters.\u003c/p>\n"
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>A few \u003ca href=\"https://ballotpedia.org/Laws_permitting_noncitizens_to_vote_in_the_United_States\">dozen cities\u003c/a> across the country — most of them in Vermont and Maryland — allow noncitizens to vote in local elections. After San Francisco expanded the franchise, \u003ca href=\"https://www.washingtonpost.com/dc-md-va/2022/10/04/dc-council-noncitizen-vote-elections/\">Washington, D.C.\u003c/a> followed suit in 2022. That same year, voters in Oakland \u003ca href=\"https://www.kqed.org/news/12012228/after-two-years-of-waiting-noncitizen-parents-still-cant-vote-in-oakland-school-board-elections\">approved\u003c/a> a similar program — which has not yet been implemented.\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-ELECTIONSTOCKIMAGERY-14-BL-KQED-25395098.jpg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-12103669\" srcset=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/10/261008-ELECTIONSTOCKIMAGERY-14-BL-KQED-25395098.jpg 2000w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/10/261008-ELECTIONSTOCKIMAGERY-14-BL-KQED-25395098-160x107.jpg 160w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/10/261008-ELECTIONSTOCKIMAGERY-14-BL-KQED-25395098-1536x1024.jpg 1536w\" sizes=\"(min-width: 992px) min(100vw, 1536px), (min-width: 768px) min(100vw, 1280px), min(100vw, 1020px)\"/>\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">A vote-by-mail ballot for the Nov. 3, 2026, general election on Oct. 8, 2026.\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/10/2026/10/261008-ELECTIONSTOCKIMAGERY-14-BL-KQED-25395098.jpg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-12103669\"/>\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">A vote-by-mail ballot for the Nov. 3, 2026, general election on Oct. 8, 2026.\u003ccite class=\"wp-inline-image-credit\"> (Beth LaBerge/KQED)\u003c/cite>\u003c/figcaption>\u003c/figure>\n"
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>“Having these pathbreaker jurisdictions like San Francisco also goes to show how you can administer elections in which noncitizens are not eligible to vote in federal elections — but are able to vote in local elections,” said Emily Rong Zhang, assistant professor at UC Berkeley School of Law.\u003c/p>\n",
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"\n\u003cp>“Having these pathbreaker jurisdictions like San Francisco also goes to show how you can administer elections in which noncitizens are not eligible to vote in federal elections — but are able to vote in local elections,” said Emily Rong Zhang, assistant professor at UC Berkeley School of Law.\u003c/p>\n"
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>This also means that San Francisco has a responsibility to this group of voters, she added. \u003c/p>\n",
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>“The city of San Francisco has a duty to ensure that all eligible voters in the upcoming election can cast their ballots without voter intimidation,” she said. “Regardless of whether they’re voting in federal elections or local elections.”\u003c/p>\n",
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"\n\u003cp>“The city of San Francisco has a duty to ensure that all eligible voters in the upcoming election can cast their ballots without voter intimidation,” she said. “Regardless of whether they’re voting in federal elections or local elections.”\u003c/p>\n"
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"text": "What advocates are telling noncitizen parents",
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003ch2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">What advocates are telling noncitizen parents\u003c/h2>\n",
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>This month, the Trump administration \u003ca href=\"https://www.justice.gov/opa/pr/justice-department-charges-28-foreign-nationals-california-election-crimes\">announced\u003c/a> charges against 28 noncitizen Californians, all of them legal residents, for illegally voting or registering to vote. None have been convicted, but those accused represent just 0.0001% of registered voters in the state.\u003c/p>\n",
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"\n\u003cp>This month, the Trump administration \u003ca href=\"https://www.justice.gov/opa/pr/justice-department-charges-28-foreign-nationals-california-election-crimes\">announced\u003c/a> charges against 28 noncitizen Californians, all of them legal residents, for illegally voting or registering to vote. None have been convicted, but those accused represent just 0.0001% of registered voters in the state.\u003c/p>\n"
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>In a statement, federal officials said this is part of their efforts to “combat and root out fraud in U.S. elections and protect electoral integrity.”\u003c/p>\n",
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"\n\u003cp>In a statement, federal officials said this is part of their efforts to “combat and root out fraud in U.S. elections and protect electoral integrity.”\u003c/p>\n"
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>Wong from CAA disagreed.\u003c/p>\n",
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"\n\u003cp>Wong from CAA disagreed.\u003c/p>\n"
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>“What we’re seeing here with these efforts is an intent to scare people out of voting,” she said, and added that this year, she’s talked to nervous parents who are unsure whether to vote in the upcoming school board election.\u003c/p>\n",
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"\n\u003cp>“What we’re seeing here with these efforts is an intent to scare people out of voting,” she said, and added that this year, she’s talked to nervous parents who are unsure whether to vote in the upcoming school board election.\u003c/p>\n"
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>“At this moment, we’re not encouraging people to register and vote no matter what. We’re also not discouraging people,” she said. “What we are saying is — if this is something that you want to do, come talk to us and we can help you navigate that process safely.”\u003c/p>\n",
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"\n\u003cp>“At this moment, we’re not encouraging people to register and vote no matter what. We’re also not discouraging people,” she said. “What we are saying is — if this is something that you want to do, come talk to us and we can help you navigate that process safely.”\u003c/p>\n"
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>If someone is worried that voting in a school board election may impact the future of their immigration case, Wong recommended they also talk with an immigration attorney. \u003c/p>\n",
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"\n\u003cp>If someone is worried that voting in a school board election may impact the future of their immigration case, Wong recommended they also talk with an immigration attorney. \u003c/p>\n"
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>“Even if you voted legally as a noncitizen, it’s still important to flag it,” she said, and pointed out that anyone can request their voting record from the Department of Elections.\u003c/p>\n",
"innerContent": [
"\n\u003cp>“Even if you voted legally as a noncitizen, it’s still important to flag it,” she said, and pointed out that anyone can request their voting record from the Department of Elections.\u003c/p>\n"
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>This agency can also provide a verification letter that lists the criteria set up for noncitizens to vote in school board elections, and that also confirms they voted in a specific school board election.\u003c/p>\n",
"innerContent": [
"\n\u003cp>This agency can also provide a verification letter that lists the criteria set up for noncitizens to vote in school board elections, and that also confirms they voted in a specific school board election.\u003c/p>\n"
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>\u003cem>KQED’s\u003c/em> \u003ca href=\"https://www.kqed.org/author/gmarzorati\">\u003cem>Guy Marzorati\u003c/em>\u003c/a> \u003cem>contributed to this report.\u003c/em>\u003c/p>\n",
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"excerpt": "Ten years ago, San Francisco granted noncitizen parents the right to vote in local school board elections. Advocates now worry eligible voters are being intimidated by the Trump administration.",
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"content": "\u003cdiv class=\"post-body\">\u003cp>\n\u003cp class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">As the Trump administration’s \u003ca href=\"https://www.kqed.org/news/12107158/judge-rejects-trump-administration-bid-to-set-aside-20000-california-ballots\">scrutiny\u003c/a> of California’s election system intensifies, advocates in San Francisco are calling for the city to stand by a program that allows \u003ca href=\"https://www.kqed.org/news/11424662/trump-election-complicates-noncitizen-voting-in-s-f\">noncitizen parents\u003c/a> to vote in local school board elections.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">In 2016, voters \u003ca href=\"https://sfelections.org/results/20161108w/index.html\">approved\u003c/a> Measure N, granting noncitizen residents with a child in the San Francisco Unified School District the right to vote for members of the city’s Board of Education. \u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">A \u003ca href=\"https://www.kqed.org/news/11923048/a-fight-is-brewing-over-local-noncitizen-voting\">yearslong legal battle\u003c/a> between the city and a conservative nonprofit over the legality of the program soon followed. A state appeals court ultimately \u003ca href=\"https://law.justia.com/cases/california/court-of-appeal/2023/a165899.html\">ruled\u003c/a> in 2022 that the city does, in fact, have the authority to include noncitizen parents in school board elections.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cfigure class=\"wp-block-image size-full\">\u003cimg loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"1920\" height=\"1280\" src=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2022/11/012_KQED_CityHallSFVoting_11082022.jpg\" alt=\"Voters seated at desks to vote.\" class=\"wp-image-11931540\" srcset=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2022/11/012_KQED_CityHallSFVoting_11082022.jpg 1920w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2022/11/012_KQED_CityHallSFVoting_11082022-800x533.jpg 800w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2022/11/012_KQED_CityHallSFVoting_11082022-1020x680.jpg 1020w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2022/11/012_KQED_CityHallSFVoting_11082022-160x107.jpg 160w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2022/11/012_KQED_CityHallSFVoting_11082022-1536x1024.jpg 1536w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 1920px) 100vw, 1920px\" />\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">Voters fill the City Hall Voting Center in San Francisco on Election Day, Nov. 8, 2022. (Beth LaBerge/KQED)\u003c/figcaption>\u003c/figure>\n\n\n\n\u003cp class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Hundreds of noncitizen parents have \u003ca href=\"https://caasf.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/03/23-CAA-ImmigrationVotingReport-F2-edit.pdf\">since\u003c/a> legally voted with special ballots that only include school board races. The \u003ca href=\"https://www.kqed.org/news/11902654/sf-school-board-recall-how-to-vote-as-a-noncitizen-parent\">2022 school board recall\u003c/a> saw the highest turnout, with 235 eligible noncitizens participating in an election that was decided by thousands of votes.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">The same organizers who rallied for Measure N now worry that eligible noncitizen parents will skip Tuesday’s competitive \u003ca href=\"https://www.kqed.org/voterguide/sanfrancisco/school\">school board election\u003c/a> out of fear that they will also be targeted as part of the White House’s criminal investigation into noncitizen voting in California.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">“People start to pull back from their rights because there’s fear that they’re going to get caught up in this dragnet,” said Annette Wong, managing director of programs at the civil rights group Chinese for Affirmative Action.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003ch2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Who decides who votes in local elections?\u003c/h2>\n\n\n\n\u003cp class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Earlier this month, the U.S. Department of Justice \u003ca href=\"https://www.kqed.org/news/12106418/santa-clara-county-rejects-trump-administration-voter-probe\">sent letters\u003c/a> to all the county registrars in the state directing them to hold off counting thousands of ballots it alleges were sent to noncitizens.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">In San Francisco, federal officials demanded the personal information of 441 individuals, including Social Security numbers and driver’s license numbers. City Attorney David Chiu refused the administration’s requests in a letter on Tuesday, stating that they “violate state and local law.”\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">A federal judge also \u003ca href=\"https://www.kqed.org/news/12107158/judge-rejects-trump-administration-bid-to-set-aside-20000-california-ballots\">denied\u003c/a> on Wednesday a request from the Trump administration to order California election officials to set aside 20,000 ballots from all over the state.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">It’s not clear if the list from the federal government correlates with San Francisco’s noncitizen voting program. However, independent legal experts agreed that the city has the legal authority to include noncitizen parents in local elections.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\u003cp class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">“In the U.S., for better or worse, elections are run at the state and local level,” said Matt Coles, professor at UC Law San Francisco. \u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">In the 2022 case that settled the legal fight over Measure N, the court ruled that the California Constitution grants cities the power to expand voting rights for local offices.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">“No locality could let a noncitizen vote for a member of the U.S. House of Representatives, for example,” Coles said, adding that Congress has made it a \u003ca href=\"https://www.law.cornell.edu/uscode/text/18/611\">crime\u003c/a> for noncitizens to vote in federal elections, which includes voting in a presidential race.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">To register for a school board election, eligible noncitizens must fill out a different form than the one used by citizen voters. And city officials told KQED — in 2022 and 2026 — that the information of noncitizen voters is kept in a local database separate from the statewide system that contains the personal details of citizen voters. \u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">The city’s \u003ca href=\"https://sfelections.org/tools/edu_portal/index.html\">noncitizen voter information portal\u003c/a>, however, makes an important caveat: the name and address of those who register can be accessed by other government agencies and political campaigns — just like citizen voters.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">A few \u003ca href=\"https://ballotpedia.org/Laws_permitting_noncitizens_to_vote_in_the_United_States\">dozen cities\u003c/a> across the country — most of them in Vermont and Maryland — allow noncitizens to vote in local elections. After San Francisco expanded the franchise, \u003ca href=\"https://www.washingtonpost.com/dc-md-va/2022/10/04/dc-council-noncitizen-vote-elections/\">Washington, D.C.\u003c/a> followed suit in 2022. That same year, voters in Oakland \u003ca href=\"https://www.kqed.org/news/12012228/after-two-years-of-waiting-noncitizen-parents-still-cant-vote-in-oakland-school-board-elections\">approved\u003c/a> a similar program — which has not yet been implemented.\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-ELECTIONSTOCKIMAGERY-14-BL-KQED-25395098.jpg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-12103669\" srcset=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/10/261008-ELECTIONSTOCKIMAGERY-14-BL-KQED-25395098.jpg 2000w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/10/261008-ELECTIONSTOCKIMAGERY-14-BL-KQED-25395098-160x107.jpg 160w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/10/261008-ELECTIONSTOCKIMAGERY-14-BL-KQED-25395098-1536x1024.jpg 1536w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 2000px) 100vw, 2000px\" />\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">A vote-by-mail ballot for the Nov. 3, 2026, general election on Oct. 8, 2026. (Beth LaBerge/KQED)\u003c/figcaption>\u003c/figure>\n\n\n\n\u003cp class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">“Having these pathbreaker jurisdictions like San Francisco also goes to show how you can administer elections in which noncitizens are not eligible to vote in federal elections — but are able to vote in local elections,” said Emily Rong Zhang, assistant professor at UC Berkeley School of Law.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">This also means that San Francisco has a responsibility to this group of voters, she added. \u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">“The city of San Francisco has a duty to ensure that all eligible voters in the upcoming election can cast their ballots without voter intimidation,” she said. “Regardless of whether they’re voting in federal elections or local elections.”\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003ch2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">What advocates are telling noncitizen parents\u003c/h2>\n\n\n\n\u003cp class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">This month, the Trump administration \u003ca href=\"https://www.justice.gov/opa/pr/justice-department-charges-28-foreign-nationals-california-election-crimes\">announced\u003c/a> charges against 28 noncitizen Californians, all of them legal residents, for illegally voting or registering to vote. None have been convicted, but those accused represent just 0.0001% of registered voters in the state.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">In a statement, federal officials said this is part of their efforts to “combat and root out fraud in U.S. elections and protect electoral integrity.”\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Wong from CAA disagreed.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\u003cp class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">“What we’re seeing here with these efforts is an intent to scare people out of voting,” she said, and added that this year, she’s talked to nervous parents who are unsure whether to vote in the upcoming school board election.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">“At this moment, we’re not encouraging people to register and vote no matter what. We’re also not discouraging people,” she said. “What we are saying is — if this is something that you want to do, come talk to us and we can help you navigate that process safely.”\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">If someone is worried that voting in a school board election may impact the future of their immigration case, Wong recommended they also talk with an immigration attorney. \u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">“Even if you voted legally as a noncitizen, it’s still important to flag it,” she said, and pointed out that anyone can request their voting record from the Department of Elections.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">This agency can also provide a verification letter that lists the criteria set up for noncitizens to vote in school board elections, and that also confirms they voted in a specific school board election.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">\u003cem>KQED’s\u003c/em> \u003ca href=\"https://www.kqed.org/author/gmarzorati\">\u003cem>Guy Marzorati\u003c/em>\u003c/a> \u003cem>contributed to this report.\u003c/em>\u003c/p>\n\u003c/div>\u003c/p>",
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"slug": "doj-subpoenas-california-election-officials-despite-judges-order-to-stop-threatening-them",
"title": "DOJ Subpoenas California Election Officials, Despite Judge’s Order to Stop Threatening Them",
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"headTitle": "DOJ Subpoenas California Election Officials, Despite Judge’s Order to Stop Threatening Them | KQED",
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"content": "\n\u003cp class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">\u003cem>This story was originally published by \u003ca href=\"https://calmatters.org/\">CalMatters\u003c/a>. \u003ca href=\"https://calmatters.org/subscribe-to-calmatters/\">Sign up\u003c/a> for their newsletters.\u003c/em>\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">On Wednesday, a federal judge \u003ca href=\"https://www.kqed.org/news/12107158/judge-rejects-trump-administration-bid-to-set-aside-20000-california-ballots\">issued a blistering order\u003c/a> warning federal prosecutors to stop threatening California election officials with crimes.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">A day later, federal prosecutors kept going. \u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">At least four elections workers in California have received federal criminal grand jury subpoenas over the past week, with at least one delivered on Thursday after the court’s order.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">In that subpoena, issued to the Orange County Registrar of Voters’s office, federal agents with the Department of Homeland Security are seeking unredacted voter records for 60 people, according to records obtained by CalMatters. \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/KQED)\u003c/figcaption>\u003c/figure>\n\n\n\n\u003cp class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">The subpoenas signal an intensification of the federal government’s unprecedented targeting of California’s elections, setting up what could be a showdown over the fundamentals of American democracy around next Tuesday’s midterm elections. \u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">The prosecutors include those in the office of Los Angeles’ top federal prosecutor, Bill Essayli, a leading aide in President Donald Trump’s push to find evidence to support longstanding — and never proven — claims that California elections are rigged in Democrats’ favor due to noncitizen votes.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">\u003ca href=\"https://news.bloomberglaw.com/us-law-week/doj-orders-criminal-probes-of-california-officials-over-ballots\">Bloomberg Law first reported\u003c/a> Thursday that U.S. Justice Department leaders had directed top federal prosecutors to pursue criminal subpoenas of state and local officials in their efforts to find evidence that noncitizens were allowed to vote. The news outlet cited two unnamed sources familiar with the situation.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">This month Essayli sued California and Los Angeles County, demanding they set aside the ballots of 20,000 registered voters he accused of not being U.S. citizens, and last week the Justice Department sent letters threatening local elections officials with criminal charges if they did not do the same with lists of voters in their own counties.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">County election officials from across California have said spot checks \u003ca href=\"https://calmatters.org/politics/2026/10/trump-voting-claims-counties/\">found the government’s list of names to be inaccurate\u003c/a> and have challenged the legality of the requests. Officials in only one county so far – San Luis Obispo – have announced \u003ca href=\"https://www.slocounty.ca.gov/departments/district-attorney/latest-news/2026/october/district-attorney-investigating-63-federally-identified-registrations-and-local-election-referrals\">they will investigate\u003c/a> the voters from the Justice Department’s demand letters. \u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003ch2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">What the subpoenas say \u003c/h2>\n\n\n\n\u003cp class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">In Los Angeles County, federal prosecutors last week subpoenaed three employees of the Registrar-Recorder’s Office, ordering them to testify before a grand jury in a criminal investigation on Nov. 4, the day after the election. \u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Prosecutors demanded county employees bring records of how their department prevents non-citizens from voting and “records relating to or involving evidence collected by your agency which tends to indicate an alien has voted in a federal election.”\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">In a statement, Los Angeles County Registrar-Recorder Dean Logan said prosecutors were taking a “confrontational, adversarial approach.” He said the federal judge’s warning to stop making threats directed at election officials “was well placed and appreciated.” \u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\u003cp class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">“Threats and intimidation have no place in elections,” Logan said. “We will take whatever steps necessary to ensure the safety of our employees and to remain focused on serving the voters of Los Angeles County so they can exercise their voting franchise.”\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">In Orange County, federal agents obtained the new grand jury subpoena last week but elections officials received it Thursday. It is similar to previous information demands from federal prosecutors. Elections officials had in September produced records on 20 registered voters in response to subpoenas. On Thursday, Registrar of Voters Bob Page told CalMatters three of those names appeared again in the new subpoena.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">The federal government downplayed the subpoenas and suggested elections officials weren’t the targets of its investigation.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">“Receiving a subpoena doesn’t mean you are a target,” Justice Department spokesperson Kiersten Pels said in an emailed statement. “In fact, generally, the DOJ doesn’t subpoena targets.” \u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003ch2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Judge says ‘these threats must stop’\u003c/h2>\n\n\n\n\u003cp class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">In his courtroom on Tuesday, U.S. District Judge David O. Carter made it clear that the federal government needed to stop \u003ca href=\"https://calmatters.org/politics/2026/10/trump-voting-claims-counties/\">threatening election workers with criminal charges\u003c/a> if they didn’t comply with prosecutors’ demands. \u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">“This court believes it would be wise that any threats to state or county (election) employees cease immediately,” Carter told the courtroom. \u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">He made the warning formal in his written ruling issued Wednesday evening. \u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">“Never before in American history has the federal government, on the eve of an election, sought to coerce a state and local government to abandon their own Constitutional elections procedures and bend to the will of the Executive Branch,” Carter wrote. \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/10/2024/03/CMPollWorkers02.jpg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-11977756\" srcset=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2024/03/CMPollWorkers02.jpg 2000w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2024/03/CMPollWorkers02-800x534.jpg 800w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2024/03/CMPollWorkers02-1020x680.jpg 1020w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2024/03/CMPollWorkers02-160x107.jpg 160w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2024/03/CMPollWorkers02-1536x1025.jpg 1536w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2024/03/CMPollWorkers02-1920x1281.jpg 1920w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 2000px) 100vw, 2000px\" />\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">A voter fills out their ballot at a polling station at the American Legion in Shasta Lake, California, during a special election in Shasta County on Nov. 7, 2023. (Fred Greaves/CalMatters)\u003c/figcaption>\u003c/figure>\n\n\n\n\u003cp class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">“The court reiterates what it said yesterday: these threats must stop,” he wrote.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">The Justice Department has appealed Carter’s ruling to the 9th Circuit Court of Appeals. Pels said prosecutors are merely doing what Carter told them to do: prosecute illegal voting if it’s found.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">In expressing skepticism about the Trump administration’s claims, Carter told Essayli in court on Tuesday that if noncitizens really are voting in as large of numbers as the Trump administration claims, there’s nothing stopping federal prosecutors from finding them and charging them without the risk of blocking legal voters from having their ballots counted. \u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Last week, federal prosecutors across California charged 28 people with registering to vote despite not being citizens. Not all of those people had voted in past elections; those charged amount to 0.0001% of the state’s 23 million registered voters.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">“If it’s this big, you’ve got a remedy for goodness sakes,” Carter told Essayli during the hearing. “Go out and indict.”\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">“To be clear, the district court judge explained that voting unlawfully results in criminal exposure,” Pels wrote in her statement. “Consistent with this, California also wrote in its filing that the remedy for unlawful voting is through criminal prosecution. Thus, while DOJ maintains that a civil remedy is still available, all agree that noncitizen voting is properly addressed through criminal law.” \u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\u003cp class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Justin Levitt, an elections law expert at Loyola Law School, said federal prosecutors can argue they’re carrying out a legitimate criminal investigation, but in that case, there shouldn’t be any rush to subpoena officials in the middle of the election. The statute of limitations on federal voting offenses, he noted, is five years.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">“Because they have no role in affecting the election results, there is no reason whatsoever for them to demand this information now,” Levitt said. “It’s not directly against the judge’s order … but it’s certainly not going to make the judge happy.”\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">California Sen. Tom Umberg, a Democrat and former federal prosecutor representing the Santa Ana area, said he was appalled that his former employer was clearly attempting “to intimidate public officials in exercising their sworn duties.”\u003cbr>\u003cbr>“I’m embarrassed and outraged that they’re trying to interfere with the election,” he said.\u003cbr>\u003cbr>Essalyi didn’t return a text message seeking comment Thursday.\u003cbr>\u003cbr>Professor Michael Vitiello, an expert on criminal law at the University of Pacific’s McGeorge School of Law, agreed that the federal government is trying to make election officials “insecure and fearful.”\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">“Maybe technically they’re trying to avoid direct conflict with the judge’s order, but they’re sure signaling that … election officials should lose some money, lose some sleep and maybe even go consult with lawyers,” Vitiello said.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">\u003cem>This article was \u003ca href=\"https://calmatters.org/politics/2026/10/ca-election-officials-subpoenas/\">originally published on CalMatters\u003c/a> and was republished under the \u003ca href=\"https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-nd/4.0/\">Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivatives\u003c/a> license.\u003c/em>\u003c/p>\n",
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>On Wednesday, a federal judge \u003ca href=\"https://www.kqed.org/news/12107158/judge-rejects-trump-administration-bid-to-set-aside-20000-california-ballots\">issued a blistering order\u003c/a> warning federal prosecutors to stop threatening California election officials with crimes.\u003c/p>\n",
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"\n\u003cp>On Wednesday, a federal judge \u003ca href=\"https://www.kqed.org/news/12107158/judge-rejects-trump-administration-bid-to-set-aside-20000-california-ballots\">issued a blistering order\u003c/a> warning federal prosecutors to stop threatening California election officials with crimes.\u003c/p>\n"
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>A day later, federal prosecutors kept going. \u003c/p>\n",
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>At least four elections workers in California have received federal criminal grand jury subpoenas over the past week, with at least one delivered on Thursday after the court’s order.\u003c/p>\n",
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"\n\u003cp>At least four elections workers in California have received federal criminal grand jury subpoenas over the past week, with at least one delivered on Thursday after the court’s order.\u003c/p>\n"
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>In that subpoena, issued to the Orange County Registrar of Voters’s office, federal agents with the Department of Homeland Security are seeking unredacted voter records for 60 people, according to records obtained by CalMatters. \u003c/p>\n",
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"\n\u003cp>In that subpoena, issued to the Orange County Registrar of Voters’s office, federal agents with the Department of Homeland Security are seeking unredacted voter records for 60 people, according to records obtained by CalMatters. \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/KQED)\u003c/cite>\u003c/figcaption>\u003c/figure>\n",
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>The subpoenas signal an intensification of the federal government’s unprecedented targeting of California’s elections, setting up what could be a showdown over the fundamentals of American democracy around next Tuesday’s midterm elections. \u003c/p>\n",
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"\n\u003cp>The subpoenas signal an intensification of the federal government’s unprecedented targeting of California’s elections, setting up what could be a showdown over the fundamentals of American democracy around next Tuesday’s midterm elections. \u003c/p>\n"
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>The prosecutors include those in the office of Los Angeles’ top federal prosecutor, Bill Essayli, a leading aide in President Donald Trump’s push to find evidence to support longstanding — and never proven — claims that California elections are rigged in Democrats’ favor due to noncitizen votes.\u003c/p>\n",
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"\n\u003cp>The prosecutors include those in the office of Los Angeles’ top federal prosecutor, Bill Essayli, a leading aide in President Donald Trump’s push to find evidence to support longstanding — and never proven — claims that California elections are rigged in Democrats’ favor due to noncitizen votes.\u003c/p>\n"
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>\u003ca href=\"https://news.bloomberglaw.com/us-law-week/doj-orders-criminal-probes-of-california-officials-over-ballots\">Bloomberg Law first reported\u003c/a> Thursday that U.S. Justice Department leaders had directed top federal prosecutors to pursue criminal subpoenas of state and local officials in their efforts to find evidence that noncitizens were allowed to vote. The news outlet cited two unnamed sources familiar with the situation.\u003c/p>\n",
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"\n\u003cp>\u003ca href=\"https://news.bloomberglaw.com/us-law-week/doj-orders-criminal-probes-of-california-officials-over-ballots\">Bloomberg Law first reported\u003c/a> Thursday that U.S. Justice Department leaders had directed top federal prosecutors to pursue criminal subpoenas of state and local officials in their efforts to find evidence that noncitizens were allowed to vote. The news outlet cited two unnamed sources familiar with the situation.\u003c/p>\n"
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>This month Essayli sued California and Los Angeles County, demanding they set aside the ballots of 20,000 registered voters he accused of not being U.S. citizens, and last week the Justice Department sent letters threatening local elections officials with criminal charges if they did not do the same with lists of voters in their own counties.\u003c/p>\n",
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>County election officials from across California have said spot checks \u003ca href=\"https://calmatters.org/politics/2026/10/trump-voting-claims-counties/\">found the government’s list of names to be inaccurate\u003c/a> and have challenged the legality of the requests. Officials in only one county so far – San Luis Obispo – have announced \u003ca href=\"https://www.slocounty.ca.gov/departments/district-attorney/latest-news/2026/october/district-attorney-investigating-63-federally-identified-registrations-and-local-election-referrals\">they will investigate\u003c/a> the voters from the Justice Department’s demand letters. \u003c/p>\n",
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"\n\u003cp>County election officials from across California have said spot checks \u003ca href=\"https://calmatters.org/politics/2026/10/trump-voting-claims-counties/\">found the government’s list of names to be inaccurate\u003c/a> and have challenged the legality of the requests. Officials in only one county so far – San Luis Obispo – have announced \u003ca href=\"https://www.slocounty.ca.gov/departments/district-attorney/latest-news/2026/october/district-attorney-investigating-63-federally-identified-registrations-and-local-election-referrals\">they will investigate\u003c/a> the voters from the Justice Department’s demand letters. \u003c/p>\n"
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"attrs": {
"text": "What the subpoenas say ",
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>In Los Angeles County, federal prosecutors last week subpoenaed three employees of the Registrar-Recorder’s Office, ordering them to testify before a grand jury in a criminal investigation on Nov. 4, the day after the election. \u003c/p>\n",
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"\n\u003cp>In Los Angeles County, federal prosecutors last week subpoenaed three employees of the Registrar-Recorder’s Office, ordering them to testify before a grand jury in a criminal investigation on Nov. 4, the day after the election. \u003c/p>\n"
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>Prosecutors demanded county employees bring records of how their department prevents non-citizens from voting and “records relating to or involving evidence collected by your agency which tends to indicate an alien has voted in a federal election.”\u003c/p>\n",
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"\n\u003cp>Prosecutors demanded county employees bring records of how their department prevents non-citizens from voting and “records relating to or involving evidence collected by your agency which tends to indicate an alien has voted in a federal election.”\u003c/p>\n"
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>In a statement, Los Angeles County Registrar-Recorder Dean Logan said prosecutors were taking a “confrontational, adversarial approach.” He said the federal judge’s warning to stop making threats directed at election officials “was well placed and appreciated.” \u003c/p>\n",
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"\n\u003cp>In a statement, Los Angeles County Registrar-Recorder Dean Logan said prosecutors were taking a “confrontational, adversarial approach.” He said the federal judge’s warning to stop making threats directed at election officials “was well placed and appreciated.” \u003c/p>\n"
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>“Threats and intimidation have no place in elections,” Logan said. “We will take whatever steps necessary to ensure the safety of our employees and to remain focused on serving the voters of Los Angeles County so they can exercise their voting franchise.”\u003c/p>\n",
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"\n\u003cp>“Threats and intimidation have no place in elections,” Logan said. “We will take whatever steps necessary to ensure the safety of our employees and to remain focused on serving the voters of Los Angeles County so they can exercise their voting franchise.”\u003c/p>\n"
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>In Orange County, federal agents obtained the new grand jury subpoena last week but elections officials received it Thursday. It is similar to previous information demands from federal prosecutors. Elections officials had in September produced records on 20 registered voters in response to subpoenas. On Thursday, Registrar of Voters Bob Page told CalMatters three of those names appeared again in the new subpoena.\u003c/p>\n",
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"\n\u003cp>In Orange County, federal agents obtained the new grand jury subpoena last week but elections officials received it Thursday. It is similar to previous information demands from federal prosecutors. Elections officials had in September produced records on 20 registered voters in response to subpoenas. On Thursday, Registrar of Voters Bob Page told CalMatters three of those names appeared again in the new subpoena.\u003c/p>\n"
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>The federal government downplayed the subpoenas and suggested elections officials weren’t the targets of its investigation.\u003c/p>\n",
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>“Receiving a subpoena doesn’t mean you are a target,” Justice Department spokesperson Kiersten Pels said in an emailed statement. “In fact, generally, the DOJ doesn’t subpoena targets.” \u003c/p>\n",
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"\n\u003cp>“Receiving a subpoena doesn’t mean you are a target,” Justice Department spokesperson Kiersten Pels said in an emailed statement. “In fact, generally, the DOJ doesn’t subpoena targets.” \u003c/p>\n"
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>In his courtroom on Tuesday, U.S. District Judge David O. Carter made it clear that the federal government needed to stop \u003ca href=\"https://calmatters.org/politics/2026/10/trump-voting-claims-counties/\">threatening election workers with criminal charges\u003c/a> if they didn’t comply with prosecutors’ demands. \u003c/p>\n",
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"\n\u003cp>In his courtroom on Tuesday, U.S. District Judge David O. Carter made it clear that the federal government needed to stop \u003ca href=\"https://calmatters.org/politics/2026/10/trump-voting-claims-counties/\">threatening election workers with criminal charges\u003c/a> if they didn’t comply with prosecutors’ demands. \u003c/p>\n"
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>“This court believes it would be wise that any threats to state or county (election) employees cease immediately,” Carter told the courtroom. \u003c/p>\n",
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"\n\u003cp>“This court believes it would be wise that any threats to state or county (election) employees cease immediately,” Carter told the courtroom. \u003c/p>\n"
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>He made the warning formal in his written ruling issued Wednesday evening. \u003c/p>\n",
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>“Never before in American history has the federal government, on the eve of an election, sought to coerce a state and local government to abandon their own Constitutional elections procedures and bend to the will of the Executive Branch,” Carter wrote. \u003c/p>\n",
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"\n\u003cp>“Never before in American history has the federal government, on the eve of an election, sought to coerce a state and local government to abandon their own Constitutional elections procedures and bend to the will of the Executive Branch,” Carter wrote. \u003c/p>\n"
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>“The court reiterates what it said yesterday: these threats must stop,” he wrote.\u003c/p>\n",
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>The Justice Department has appealed Carter’s ruling to the 9th Circuit Court of Appeals. Pels said prosecutors are merely doing what Carter told them to do: prosecute illegal voting if it’s found.\u003c/p>\n",
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>In expressing skepticism about the Trump administration’s claims, Carter told Essayli in court on Tuesday that if noncitizens really are voting in as large of numbers as the Trump administration claims, there’s nothing stopping federal prosecutors from finding them and charging them without the risk of blocking legal voters from having their ballots counted. \u003c/p>\n",
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"\n\u003cp>In expressing skepticism about the Trump administration’s claims, Carter told Essayli in court on Tuesday that if noncitizens really are voting in as large of numbers as the Trump administration claims, there’s nothing stopping federal prosecutors from finding them and charging them without the risk of blocking legal voters from having their ballots counted. \u003c/p>\n"
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>Last week, federal prosecutors across California charged 28 people with registering to vote despite not being citizens. Not all of those people had voted in past elections; those charged amount to 0.0001% of the state’s 23 million registered voters.\u003c/p>\n",
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"\n\u003cp>Last week, federal prosecutors across California charged 28 people with registering to vote despite not being citizens. Not all of those people had voted in past elections; those charged amount to 0.0001% of the state’s 23 million registered voters.\u003c/p>\n"
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>“If it’s this big, you’ve got a remedy for goodness sakes,” Carter told Essayli during the hearing. “Go out and indict.”\u003c/p>\n",
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"\n\u003cp>“If it’s this big, you’ve got a remedy for goodness sakes,” Carter told Essayli during the hearing. “Go out and indict.”\u003c/p>\n"
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>“To be clear, the district court judge explained that voting unlawfully results in criminal exposure,” Pels wrote in her statement. “Consistent with this, California also wrote in its filing that the remedy for unlawful voting is through criminal prosecution. Thus, while DOJ maintains that a civil remedy is still available, all agree that noncitizen voting is properly addressed through criminal law.” \u003c/p>\n",
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"\n\u003cp>“To be clear, the district court judge explained that voting unlawfully results in criminal exposure,” Pels wrote in her statement. “Consistent with this, California also wrote in its filing that the remedy for unlawful voting is through criminal prosecution. Thus, while DOJ maintains that a civil remedy is still available, all agree that noncitizen voting is properly addressed through criminal law.” \u003c/p>\n"
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>Justin Levitt, an elections law expert at Loyola Law School, said federal prosecutors can argue they’re carrying out a legitimate criminal investigation, but in that case, there shouldn’t be any rush to subpoena officials in the middle of the election. The statute of limitations on federal voting offenses, he noted, is five years.\u003c/p>\n",
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"\n\u003cp>Justin Levitt, an elections law expert at Loyola Law School, said federal prosecutors can argue they’re carrying out a legitimate criminal investigation, but in that case, there shouldn’t be any rush to subpoena officials in the middle of the election. The statute of limitations on federal voting offenses, he noted, is five years.\u003c/p>\n"
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>“Because they have no role in affecting the election results, there is no reason whatsoever for them to demand this information now,” Levitt said. “It’s not directly against the judge’s order … but it’s certainly not going to make the judge happy.”\u003c/p>\n",
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"\n\u003cp>“Because they have no role in affecting the election results, there is no reason whatsoever for them to demand this information now,” Levitt said. “It’s not directly against the judge’s order … but it’s certainly not going to make the judge happy.”\u003c/p>\n"
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>California Sen. Tom Umberg, a Democrat and former federal prosecutor representing the Santa Ana area, said he was appalled that his former employer was clearly attempting “to intimidate public officials in exercising their sworn duties.”\u003cbr>\u003cbr>“I’m embarrassed and outraged that they’re trying to interfere with the election,” he said.\u003cbr>\u003cbr>Essalyi didn’t return a text message seeking comment Thursday.\u003cbr>\u003cbr>Professor Michael Vitiello, an expert on criminal law at the University of Pacific’s McGeorge School of Law, agreed that the federal government is trying to make election officials “insecure and fearful.”\u003c/p>\n",
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"\n\u003cp>California Sen. Tom Umberg, a Democrat and former federal prosecutor representing the Santa Ana area, said he was appalled that his former employer was clearly attempting “to intimidate public officials in exercising their sworn duties.”\u003cbr>\u003cbr>“I’m embarrassed and outraged that they’re trying to interfere with the election,” he said.\u003cbr>\u003cbr>Essalyi didn’t return a text message seeking comment Thursday.\u003cbr>\u003cbr>Professor Michael Vitiello, an expert on criminal law at the University of Pacific’s McGeorge School of Law, agreed that the federal government is trying to make election officials “insecure and fearful.”\u003c/p>\n"
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>“Maybe technically they’re trying to avoid direct conflict with the judge’s order, but they’re sure signaling that … election officials should lose some money, lose some sleep and maybe even go consult with lawyers,” Vitiello said.\u003c/p>\n",
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"\n\u003cp>“Maybe technically they’re trying to avoid direct conflict with the judge’s order, but they’re sure signaling that … election officials should lose some money, lose some sleep and maybe even go consult with lawyers,” Vitiello said.\u003c/p>\n"
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>\u003cem>This article was \u003ca href=\"https://calmatters.org/politics/2026/10/ca-election-officials-subpoenas/\">originally published on CalMatters\u003c/a> and was republished under the \u003ca href=\"https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-nd/4.0/\">Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivatives\u003c/a> license.\u003c/em>\u003c/p>\n",
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"content": "\u003cdiv class=\"post-body\">\u003cp>\n\u003cp class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">\u003cem>This story was originally published by \u003ca href=\"https://calmatters.org/\">CalMatters\u003c/a>. \u003ca href=\"https://calmatters.org/subscribe-to-calmatters/\">Sign up\u003c/a> for their newsletters.\u003c/em>\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">On Wednesday, a federal judge \u003ca href=\"https://www.kqed.org/news/12107158/judge-rejects-trump-administration-bid-to-set-aside-20000-california-ballots\">issued a blistering order\u003c/a> warning federal prosecutors to stop threatening California election officials with crimes.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">A day later, federal prosecutors kept going. \u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">At least four elections workers in California have received federal criminal grand jury subpoenas over the past week, with at least one delivered on Thursday after the court’s order.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">In that subpoena, issued to the Orange County Registrar of Voters’s office, federal agents with the Department of Homeland Security are seeking unredacted voter records for 60 people, according to records obtained by CalMatters. \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/KQED)\u003c/figcaption>\u003c/figure>\n\n\n\n\u003cp class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">The subpoenas signal an intensification of the federal government’s unprecedented targeting of California’s elections, setting up what could be a showdown over the fundamentals of American democracy around next Tuesday’s midterm elections. \u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">The prosecutors include those in the office of Los Angeles’ top federal prosecutor, Bill Essayli, a leading aide in President Donald Trump’s push to find evidence to support longstanding — and never proven — claims that California elections are rigged in Democrats’ favor due to noncitizen votes.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">\u003ca href=\"https://news.bloomberglaw.com/us-law-week/doj-orders-criminal-probes-of-california-officials-over-ballots\">Bloomberg Law first reported\u003c/a> Thursday that U.S. Justice Department leaders had directed top federal prosecutors to pursue criminal subpoenas of state and local officials in their efforts to find evidence that noncitizens were allowed to vote. The news outlet cited two unnamed sources familiar with the situation.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">This month Essayli sued California and Los Angeles County, demanding they set aside the ballots of 20,000 registered voters he accused of not being U.S. citizens, and last week the Justice Department sent letters threatening local elections officials with criminal charges if they did not do the same with lists of voters in their own counties.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">County election officials from across California have said spot checks \u003ca href=\"https://calmatters.org/politics/2026/10/trump-voting-claims-counties/\">found the government’s list of names to be inaccurate\u003c/a> and have challenged the legality of the requests. Officials in only one county so far – San Luis Obispo – have announced \u003ca href=\"https://www.slocounty.ca.gov/departments/district-attorney/latest-news/2026/october/district-attorney-investigating-63-federally-identified-registrations-and-local-election-referrals\">they will investigate\u003c/a> the voters from the Justice Department’s demand letters. \u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003ch2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">What the subpoenas say \u003c/h2>\n\n\n\n\u003cp class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">In Los Angeles County, federal prosecutors last week subpoenaed three employees of the Registrar-Recorder’s Office, ordering them to testify before a grand jury in a criminal investigation on Nov. 4, the day after the election. \u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Prosecutors demanded county employees bring records of how their department prevents non-citizens from voting and “records relating to or involving evidence collected by your agency which tends to indicate an alien has voted in a federal election.”\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">In a statement, Los Angeles County Registrar-Recorder Dean Logan said prosecutors were taking a “confrontational, adversarial approach.” He said the federal judge’s warning to stop making threats directed at election officials “was well placed and appreciated.” \u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\u003cp class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">“Threats and intimidation have no place in elections,” Logan said. “We will take whatever steps necessary to ensure the safety of our employees and to remain focused on serving the voters of Los Angeles County so they can exercise their voting franchise.”\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">In Orange County, federal agents obtained the new grand jury subpoena last week but elections officials received it Thursday. It is similar to previous information demands from federal prosecutors. Elections officials had in September produced records on 20 registered voters in response to subpoenas. On Thursday, Registrar of Voters Bob Page told CalMatters three of those names appeared again in the new subpoena.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">The federal government downplayed the subpoenas and suggested elections officials weren’t the targets of its investigation.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">“Receiving a subpoena doesn’t mean you are a target,” Justice Department spokesperson Kiersten Pels said in an emailed statement. “In fact, generally, the DOJ doesn’t subpoena targets.” \u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003ch2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Judge says ‘these threats must stop’\u003c/h2>\n\n\n\n\u003cp class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">In his courtroom on Tuesday, U.S. District Judge David O. Carter made it clear that the federal government needed to stop \u003ca href=\"https://calmatters.org/politics/2026/10/trump-voting-claims-counties/\">threatening election workers with criminal charges\u003c/a> if they didn’t comply with prosecutors’ demands. \u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">“This court believes it would be wise that any threats to state or county (election) employees cease immediately,” Carter told the courtroom. \u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">He made the warning formal in his written ruling issued Wednesday evening. \u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">“Never before in American history has the federal government, on the eve of an election, sought to coerce a state and local government to abandon their own Constitutional elections procedures and bend to the will of the Executive Branch,” Carter wrote. \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/10/2024/03/CMPollWorkers02.jpg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-11977756\" srcset=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2024/03/CMPollWorkers02.jpg 2000w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2024/03/CMPollWorkers02-800x534.jpg 800w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2024/03/CMPollWorkers02-1020x680.jpg 1020w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2024/03/CMPollWorkers02-160x107.jpg 160w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2024/03/CMPollWorkers02-1536x1025.jpg 1536w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2024/03/CMPollWorkers02-1920x1281.jpg 1920w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 2000px) 100vw, 2000px\" />\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">A voter fills out their ballot at a polling station at the American Legion in Shasta Lake, California, during a special election in Shasta County on Nov. 7, 2023. (Fred Greaves/CalMatters)\u003c/figcaption>\u003c/figure>\n\n\n\n\u003cp class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">“The court reiterates what it said yesterday: these threats must stop,” he wrote.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">The Justice Department has appealed Carter’s ruling to the 9th Circuit Court of Appeals. Pels said prosecutors are merely doing what Carter told them to do: prosecute illegal voting if it’s found.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">In expressing skepticism about the Trump administration’s claims, Carter told Essayli in court on Tuesday that if noncitizens really are voting in as large of numbers as the Trump administration claims, there’s nothing stopping federal prosecutors from finding them and charging them without the risk of blocking legal voters from having their ballots counted. \u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Last week, federal prosecutors across California charged 28 people with registering to vote despite not being citizens. Not all of those people had voted in past elections; those charged amount to 0.0001% of the state’s 23 million registered voters.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">“If it’s this big, you’ve got a remedy for goodness sakes,” Carter told Essayli during the hearing. “Go out and indict.”\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">“To be clear, the district court judge explained that voting unlawfully results in criminal exposure,” Pels wrote in her statement. “Consistent with this, California also wrote in its filing that the remedy for unlawful voting is through criminal prosecution. Thus, while DOJ maintains that a civil remedy is still available, all agree that noncitizen voting is properly addressed through criminal law.” \u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\u003cp class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Justin Levitt, an elections law expert at Loyola Law School, said federal prosecutors can argue they’re carrying out a legitimate criminal investigation, but in that case, there shouldn’t be any rush to subpoena officials in the middle of the election. The statute of limitations on federal voting offenses, he noted, is five years.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">“Because they have no role in affecting the election results, there is no reason whatsoever for them to demand this information now,” Levitt said. “It’s not directly against the judge’s order … but it’s certainly not going to make the judge happy.”\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">California Sen. Tom Umberg, a Democrat and former federal prosecutor representing the Santa Ana area, said he was appalled that his former employer was clearly attempting “to intimidate public officials in exercising their sworn duties.”\u003cbr>\u003cbr>“I’m embarrassed and outraged that they’re trying to interfere with the election,” he said.\u003cbr>\u003cbr>Essalyi didn’t return a text message seeking comment Thursday.\u003cbr>\u003cbr>Professor Michael Vitiello, an expert on criminal law at the University of Pacific’s McGeorge School of Law, agreed that the federal government is trying to make election officials “insecure and fearful.”\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">“Maybe technically they’re trying to avoid direct conflict with the judge’s order, but they’re sure signaling that … election officials should lose some money, lose some sleep and maybe even go consult with lawyers,” Vitiello said.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">\u003cem>This article was \u003ca href=\"https://calmatters.org/politics/2026/10/ca-election-officials-subpoenas/\">originally published on CalMatters\u003c/a> and was republished under the \u003ca href=\"https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-nd/4.0/\">Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivatives\u003c/a> license.\u003c/em>\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 This Weekend— or Vote Early?",
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"headTitle": "Election 2026: Where Can I Drop Off My Midterm Ballot This Weekend— or Vote Early? | KQED",
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"content": "\n\u003cp class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">California voters: \u003ca href=\"https://www.kqed.org/voterguide\">the midterm elections are here\u003c/a>, and Election Day is Tuesday.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">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 class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Keep reading for everything you need to know about submitting your vote in the California midterm elections. \u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">\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 class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">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\">Is it best to drop off my ballot in a drop box or at a voting location?\u003c/h2>\n\n\n\n\u003cp class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Yes. State officials — and USPS — stress that \u003ca href=\"https://www.kqed.org/news/12103028/should-you-use-usps-to-mail-your-midterm-ballot-heres-what-california-election-officials-say\">you shouldn’t mail your ballot through the Postal Service this close to Election Day\u003c/a>, because there’s a real risk it might be postmarked too late for it to be counted at this stage. \u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Instead, find a secure official election drop box and drop it off there. 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 class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">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>, for reassurance that it’s on its way to being counted.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">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 opened\u003c/a> Oct. 24 in certain counties, and more early voting locations will be open from Saturday, 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/10/2026/10/251030-BayAreaVoters-04-BL_qed-afbb8079.jpg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-12107030\" srcset=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/10/251030-BayAreaVoters-04-BL_qed-afbb8079.jpg 1999w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/10/251030-BayAreaVoters-04-BL_qed-afbb8079-160x107.jpg 160w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/10/251030-BayAreaVoters-04-BL_qed-afbb8079-1536x1024.jpg 1536w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 1999px) 100vw, 1999px\" />\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">John Chan drops off 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 class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">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> that has adopted the “Sign & Go” system — which in the Bay Area are Alameda, Contra Costa, Marin and Napa — you can complete your ballot 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 class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">And if you live in a county that 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 class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">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 class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">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 class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">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 id=\"in-person\" class=\"wp-block-heading\">Where can I vote in person on Election Day?\u003c/h2>\n\n\n\n\u003cp class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">On Tuesday, 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 class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">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/10/2026/10/261008-ELECTIONSTOCKIMAGERY-09-BL-KQED-eb95111c.jpg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-12103668\" srcset=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/10/261008-ELECTIONSTOCKIMAGERY-09-BL-KQED-eb95111c.jpg 2000w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/10/261008-ELECTIONSTOCKIMAGERY-09-BL-KQED-eb95111c-160x107.jpg 160w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/10/261008-ELECTIONSTOCKIMAGERY-09-BL-KQED-eb95111c-1536x1024.jpg 1536w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 2000px) 100vw, 2000px\" />\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">A vote-by-mail ballot for the Nov. 3, 2026, general election on Oct. 8, 2026. (Beth LaBerge/KQED)\u003c/figcaption>\u003c/figure>\n\n\n\n\u003cp class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">\u003cstrong>If you live in San Francisco, Contra Costa or Solano counties:\u003c/strong>\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">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 class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">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 class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">\u003cstrong>If you live in Alameda, Marin, Napa, San Mateo, Santa Clara or Sonoma counties:\u003c/strong>\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">You can vote at any voting location — known as Vote Centers — including your county registrar’s office.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">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 class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">\u003cstrong>Do I need to bring my ballot with me?\u003c/strong>\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">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 class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">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 class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">This close to Election Day, if you want to register to vote — or \u003ca href=\"https://www.sos.ca.gov/elections/voter-registration/\">re-register,\u003c/a> if you’ve changed your name, want to change the political party choice you previously registered to vote with or have moved address — you’ll need to do this in person. (The online deadline for voter registration was Oct.19.)\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\u003cp class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">To do this, you’ll 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\u003cp class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">This system enables you to fill out and submit your ballot then and there, up until polls close at 8 p.m. on Election Day.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">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 id=\"ballot-drop-off\" class=\"wp-block-heading\">How can I find my voting location or ballot drop-off?\u003c/h2>\n\n\n\n\u003cp class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Secure drop boxes \u003ca href=\"https://www.sos.ca.gov/elections/upcoming-elections/general-election-november-3-2026\">opened back on Oct. 5, and the first vote centers opened\u003c/a> Oct. 24 in certain counties. Widespread early voting locations will open on Saturday, Oct. 31.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">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 class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">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 id=\"county\" class=\"wp-block-heading\">How can I contact my county directly about voting?\u003c/h2>\n\n\n\n\u003cp class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">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 class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">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 Election Day is Tuesday.\u003c/p>\n",
"innerContent": [
"\n\u003cp>California voters: \u003ca href=\"https://www.kqed.org/voterguide\">the midterm elections are here\u003c/a>, and Election Day is Tuesday.\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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{
"blockName": "core/paragraph",
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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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"attrs": {
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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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"How to find your closest voting location or ballot drop-off",
"How to find your polling place on Election Day",
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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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{
"blockName": "core/heading",
"attrs": {
"text": "Is it best to drop off my ballot in a drop box or at a voting location?",
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003ch2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Is it best to drop off my ballot in a drop box or at a voting location?\u003c/h2>\n",
"innerContent": [
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>Yes. State officials — and USPS — stress that \u003ca href=\"https://www.kqed.org/news/12103028/should-you-use-usps-to-mail-your-midterm-ballot-heres-what-california-election-officials-say\">you shouldn’t mail your ballot through the Postal Service this close to Election Day\u003c/a>, because there’s a real risk it might be postmarked too late for it to be counted at this stage. \u003c/p>\n",
"innerContent": [
"\n\u003cp>Yes. State officials — and USPS — stress that \u003ca href=\"https://www.kqed.org/news/12103028/should-you-use-usps-to-mail-your-midterm-ballot-heres-what-california-election-officials-say\">you shouldn’t mail your ballot through the Postal Service this close to Election Day\u003c/a>, because there’s a real risk it might be postmarked too late for it to be counted at this stage. \u003c/p>\n"
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>Instead, find a secure official election drop box and drop it off there. 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>Instead, find a secure official election drop box and drop it off there. 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 \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>, for reassurance that it’s on its way to being counted.\u003c/p>\n",
"innerContent": [
"\n\u003cp>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>, for reassurance that it’s on its way to being counted.\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 opened\u003c/a> Oct. 24 in certain counties, and more early voting locations will be open from Saturday, 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 opened\u003c/a> Oct. 24 in certain counties, and more early voting locations will be open from Saturday, 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/10/2026/10/251030-BayAreaVoters-04-BL_qed-afbb8079.jpg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-12107030\" srcset=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/10/251030-BayAreaVoters-04-BL_qed-afbb8079.jpg 1999w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/10/251030-BayAreaVoters-04-BL_qed-afbb8079-160x107.jpg 160w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/10/251030-BayAreaVoters-04-BL_qed-afbb8079-1536x1024.jpg 1536w\" sizes=\"(min-width: 992px) min(100vw, 1536px), (min-width: 768px) min(100vw, 1280px), min(100vw, 1020px)\"/>\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">John Chan drops off 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/10/2026/10/251030-BayAreaVoters-04-BL_qed-afbb8079.jpg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-12107030\"/>\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">John Chan drops off 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>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> that has adopted the “Sign & Go” system — which in the Bay Area are Alameda, Contra Costa, Marin and Napa — you can complete your ballot 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> that has adopted the “Sign & Go” system — which in the Bay Area are Alameda, Contra Costa, Marin and Napa — you can complete your ballot 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 that 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 that 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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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>On Tuesday, 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 Tuesday, 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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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cfigure class=\"wp-block-image size-full\">\u003cimg src=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/10/261008-ELECTIONSTOCKIMAGERY-09-BL-KQED-eb95111c.jpg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-12103668\" srcset=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/10/261008-ELECTIONSTOCKIMAGERY-09-BL-KQED-eb95111c.jpg 2000w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/10/261008-ELECTIONSTOCKIMAGERY-09-BL-KQED-eb95111c-160x107.jpg 160w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/10/261008-ELECTIONSTOCKIMAGERY-09-BL-KQED-eb95111c-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 vote-by-mail ballot for the Nov. 3, 2026, general election on Oct. 8, 2026.\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/10/2026/10/261008-ELECTIONSTOCKIMAGERY-09-BL-KQED-eb95111c.jpg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-12103668\"/>\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">A vote-by-mail ballot for the Nov. 3, 2026, general election on Oct. 8, 2026.\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",
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"\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",
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"\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",
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"\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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"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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"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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"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\u003cp>This close to Election Day, if you want to register to vote — or \u003ca href=\"https://www.sos.ca.gov/elections/voter-registration/\">re-register,\u003c/a> if you’ve changed your name, want to change the political party choice you previously registered to vote with or have moved address — you’ll need to do this in person. (The online deadline for voter registration was Oct.19.)\u003c/p>\n",
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"\n\u003cp>This close to Election Day, if you want to register to vote — or \u003ca href=\"https://www.sos.ca.gov/elections/voter-registration/\">re-register,\u003c/a> if you’ve changed your name, want to change the political party choice you previously registered to vote with or have moved address — you’ll need to do this in person. (The online deadline for voter registration was Oct.19.)\u003c/p>\n"
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>To do this, you’ll 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",
"innerContent": [
"\n\u003cp>To do this, you’ll 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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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>This system enables you to fill out and submit your ballot then and there, up until polls close at 8 p.m. on Election Day.\u003c/p>\n",
"innerContent": [
"\n\u003cp>This system enables you to fill out and submit your ballot then and there, up until 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",
"innerContent": [
"\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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"anchor": "ballot-drop-off",
"text": "How can I find my voting location or ballot drop-off?",
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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\">opened back on Oct. 5, and the first vote centers opened\u003c/a> Oct. 24 in certain counties. Widespread early voting locations will open on Saturday, 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\">opened back on Oct. 5, and the first vote centers opened\u003c/a> Oct. 24 in certain counties. Widespread early voting locations will open on Saturday, 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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{
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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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"text": "How can I contact my county directly about voting?",
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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",
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"\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",
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"\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",
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"\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",
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"\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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"excerpt": "With early voting opening available across the Bay Area this weekend, here’s how to find your closest location — or a ballot drop box. ",
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"title": "Election 2026: Where Can I Drop Off My Midterm Ballot This Weekend— or Vote Early? | KQED",
"description": "With early voting opening available across the Bay Area this weekend, here’s how to find your closest location — or a ballot drop box. ",
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"headline": "Election 2026: Where Can I Drop Off My Midterm Ballot This Weekend— or Vote Early?",
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"content": "\u003cdiv class=\"post-body\">\u003cp>\n\u003cp class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">California voters: \u003ca href=\"https://www.kqed.org/voterguide\">the midterm elections are here\u003c/a>, and Election Day is Tuesday.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">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 class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Keep reading for everything you need to know about submitting your vote in the California midterm elections. \u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">\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 class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">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\">Is it best to drop off my ballot in a drop box or at a voting location?\u003c/h2>\n\n\n\n\u003cp class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Yes. State officials — and USPS — stress that \u003ca href=\"https://www.kqed.org/news/12103028/should-you-use-usps-to-mail-your-midterm-ballot-heres-what-california-election-officials-say\">you shouldn’t mail your ballot through the Postal Service this close to Election Day\u003c/a>, because there’s a real risk it might be postmarked too late for it to be counted at this stage. \u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Instead, find a secure official election drop box and drop it off there. 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 class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">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>, for reassurance that it’s on its way to being counted.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">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 opened\u003c/a> Oct. 24 in certain counties, and more early voting locations will be open from Saturday, 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/10/2026/10/251030-BayAreaVoters-04-BL_qed-afbb8079.jpg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-12107030\" srcset=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/10/251030-BayAreaVoters-04-BL_qed-afbb8079.jpg 1999w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/10/251030-BayAreaVoters-04-BL_qed-afbb8079-160x107.jpg 160w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/10/251030-BayAreaVoters-04-BL_qed-afbb8079-1536x1024.jpg 1536w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 1999px) 100vw, 1999px\" />\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">John Chan drops off 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 class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">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> that has adopted the “Sign & Go” system — which in the Bay Area are Alameda, Contra Costa, Marin and Napa — you can complete your ballot 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 class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">And if you live in a county that 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 class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">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 class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">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 class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">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 id=\"in-person\" class=\"wp-block-heading\">Where can I vote in person on Election Day?\u003c/h2>\n\n\n\n\u003cp class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">On Tuesday, 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 class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">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/10/2026/10/261008-ELECTIONSTOCKIMAGERY-09-BL-KQED-eb95111c.jpg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-12103668\" srcset=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/10/261008-ELECTIONSTOCKIMAGERY-09-BL-KQED-eb95111c.jpg 2000w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/10/261008-ELECTIONSTOCKIMAGERY-09-BL-KQED-eb95111c-160x107.jpg 160w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/10/261008-ELECTIONSTOCKIMAGERY-09-BL-KQED-eb95111c-1536x1024.jpg 1536w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 2000px) 100vw, 2000px\" />\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">A vote-by-mail ballot for the Nov. 3, 2026, general election on Oct. 8, 2026. (Beth LaBerge/KQED)\u003c/figcaption>\u003c/figure>\n\n\n\n\u003cp class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">\u003cstrong>If you live in San Francisco, Contra Costa or Solano counties:\u003c/strong>\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">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 class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">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 class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">\u003cstrong>If you live in Alameda, Marin, Napa, San Mateo, Santa Clara or Sonoma counties:\u003c/strong>\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">You can vote at any voting location — known as Vote Centers — including your county registrar’s office.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">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 class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">\u003cstrong>Do I need to bring my ballot with me?\u003c/strong>\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">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 class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">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 class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">This close to Election Day, if you want to register to vote — or \u003ca href=\"https://www.sos.ca.gov/elections/voter-registration/\">re-register,\u003c/a> if you’ve changed your name, want to change the political party choice you previously registered to vote with or have moved address — you’ll need to do this in person. (The online deadline for voter registration was Oct.19.)\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\u003cp class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">To do this, you’ll 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\u003cp class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">This system enables you to fill out and submit your ballot then and there, up until polls close at 8 p.m. on Election Day.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">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 id=\"ballot-drop-off\" class=\"wp-block-heading\">How can I find my voting location or ballot drop-off?\u003c/h2>\n\n\n\n\u003cp class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Secure drop boxes \u003ca href=\"https://www.sos.ca.gov/elections/upcoming-elections/general-election-november-3-2026\">opened back on Oct. 5, and the first vote centers opened\u003c/a> Oct. 24 in certain counties. Widespread early voting locations will open on Saturday, Oct. 31.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">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 class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">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 id=\"county\" class=\"wp-block-heading\">How can I contact my county directly about voting?\u003c/h2>\n\n\n\n\u003cp class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">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 class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">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": "california-midterms-elections-2026-vote-for-governor-ballot-signature-how-to-correct-mistake",
"title": "Midterms 2026: How to Correct a Mistake on Your Ballot (and Make Sure Your Vote’s Counted in Time)",
"publishDate": 1793380140,
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"headTitle": "Midterms 2026: How to Correct a Mistake on Your Ballot (and Make Sure Your Vote’s Counted in Time) | KQED",
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"content": "\n\u003cp class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Tuesday is \u003ca href=\"https://www.kqed.org/electionsnews\">Election Day\u003c/a> in California, your last chance to vote in the state’s general election — and to \u003ca href=\"https://www.kqed.org/voterguide/\">cast your vote\u003c/a> for who should be the next governor.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">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 class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">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, and I’m afraid my vote won’t count. What should I do? \u003c/a>\u003c/strong>\u003c/li>\n\u003c/ul>\n\n\n\n\u003ch2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Remind me: What’s on my 2026 midterm elections ballot?\u003c/h2>\n\n\n\n\u003cp class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">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 class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">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, with details of all those California props.\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\u003cp class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">This close to Election Day, state officials — and USPS — stress that \u003ca href=\"https://www.kqed.org/news/12103028/should-you-use-usps-to-mail-your-midterm-ballot-heres-what-california-election-officials-say\">you shouldn’t be \u003cem>mailing\u003c/em> your ballot through the Postal Service\u003c/a>, because there’s a real risk it might be postmarked too late for it to be counted at this stage.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Instead of submitting your ballot via a USPS collection box, you should now:\u003c/p>\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 class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Using one of these drop boxes means your ballot will be taken straight to your local county elections office.\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 class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">\u003ca href=\"https://www.sos.ca.gov/elections/upcoming-elections/general-election-november-3-2026\">The first vote centers opened \u003c/a>Oct. 24 in certain counties, with more early voting locations opening Saturday, Oct. 31.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\u003cp class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">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 out your ballot in person at a voting location and submit it directly there and then. \u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Or, if you live in \u003ca href=\"https://calvoter.org/content/sign-scan-and-go\">one of the California counties\u003c/a> that 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 that 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 class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">\u003cstrong>Really\u003c/strong> \u003cstrong>\u003cem>have\u003c/em>\u003c/strong> \u003cstrong>to use the Postal Service this close to Election Day?\u003c/strong>\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">At this late stage, we’ll say it again\u003ca href=\"https://www.kqed.org/news/12103028/should-you-use-usps-to-mail-your-midterm-ballot-heres-what-california-election-officials-say\">: You shouldn’t be using a USPS collection box\u003c/a> to mail your ballot. \u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">But if you really have to use USPS for some reason instead of the methods above, Secretary of State Shirley Weber’s office recommends you go inside an open Post Office location to \u003ca href=\"https://www.sos.ca.gov/elections/voter-registration/vote-mail\">“get a hand-stamped postmark\u003c/a> from a postal employee,” and then submit your postmarked ballot through USPS that way.\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 class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">No. \u003ca href=\"https://www.sos.ca.gov/elections/voter-registration/vote-mail\">If you’re registered to vote, you’ll have received 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 class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">You can still vote in person, either at an early voting location before Election Day or on Tuesday itself.\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 class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">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 class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">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 class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">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 class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">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 class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">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 class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">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 class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">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\n\n\u003cp class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">One: \u003ca href=\"https://registertovote.ca.gov/\">Re-register to vote with your current signature\u003c/a>, to be sure that the state now has your most recent one on file, by completing 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,” at your county elections office or polling location. You’ll be handed your ballot to vote right there.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">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 class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">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 class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">“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 class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Rest assured: There’s a whole system in place to help you correct your mistake.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">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 class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">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 class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">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 id=\"mistake\" class=\"wp-block-heading\">I made a mistake on my ballot. How do I fix it?\u003c/h2>\n\n\n\n\u003cp class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">First, don’t panic. People make mistakes on ballots and find good ways to correct them.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">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 class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">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 class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">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 class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">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 class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">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 Tuesday’s Election Day, turn in your spoiled ballot there and get a new ballot.\u003c/li>\n\u003c/ul>\n\n\n\n\u003cp class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">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 class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">First off, that date should be the date you signed your envelope — not your date of birth. \u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">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 class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">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 class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">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 class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">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 class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">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 class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">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 class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">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 class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">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 class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">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 class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">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 secure voting drop box, or dropped off at a polling location or your county elections office, by the time polls close at 8 p.m. on Tuesday. \u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">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 say it’s too late at this stage to mail your ballot through USPS.\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 class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">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 class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">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 class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">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 class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">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 class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Don’t panic: You have options. Here’s what to do.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">\u003cstrong>Check that you’re actually registered to vote — and to the right address.\u003c/strong>\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">\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 class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">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\u003cp class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">\u003cstrong>If your voter registration address was correct but your ballot never showed up, you still have options.\u003c/strong>\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">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. You can also vote right there at the counter at the same time until 8 p.m. on Tuesday.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">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 class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">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 class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">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>Tuesday is \u003ca href=\"https://www.kqed.org/electionsnews\">Election Day\u003c/a> in California, your last chance to vote in the state’s general election — and to \u003ca href=\"https://www.kqed.org/voterguide/\">cast your vote\u003c/a> for who should be the next governor.\u003c/p>\n",
"innerContent": [
"\n\u003cp>Tuesday is \u003ca href=\"https://www.kqed.org/electionsnews\">Election Day\u003c/a> in California, your last chance to vote in the state’s general election — and to \u003ca href=\"https://www.kqed.org/voterguide/\">cast your vote\u003c/a> for who should be the next governor.\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",
"innerContent": [
"\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, and I’m afraid my vote won’t count. What should I do? "
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cul class=\"wp-block-list\">\u003c/ul>\n",
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cli>\u003cstrong>Jump to: \u003ca href=\"#mistake\">I messed up my ballot, and I’m afraid my vote won’t count. 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, and I’m afraid my vote won’t count. What should I do? \u003c/a>\u003c/strong>\u003c/li>\n"
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{
"blockName": "core/heading",
"attrs": {
"text": "Remind me: What’s on my 2026 midterm elections ballot?",
"level": 2
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003ch2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Remind me: What’s on my 2026 midterm elections ballot?\u003c/h2>\n",
"innerContent": [
"\n\u003ch2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Remind me: 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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"\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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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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"innerHTML": "\n\u003ch3 class=\"wp-block-heading\">A number of statewide propositions, including:\u003c/h3>\n",
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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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"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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},
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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, with details of all those California props.\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, with details of all those California props.\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": [
"\n\u003ch2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">How do I return my ballot when I’ve completed it?\u003c/h2>\n"
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>This close to Election Day, state officials — and USPS — stress that \u003ca href=\"https://www.kqed.org/news/12103028/should-you-use-usps-to-mail-your-midterm-ballot-heres-what-california-election-officials-say\">you shouldn’t be \u003cem>mailing\u003c/em> your ballot through the Postal Service\u003c/a>, because there’s a real risk it might be postmarked too late for it to be counted at this stage.\u003c/p>\n",
"innerContent": [
"\n\u003cp>This close to Election Day, state officials — and USPS — stress that \u003ca href=\"https://www.kqed.org/news/12103028/should-you-use-usps-to-mail-your-midterm-ballot-heres-what-california-election-officials-say\">you shouldn’t be \u003cem>mailing\u003c/em> your ballot through the Postal Service\u003c/a>, because there’s a real risk it might be postmarked too late for it to be counted at this stage.\u003c/p>\n"
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>Instead of submitting your ballot via a USPS collection box, you should now:\u003c/p>\n",
"innerContent": [
"\n\u003cp>Instead of submitting your ballot via a USPS collection box, you should now:\u003c/p>\n"
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"blockName": "core/heading",
"attrs": {
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"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": [
"\n\u003ch3 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Drop off your ballot in a secure ballot drop box\u003c/h3>\n"
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>Using one of these drop boxes means your ballot will be taken straight to your local county elections office.\u003c/p>\n",
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"\n\u003cp>Using one of these drop boxes means your ballot will be taken straight to your local county elections office.\u003c/p>\n"
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"text": "Drop off your ballot in an open voting location"
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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 opened \u003c/a>Oct. 24 in certain counties, with more early voting locations opening Saturday, 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 opened \u003c/a>Oct. 24 in certain counties, with more early voting locations opening Saturday, Oct. 31.\u003c/p>\n"
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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 out your ballot in person at a voting location and submit it directly there and then. \u003c/p>\n",
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"\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 out your ballot 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> that 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 that 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> that 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 that 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>\u003cstrong>Really\u003c/strong> \u003cstrong>\u003cem>have\u003c/em>\u003c/strong> \u003cstrong>to use the Postal Service this close to Election Day?\u003c/strong>\u003c/p>\n",
"innerContent": [
"\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Really\u003c/strong> \u003cstrong>\u003cem>have\u003c/em>\u003c/strong> \u003cstrong>to use the Postal Service this close to Election Day?\u003c/strong>\u003c/p>\n"
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>At this late stage, we’ll say it again\u003ca href=\"https://www.kqed.org/news/12103028/should-you-use-usps-to-mail-your-midterm-ballot-heres-what-california-election-officials-say\">: You shouldn’t be using a USPS collection box\u003c/a> to mail your ballot. \u003c/p>\n",
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"\n\u003cp>At this late stage, we’ll say it again\u003ca href=\"https://www.kqed.org/news/12103028/should-you-use-usps-to-mail-your-midterm-ballot-heres-what-california-election-officials-say\">: You shouldn’t be using a USPS collection box\u003c/a> to mail your ballot. \u003c/p>\n"
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>But if you really have to use USPS for some reason instead of the methods above, Secretary of State Shirley Weber’s office recommends you go inside an open Post Office location to \u003ca href=\"https://www.sos.ca.gov/elections/voter-registration/vote-mail\">“get a hand-stamped postmark\u003c/a> from a postal employee,” and then submit your postmarked ballot through USPS that way.\u003c/p>\n",
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"\n\u003cp>But if you really have to use USPS for some reason instead of the methods above, Secretary of State Shirley Weber’s office recommends you go inside an open Post Office location to \u003ca href=\"https://www.sos.ca.gov/elections/voter-registration/vote-mail\">“get a hand-stamped postmark\u003c/a> from a postal employee,” and then submit your postmarked ballot through USPS that way.\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 have received 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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"\n\u003cp>No. \u003ca href=\"https://www.sos.ca.gov/elections/voter-registration/vote-mail\">If you’re registered to vote, you’ll have received 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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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>You can still vote in person, either at an early voting location before Election Day or on Tuesday itself.\u003c/p>\n",
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"\n\u003cfigure class=\"wp-block-image aligncenter size-full\">\u003cimg src=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2024/11/20241102_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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"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",
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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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"innerHTML": "\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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"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",
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"\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",
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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",
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"\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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"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",
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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",
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>One: \u003ca href=\"https://registertovote.ca.gov/\">Re-register to vote with your current signature\u003c/a>, to be sure that the state now has your most recent one on file, by completing 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,” at your county elections office or polling location. You’ll be handed your ballot to vote right there.\u003c/p>\n",
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"\n\u003cp>One: \u003ca href=\"https://registertovote.ca.gov/\">Re-register to vote with your current signature\u003c/a>, to be sure that the state now has your most recent one on file, by completing 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,” at your county elections office or polling location. You’ll be handed your ballot to vote right there.\u003c/p>\n"
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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",
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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",
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"\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",
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"\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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"innerBlocks": []
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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?"
},
"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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{
"blockName": "core/paragraph",
"attrs": {
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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",
"innerContent": [
"\n\u003cp>Rest assured: There’s a whole system in place to help you correct your mistake.\u003c/p>\n"
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"blockName": "core/paragraph",
"attrs": {
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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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"blockName": "core/paragraph",
"attrs": {
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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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{
"blockName": "core/paragraph",
"attrs": {
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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": {
"anchor": "mistake",
"text": "I made a mistake on my ballot. How do I fix it?",
"level": 2
},
"innerHTML": "\n\u003ch2 id=\"mistake\" class=\"wp-block-heading\">I made a mistake on my ballot. How do I fix it?\u003c/h2>\n",
"innerContent": [
"\n\u003ch2 id=\"mistake\" class=\"wp-block-heading\">I made a mistake on my ballot. How do I fix it?\u003c/h2>\n"
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{
"blockName": "core/paragraph",
"attrs": {
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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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{
"blockName": "core/paragraph",
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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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"blockName": "core/paragraph",
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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",
"innerContent": [
"\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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"blockName": "core/paragraph",
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"innerHTML": "\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?",
"level": 2
},
"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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"items": [
"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 Tuesday’s Election Day, 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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null,
"\n\n",
null,
"\n\n",
null,
"\n\n",
null,
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"blockName": "core/list-item",
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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"
]
},
{
"blockName": "core/list-item",
"attrs": [],
"innerBlocks": [],
"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",
"innerContent": [
"\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"
]
},
{
"blockName": "core/list-item",
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cli>Take advantage of the early voting options available in many counties.\u003c/li>\n",
"innerContent": [
"\n\u003cli>Take advantage of the early voting options available in many counties.\u003c/li>\n"
]
},
{
"blockName": "core/list-item",
"attrs": [],
"innerBlocks": [],
"innerHTML": "\n\u003cli>Go to a voting site on Tuesday’s Election Day, turn in your spoiled ballot there and get a new ballot.\u003c/li>\n",
"innerContent": [
"\n\u003cli>Go to a voting site on Tuesday’s Election Day, turn in your spoiled ballot there and get a new ballot.\u003c/li>\n"
]
}
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},
{
"blockName": "core/paragraph",
"attrs": {
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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"
],
"innerBlocks": []
},
{
"blockName": "core/heading",
"attrs": {
"text": "I think I put the wrong date on my envelope",
"level": 2
},
"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"
],
"innerBlocks": []
},
{
"blockName": "core/paragraph",
"attrs": {
"dropCap": false
},
"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"
],
"innerBlocks": []
},
{
"blockName": "core/paragraph",
"attrs": {
"dropCap": false
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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"
],
"innerBlocks": []
},
{
"blockName": "core/image",
"attrs": {
"id": 12099795,
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"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)",
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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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{
"blockName": "core/paragraph",
"attrs": {
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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",
"innerContent": [
"\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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},
{
"blockName": "core/paragraph",
"attrs": {
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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"
],
"innerBlocks": []
},
{
"blockName": "core/heading",
"attrs": {
"text": "What if I use assistive technology to complete forms?",
"level": 2
},
"innerHTML": "\n\u003ch2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">What if I use assistive technology to complete forms?\u003c/h2>\n",
"innerContent": [
"\n\u003ch2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">What if I use assistive technology to complete forms?\u003c/h2>\n"
],
"innerBlocks": []
},
{
"blockName": "core/paragraph",
"attrs": {
"dropCap": false
},
"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",
"innerContent": [
"\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"
],
"innerBlocks": []
},
{
"blockName": "core/paragraph",
"attrs": {
"dropCap": false
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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"
],
"innerBlocks": []
},
{
"blockName": "core/image",
"attrs": {
"id": 12062371,
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"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",
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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",
"innerContent": [
"\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
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003ch2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">How can I make sure my mail-in ballot gets there on time? \u003c/h2>\n",
"innerContent": [
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{
"blockName": "core/paragraph",
"attrs": {
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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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{
"blockName": "core/paragraph",
"attrs": {
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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 secure voting drop box, or dropped off at a polling location or your county elections office, by the time polls close at 8 p.m. on Tuesday. \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 secure voting drop box, or dropped off at a polling location or your county elections office, by the time polls close at 8 p.m. on Tuesday. \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 say it’s too late at this stage to mail your ballot through USPS.\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 say it’s too late at this stage to mail your ballot through USPS.\u003c/p>\n"
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"blockName": "core/heading",
"attrs": {
"text": "A few other common ballot mistakes to watch out for …",
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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",
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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"
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"blockName": "core/paragraph",
"attrs": {
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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"
],
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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": {
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"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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"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"
],
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{
"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"
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{
"blockName": "core/paragraph",
"attrs": {
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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"
],
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},
{
"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"
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"attrs": {
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>Don’t panic: You have options. Here’s what to do.\u003c/p>\n",
"innerContent": [
"\n\u003cp>Don’t panic: You have options. Here’s what to do.\u003c/p>\n"
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"attrs": {
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Check that you’re actually registered to vote — and to the right address.\u003c/strong>\u003c/p>\n",
"innerContent": [
"\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Check that you’re actually registered to vote — and to the right address.\u003c/strong>\u003c/p>\n"
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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"
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"attrs": {
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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"
],
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"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",
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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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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>If your voter registration address was correct but your ballot never showed up, you still have options.\u003c/strong>\u003c/p>\n",
"innerContent": [
"\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>If your voter registration address was correct but your ballot never showed up, you still have options.\u003c/strong>\u003c/p>\n"
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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. You can also vote right there at the counter at the same time until 8 p.m. on Tuesday.\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. You can also vote right there at the counter at the same time until 8 p.m. on Tuesday.\u003c/p>\n"
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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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"\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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"\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",
"innerContent": [
"\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",
"innerContent": [
"\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"
]
},
{
"blockName": "core/list-item",
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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": "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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"title": "Midterms 2026: How to Correct a Mistake on Your Ballot (and Make Sure Your Vote’s Counted in Time) | KQED",
"description": "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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"headline": "Midterms 2026: How to Correct a Mistake on Your Ballot (and Make Sure Your Vote’s Counted in Time)",
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"content": "\u003cdiv class=\"post-body\">\u003cp>\n\u003cp class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Tuesday is \u003ca href=\"https://www.kqed.org/electionsnews\">Election Day\u003c/a> in California, your last chance to vote in the state’s general election — and to \u003ca href=\"https://www.kqed.org/voterguide/\">cast your vote\u003c/a> for who should be the next governor.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">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 class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">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, and I’m afraid my vote won’t count. What should I do? \u003c/a>\u003c/strong>\u003c/li>\n\u003c/ul>\n\n\n\n\u003ch2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Remind me: What’s on my 2026 midterm elections ballot?\u003c/h2>\n\n\n\n\u003cp class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">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 class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">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, with details of all those California props.\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\u003cp class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">This close to Election Day, state officials — and USPS — stress that \u003ca href=\"https://www.kqed.org/news/12103028/should-you-use-usps-to-mail-your-midterm-ballot-heres-what-california-election-officials-say\">you shouldn’t be \u003cem>mailing\u003c/em> your ballot through the Postal Service\u003c/a>, because there’s a real risk it might be postmarked too late for it to be counted at this stage.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Instead of submitting your ballot via a USPS collection box, you should now:\u003c/p>\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 class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Using one of these drop boxes means your ballot will be taken straight to your local county elections office.\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 class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">\u003ca href=\"https://www.sos.ca.gov/elections/upcoming-elections/general-election-november-3-2026\">The first vote centers opened \u003c/a>Oct. 24 in certain counties, with more early voting locations opening Saturday, Oct. 31.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\u003cp class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">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 out your ballot in person at a voting location and submit it directly there and then. \u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Or, if you live in \u003ca href=\"https://calvoter.org/content/sign-scan-and-go\">one of the California counties\u003c/a> that 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 that 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 class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">\u003cstrong>Really\u003c/strong> \u003cstrong>\u003cem>have\u003c/em>\u003c/strong> \u003cstrong>to use the Postal Service this close to Election Day?\u003c/strong>\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">At this late stage, we’ll say it again\u003ca href=\"https://www.kqed.org/news/12103028/should-you-use-usps-to-mail-your-midterm-ballot-heres-what-california-election-officials-say\">: You shouldn’t be using a USPS collection box\u003c/a> to mail your ballot. \u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">But if you really have to use USPS for some reason instead of the methods above, Secretary of State Shirley Weber’s office recommends you go inside an open Post Office location to \u003ca href=\"https://www.sos.ca.gov/elections/voter-registration/vote-mail\">“get a hand-stamped postmark\u003c/a> from a postal employee,” and then submit your postmarked ballot through USPS that way.\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 class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">No. \u003ca href=\"https://www.sos.ca.gov/elections/voter-registration/vote-mail\">If you’re registered to vote, you’ll have received 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 class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">You can still vote in person, either at an early voting location before Election Day or on Tuesday itself.\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 class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">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 class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">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 class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">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 class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">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 class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">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 class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">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 class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">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\n\n\u003cp class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">One: \u003ca href=\"https://registertovote.ca.gov/\">Re-register to vote with your current signature\u003c/a>, to be sure that the state now has your most recent one on file, by completing 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,” at your county elections office or polling location. You’ll be handed your ballot to vote right there.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">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 class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">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 class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">“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 class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Rest assured: There’s a whole system in place to help you correct your mistake.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">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 class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">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 class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">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 id=\"mistake\" class=\"wp-block-heading\">I made a mistake on my ballot. How do I fix it?\u003c/h2>\n\n\n\n\u003cp class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">First, don’t panic. People make mistakes on ballots and find good ways to correct them.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">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 class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">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 class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">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 class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">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 class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">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 Tuesday’s Election Day, turn in your spoiled ballot there and get a new ballot.\u003c/li>\n\u003c/ul>\n\n\n\n\u003cp class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">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 class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">First off, that date should be the date you signed your envelope — not your date of birth. \u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">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 class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">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 class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">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 class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">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 class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">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 class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">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 class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">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 class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">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 class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">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 class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">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 secure voting drop box, or dropped off at a polling location or your county elections office, by the time polls close at 8 p.m. on Tuesday. \u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">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 say it’s too late at this stage to mail your ballot through USPS.\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 class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">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 class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">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 class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">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 class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">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 class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Don’t panic: You have options. Here’s what to do.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">\u003cstrong>Check that you’re actually registered to vote — and to the right address.\u003c/strong>\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">\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 class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">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\u003cp class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">\u003cstrong>If your voter registration address was correct but your ballot never showed up, you still have options.\u003c/strong>\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">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. You can also vote right there at the counter at the same time until 8 p.m. on Tuesday.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">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 class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">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 class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">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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"title": "Measure P in Marin, Why School Board Races Matter, and the Fate of the Historic Dunsmuir Estate",
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"headTitle": "Measure P in Marin, Why School Board Races Matter, and the Fate of the Historic Dunsmuir Estate | KQED",
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"content": "\n\u003cp class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">In this edition of The Bay’s monthly news roundup, we discuss Marin County’s Measure P, a parcel tax to increase access to childcare, and why school board races might actually be more important than you think. We also discuss the fate of the iconic Dunsmuir Hellman Historic Estate just south of Oakland. Some say the once grand mansion has taken a turn for the worse.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">\u003cstrong>Links:\u003c/strong>\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n\u003cli>\u003ca href=\"https://www.kqed.org/news/12105159/as-costs-crush-families-this-bay-area-county-could-be-latest-to-subsidize-childcare\">As Costs Crush Families, This Bay Area County Could Be Latest to Subsidize Childcare\u003c/a> (KQED)\u003c/li>\n\n\n\n\u003cli>\u003ca href=\"https://www.kqed.org/news/12103823/dont-skip-the-school-board-races-on-your-ballot-heres-why-they-could-be-pivotal\">Don’t Skip the School Board Races on Your Ballot. Here’s Why They Could Be Pivotal\u003c/a> (KQED)\u003c/li>\n\n\n\n\u003cli>\u003ca href=\"https://www.kqed.org/news/11964119/dunsmuir-the-oakland-mansion-that-inspired-hollywood-nightmares\">Dunsmuir: The Oakland Mansion That Inspired Hollywood Nightmares\u003c/a> (KQED)\u003c/li>\n\n\n\n\u003cli>\u003ca href=\"https://eastbayyesterday.substack.com/p/why-should-you-care-about-old-houses\">Why should you care about old houses?\u003c/a> (East Bay Yesterday)\u003c/li>\n\n\n\n\u003cli>\u003ca href=\"https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nnLeML6f6mI\">Dunsmuir House: Past, Present, & Future\u003c/a> (Oakland Public Library)\u003c/li>\n\u003c/ul>\n\n\n\n\u003ch2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">\u003cstrong>Episode Transcript\u003c/strong>\u003c/h2>\n\n\n\n\u003cp class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">\u003cem>This transcript is computer-generated. While our team has reviewed it, there may be errors.\u003c/em>\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">\u003cstrong>Ericka Cruz Guevarra\u003c/strong>: I’m Ericka Cruz Guevarra and welcome to The Bay’s October News Roundup where we sit down to discuss some of the other stories on our radars this month. I’ve got a fun crew with me in the studio today. We’ve got Pauline Bartolone who’s been filling in as editor on The Bay for the last couple of weeks. Welcome Pauline!\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">\u003cstrong>Pauline Bartolone\u003c/strong>: I am just such a fan of both of you, so I’m honored to be in the studio.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">\u003cstrong>Ericka Cruz Guevarra\u003c/strong>: Thank you for being here. And also we’ve got the one and only Olivia Allen-Price, host of Bay Curious. Hey, Olivia.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">\u003cstrong>Olivia Allen-Price\u003c/strong>: Hey. I also jazzed to be here.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">\u003cstrong>Ericka Cruz Guevarra\u003c/strong>: Happy almost election week. Have you two filled out your ballots yet, by the way?\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">\u003cstrong>Pauline Bartolone\u003c/strong>: I just looked at it last night. I feel kind of like a slacker. Usually I’m like two weeks before the election but just been busy.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">\u003cstrong>Olivia Allen-Price\u003c/strong>: I also still have to do mine. I know how I’m voting on pretty much everything, but I haven’t actually sat down and filled it all out yet.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">\u003cstrong>Ericka Cruz Guevarra\u003c/strong>: For last minute voters, we just worked on PropFest with the Bay Curious team, with Olivia and Pauline. I wonder actually, Olivia, if you can just remind folks what PropFest is. I feel like lately we’ve been getting so much great feedback from people on how just like helpful it’s been for them.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">\u003cstrong>Olivia Allen-Price\u003c/strong>: Yeah, so Prop Fest is sort of this project that we do every time there’s a bunch of props on the ballot where we go through every prop in depth because so many of them you kind of read and there’s sort of like the surface level what you think you’re voting on but once you kind get in there you see like, oh, it’s actually about this. So we get kind of into the nitty-gritty on each prop. There are 14 of them on the ballot. So yeah, it is all available on The Bay’s feed and Bay Curious’ feed as well.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">\u003cstrong>Ericka Cruz Guevarra\u003c/strong>: We’re going to stick actually to just this election theme for a little bit for this news roundup starting with the story that I’ve been following out of Marin County where voters are being asked whether or not to adopt a new parcel tax to help increase access to child care in Marin County. So this is called Measure P and I’m following reporting from our colleague Daisy Nguyen here at KQED, who reported that measure P in Marin is just the latest in actually this wave of ballot measures across the Bay Area that we’ve seen in the last eight years that are aiming to create a more local solution to a broken childcare market.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">\u003cstrong>Pauline Bartolone\u003c/strong>: So this is a parcel tax. That means it’s a property tax. So it’s taxing homeowners?\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">\u003cstrong>Ericka Cruz Guevarra\u003c/strong>: Yeah, it’s a parcel tax on single-family homes and also businesses, and it’s anticipated to raise about $12.5 million per year over 15 years.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">\u003cstrong>Olivia Allen-Price\u003c/strong>: And how are they going to dole it out? Is it like an aid situation where people of certain income levels would get a subsidy? Or how does it work?\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">\u003cstrong>Ericka Cruz Guevarra\u003c/strong>: Yeah, so measure P creates this, like, local fund to help mostly low-income and middle-income families afford child care in Marin County. It’s also supposed to help the county grow its early educator workforce and also help add licensed child care spaces. So the way they’re going to dole this money out is the county will create an advisory council that is appointed by the Board of Supervisors. And that council will determine the needs of families in the county.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">\u003cstrong>Pauline Bartolone\u003c/strong>: I wonder why this is happening in Marin County, like if there’s a shortage of childcare workers there or?\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">\u003cstrong>Ericka Cruz Guevarra\u003c/strong>: Yeah, that’s a good question, Pauline. Marin actually has some of the highest child care costs in the nation. According to Daisy’s reporting, the cost of licensed child care in Marin County is up by nearly 40% in like the last 10 years, averaging about $2,315 a month in 2024.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">\u003cstrong>Olivia Allen-Price\u003c/strong>: I mean, I have a child who is in daycare. We pay $2,000 a month. We live down in San Mateo. And we actually feel like that’s a steal. But I think it also speaks to what it costs to run one of these centers, which from what I understand is getting more and more expensive. Has anything similar to this passed elsewhere in the Bay Area?\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">\u003cstrong>Ericka Cruz Guevarra\u003c/strong>: Yeah, so since 2018, San Francisco, Alameda, and Sonoma counties have raised like several hundred million dollars through these parcel taxes that are specifically created to subsidize childcare spots for families. And then more recently in 2024, voters in this small San Mateo County School District actually passed a parcel tax that has been successfully paying for. Child care providers, to cover tuition for families, and also to recruit locals to become early childhood educators.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">\u003cstrong>Pauline Bartolone\u003c/strong>: So, Ericka, what do we know about who’s supporting this measure, who’s against it?\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">\u003cstrong>Ericka Cruz Guevarra\u003c/strong>: Yeah so this is a topic that I feel like people in Marin County have been talking about for a long time, including the Marin County Board of Supervisors. So the whole board is in support of Measure P in addition to U.S. Representative Jared Huffman and State Senator Mike McGuire, who represent this area. But then on the opposition side, there’s the coalition of sensible taxpayers and also some residents of Marin County who are sort of making this argument that, like, this is not a good time for more taxes. People are really feeling the pinch, and that Measure P lacks, like, a clear plan for how the money will be spent. But I will say that advocates say that that’s sort of by design, like that they want some wiggle room to really determine the greatest child care needs for families, and that sometimes that changes from year to year.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">\u003cstrong>Pauline Bartolone\u003c/strong>: So the devil’s in the details.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">\u003cstrong>Ericka Cruz Guevarra\u003c/strong>: And that is it for my story for this edition of our News Roundup, we’re gonna take a quick break, but when we come back, we’ll talk about some of the other stories we’ve been following this month. And by the way, if you appreciate the work that we do here on The Bay, consider becoming a sustaining KQED member. Just go to donate.kqed.org/podcasts. We’ll be right back. And welcome back to the Bay’s October News Roundup, where we talk about some of the other stories on our radars this month. Pauline Bartolone, I want to turn to you. What story did you bring for us this month?\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">\u003cstrong>Pauline Bartolone\u003c/strong>: Well, I’m the nerdy mom who likes to follow school board races, or I’m curious about them, at least. And actually, KQED reporter Katie DeBenedetti did a great piece on this that people should check out, it’s about why school board races matter. I think school board races maybe have a reputation for being boring or inconsequential, or if I’m not a parent, why should I care? And there’s actually a lot of reasons why people should care.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">\u003cstrong>Olivia Allen-Price\u003c/strong>: What are those reasons? Why should they care?\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">\u003cstrong>Pauline Bartolone\u003c/strong>: You know, school boards are kind of like microcosms of society. I mean, like school districts are this major public infrastructure. They make a lot decisions about AI and tech in the classroom, transgender people in sports, declining enrollment in public school systems. So by chiming in on the school board races, you can have a say in some of those issues.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">\u003cstrong>Ericka Cruz Guevarra\u003c/strong>: What about if you’re not a parent of a school-aged child, Pauline, like why should you care about school board races in this year’s election?\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">\u003cstrong>Pauline Bartolone\u003c/strong>: Yeah, I mean, a lot of these school districts have thousands of kids. They employ thousands of people and good school systems protect property values. So if you’re a homeowner, you wanna live in a place where there’s a good school system.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">\u003cstrong>Olivia Allen-Price\u003c/strong>: And it’s also if you are somebody who may have kids in the future, the way you vote now could potentially impact what the school district looks like when you have kids down the road.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">\u003cstrong>Pauline Bartolone\u003c/strong>: Another reason why people who don’t have kids should care about school board elections is a lot of politicians use these offices as kind of a launching pad to higher office. So people will be like, okay, I’m gonna dabble my feet in this and see if I like to be in public office and then I’ll run for city council and then for a state office or a state superintendent.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">\u003cstrong>Ericka Cruz Guevarra\u003c/strong>: And Pauline, I feel like there’s been an increased sort of acknowledgement of how important school boards actually are including and we’ve been following this story when if you could talk about it a little bit in Albany?\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">\u003cstrong>Pauline Bartolone\u003c/strong>: Yeah, so students who are 16 and 17 years old in Albany will have the right to vote for their school board members starting this election, this November. And that follows students of the same age in Berkeley and Oakland who were able to do that a couple of years ago. So this is kind of like a growing movement, shall we say, of giving young people the right to vote.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">\u003cstrong>Ericka Cruz Guevarra\u003c/strong>: Yeah, and also it’s like these kids are directly affected by what the school board does.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">\u003cstrong>Olivia Allen-Price\u003c/strong>: I love that there are districts where we’re allowing younger people to vote. I mean, I’ve definitely passed this section on my ballot before, especially before I had kids when it felt like I have no skin in this game, other people know more than me, I should let them have the say. But I mean part of what makes it so hard to vote is it’s just hard to do research. Like there’s not a lot of coverage of these races. These people don’t necessarily like have campaign websites where you can like see their position on things.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">\u003cstrong>Pauline Bartolone\u003c/strong>: So I do want to also mention as part of Katie’s and the KQED teams reporting, they reached out to almost 400 board candidates in the Bay Area, the Nine County Bay Area and polled them about how they feel about cell phones in the classroom, law enforcement at schools, feelings about charter schools and school closures. So you can actually look up the candidate and see what they told KQED. It’s super helpful.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">\u003cstrong>Ericka Cruz Guevarra\u003c/strong>: Pauline Bartolone, thank you so much for bringing that story. Appreciate it.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">\u003cstrong>Pauline Bartolone\u003c/strong>: Oh, my pleasure.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">\u003cstrong>Ericka Cruz Guevarra\u003c/strong>: And last but not least, Olivia Allen-Price. You’ve got a fun little Halloween story for us today. I’m ready for it.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">\u003cstrong>Olivia Allen-Price\u003c/strong>: Yeah, fun maybe, you can be the judge. So because it’s Halloween, the season of ghosts and haunted houses, I wanted to tell you guys about the story of this one creepy house I’ve been following for years. It’s called the Dunsmuir Hellman Historic House and Estate. It’s a 37-room neoclassical revival mansion, very imposing, and it was built in 1899. And it’s been featured in a lot of scary movies, but it also has some recent news associated with it. It’s, I mean, really falling into disrepair. Most of the reporting is being done by Liam O’Donoghue of the East Bay Yesterday podcast. That’s kind of how it’s on my radar. So there’s new sort of scary things happening with this property.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">\u003cstrong>Ericka Cruz Guevarra\u003c/strong>: Can you actually tell me a little bit more, Olivia, about the history of this house? Like what was it used for?\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">\u003cstrong>Olivia Allen-Price\u003c/strong>: Yeah, it has an interesting story. So if you’re not familiar, this is a property that’s kind of over by the Oakland Zoo. It’s been owned by the city of Oakland since 1960, but it has been a movie set for several horror films that have been filmed there over the years. Most notably was in 1976, Burnt Offerings was filmed there. Did either of you see Burnt offerings?\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">\u003cstrong>Burnt Offerings\u003c/strong>: It all began as a summer vacation. A young family found a beautiful old house. It had secluded spacious grounds…\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">\u003cstrong>Olivia Allen-Price\u003c/strong>: Well, in that film, a family moves into the house and then the family kind of begins to unravel because the house sort of absorbs the life force and energy and sanity of its inhabitants.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">\u003cstrong>Burnt Offerings\u003c/strong>: They thought it was the answer to their dreams, but it was the beginning of a nightmare…\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">\u003cstrong>Olivia Allen-Price\u003c/strong>: I think what makes that movie so unsettling, it’s not necessarily a haunted house, like where ghosts are in the house. The house itself is the threat. It is like making you sick to be in the house.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">\u003cstrong>Phantasm\u003c/strong>: Phantasm. Is it a nightmare?\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">\u003cstrong>Olivia Allen-Price\u003c/strong>: Also the movie Phantasm, which is maybe a little bit better known than Burnt Offerings, that was filmed not inside the house but outside on the grounds and the house sort of stands in as a mortuary. For many, many years it was taken care of by a non-profit that was working with the city and they would lease the house out or the grounds out. They basically used it as an event center. But then in 2010, the city of Oakland took kind of a weird step. They basically kicked the nonprofit out and they said, we are gonna take sole responsibility for the property. The thinking is that they thought they could make more money off the property if the nonprofit wasn’t in the picture. But things seem to have gone pretty sideways because between 2010 and 2020, the house basically fell way behind on maintenance. And water damage became a huge problem. More has become a huge problem and even like the structural integrity of some of the like, you know, inside of the house is now like kind of being called into question. So much so that in 2020 the house had to be closed to the public.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">\u003cstrong>Pauline Bartolone\u003c/strong>: It just keeps on getting creepier and creepier.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">\u003cstrong>Olivia Allen-Price\u003c/strong>: I know, I know. We actually sent a reporter in a couple years ago and she said there were like Christmas decorations that, you know, were still up from maybe the last time that the public was able to go in, but they had been like, you now, obviously like starting to like mold and like fall apart. So it’s kind of got this like creepy sinister Christmas thing going on inside.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">\u003cstrong>Pauline Bartolone\u003c/strong>: Is there any effort to restore the house or bring it back to tip-top shape?\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">\u003cstrong>Olivia Allen-Price\u003c/strong>: There is some effort being made to get Oakland to kind of change course. The Oakland Heritage Alliance has put this petition together that basically urges Oakland to fund a multi-year restoration plan that would aim to sort of reopen that interior space so the public could once again go in for special events, but also just like general public access. And they’re also telling Oakland they should come up with a new stewardship model. We’ll see where that petition goes. You know, I spoke to Liam O’Donoghue from East Bay Yesterday who’s been following this story and he wasn’t feeling super optimistic that anything was gonna change anytime soon.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">\u003cstrong>Ericka Cruz Guevarra\u003c/strong>: Well, such an interesting story, Olivia. Thank you so much for bringing that one for us. Appreciate it.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">\u003cstrong>Olivia Allen-Price\u003c/strong>: You’re welcome.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">\u003cstrong>Ericka Cruz Guevarra\u003c/strong>: That is it for the base October news roundup. Olivia Allen-Price, Pauline Bartolone, thank you so much for joining me. This was so much fun.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">\u003cstrong>Pauline Bartolone\u003c/strong>: This was great.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">\u003cstrong>Olivia Allen-Price\u003c/strong>: Yeah, let’s do it again.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">\u003cstrong>Ericka Cruz Guevarra\u003c/strong>: The Bay is a production of listener-supported KQED in San Francisco. This episode was produced by producer Gabriela Glueck. Our editor this week was Pauline Bartolone. Support for The Bay’s provided in part by the Osher Production Fund. 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. And I’m Ericka Cruz Guevarra. Thanks so much for listening. Happy Halloween!\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">\u003cem>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/em>\u003c/p>\n",
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Ericka Cruz Guevarra\u003c/strong>: I’m Ericka Cruz Guevarra and welcome to The Bay’s October News Roundup where we sit down to discuss some of the other stories on our radars this month. I’ve got a fun crew with me in the studio today. We’ve got Pauline Bartolone who’s been filling in as editor on The Bay for the last couple of weeks. Welcome Pauline!\u003c/p>\n",
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"\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Ericka Cruz Guevarra\u003c/strong>: I’m Ericka Cruz Guevarra and welcome to The Bay’s October News Roundup where we sit down to discuss some of the other stories on our radars this month. I’ve got a fun crew with me in the studio today. We’ve got Pauline Bartolone who’s been filling in as editor on The Bay for the last couple of weeks. Welcome Pauline!\u003c/p>\n"
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Pauline Bartolone\u003c/strong>: I am just such a fan of both of you, so I’m honored to be in the studio.\u003c/p>\n",
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"\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Pauline Bartolone\u003c/strong>: I am just such a fan of both of you, so I’m honored to be in the studio.\u003c/p>\n"
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Ericka Cruz Guevarra\u003c/strong>: Thank you for being here. And also we’ve got the one and only Olivia Allen-Price, host of Bay Curious. Hey, Olivia.\u003c/p>\n",
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"\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Ericka Cruz Guevarra\u003c/strong>: Thank you for being here. And also we’ve got the one and only Olivia Allen-Price, host of Bay Curious. Hey, Olivia.\u003c/p>\n"
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Olivia Allen-Price\u003c/strong>: Hey. I also jazzed to be here.\u003c/p>\n",
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Ericka Cruz Guevarra\u003c/strong>: Happy almost election week. Have you two filled out your ballots yet, by the way?\u003c/p>\n",
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"\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Ericka Cruz Guevarra\u003c/strong>: Happy almost election week. Have you two filled out your ballots yet, by the way?\u003c/p>\n"
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Pauline Bartolone\u003c/strong>: I just looked at it last night. I feel kind of like a slacker. Usually I’m like two weeks before the election but just been busy.\u003c/p>\n",
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"\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Pauline Bartolone\u003c/strong>: I just looked at it last night. I feel kind of like a slacker. Usually I’m like two weeks before the election but just been busy.\u003c/p>\n"
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Olivia Allen-Price\u003c/strong>: I also still have to do mine. I know how I’m voting on pretty much everything, but I haven’t actually sat down and filled it all out yet.\u003c/p>\n",
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"\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Olivia Allen-Price\u003c/strong>: I also still have to do mine. I know how I’m voting on pretty much everything, but I haven’t actually sat down and filled it all out yet.\u003c/p>\n"
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Ericka Cruz Guevarra\u003c/strong>: For last minute voters, we just worked on PropFest with the Bay Curious team, with Olivia and Pauline. I wonder actually, Olivia, if you can just remind folks what PropFest is. I feel like lately we’ve been getting so much great feedback from people on how just like helpful it’s been for them.\u003c/p>\n",
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"\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Ericka Cruz Guevarra\u003c/strong>: For last minute voters, we just worked on PropFest with the Bay Curious team, with Olivia and Pauline. I wonder actually, Olivia, if you can just remind folks what PropFest is. I feel like lately we’ve been getting so much great feedback from people on how just like helpful it’s been for them.\u003c/p>\n"
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Olivia Allen-Price\u003c/strong>: Yeah, so Prop Fest is sort of this project that we do every time there’s a bunch of props on the ballot where we go through every prop in depth because so many of them you kind of read and there’s sort of like the surface level what you think you’re voting on but once you kind get in there you see like, oh, it’s actually about this. So we get kind of into the nitty-gritty on each prop. There are 14 of them on the ballot. So yeah, it is all available on The Bay’s feed and Bay Curious’ feed as well.\u003c/p>\n",
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"\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Olivia Allen-Price\u003c/strong>: Yeah, so Prop Fest is sort of this project that we do every time there’s a bunch of props on the ballot where we go through every prop in depth because so many of them you kind of read and there’s sort of like the surface level what you think you’re voting on but once you kind get in there you see like, oh, it’s actually about this. So we get kind of into the nitty-gritty on each prop. There are 14 of them on the ballot. So yeah, it is all available on The Bay’s feed and Bay Curious’ feed as well.\u003c/p>\n"
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Ericka Cruz Guevarra\u003c/strong>: We’re going to stick actually to just this election theme for a little bit for this news roundup starting with the story that I’ve been following out of Marin County where voters are being asked whether or not to adopt a new parcel tax to help increase access to child care in Marin County. So this is called Measure P and I’m following reporting from our colleague Daisy Nguyen here at KQED, who reported that measure P in Marin is just the latest in actually this wave of ballot measures across the Bay Area that we’ve seen in the last eight years that are aiming to create a more local solution to a broken childcare market.\u003c/p>\n",
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"\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Ericka Cruz Guevarra\u003c/strong>: We’re going to stick actually to just this election theme for a little bit for this news roundup starting with the story that I’ve been following out of Marin County where voters are being asked whether or not to adopt a new parcel tax to help increase access to child care in Marin County. So this is called Measure P and I’m following reporting from our colleague Daisy Nguyen here at KQED, who reported that measure P in Marin is just the latest in actually this wave of ballot measures across the Bay Area that we’ve seen in the last eight years that are aiming to create a more local solution to a broken childcare market.\u003c/p>\n"
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Pauline Bartolone\u003c/strong>: So this is a parcel tax. That means it’s a property tax. So it’s taxing homeowners?\u003c/p>\n",
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"\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Pauline Bartolone\u003c/strong>: So this is a parcel tax. That means it’s a property tax. So it’s taxing homeowners?\u003c/p>\n"
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Ericka Cruz Guevarra\u003c/strong>: Yeah, it’s a parcel tax on single-family homes and also businesses, and it’s anticipated to raise about $12.5 million per year over 15 years.\u003c/p>\n",
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"\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Ericka Cruz Guevarra\u003c/strong>: Yeah, it’s a parcel tax on single-family homes and also businesses, and it’s anticipated to raise about $12.5 million per year over 15 years.\u003c/p>\n"
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Olivia Allen-Price\u003c/strong>: And how are they going to dole it out? Is it like an aid situation where people of certain income levels would get a subsidy? Or how does it work?\u003c/p>\n",
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"\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Olivia Allen-Price\u003c/strong>: And how are they going to dole it out? Is it like an aid situation where people of certain income levels would get a subsidy? Or how does it work?\u003c/p>\n"
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Ericka Cruz Guevarra\u003c/strong>: Yeah, so measure P creates this, like, local fund to help mostly low-income and middle-income families afford child care in Marin County. It’s also supposed to help the county grow its early educator workforce and also help add licensed child care spaces. So the way they’re going to dole this money out is the county will create an advisory council that is appointed by the Board of Supervisors. And that council will determine the needs of families in the county.\u003c/p>\n",
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"\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Ericka Cruz Guevarra\u003c/strong>: Yeah, so measure P creates this, like, local fund to help mostly low-income and middle-income families afford child care in Marin County. It’s also supposed to help the county grow its early educator workforce and also help add licensed child care spaces. So the way they’re going to dole this money out is the county will create an advisory council that is appointed by the Board of Supervisors. And that council will determine the needs of families in the county.\u003c/p>\n"
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Pauline Bartolone\u003c/strong>: I wonder why this is happening in Marin County, like if there’s a shortage of childcare workers there or?\u003c/p>\n",
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"\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Pauline Bartolone\u003c/strong>: I wonder why this is happening in Marin County, like if there’s a shortage of childcare workers there or?\u003c/p>\n"
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Ericka Cruz Guevarra\u003c/strong>: Yeah, that’s a good question, Pauline. Marin actually has some of the highest child care costs in the nation. According to Daisy’s reporting, the cost of licensed child care in Marin County is up by nearly 40% in like the last 10 years, averaging about $2,315 a month in 2024.\u003c/p>\n",
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"\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Ericka Cruz Guevarra\u003c/strong>: Yeah, that’s a good question, Pauline. Marin actually has some of the highest child care costs in the nation. According to Daisy’s reporting, the cost of licensed child care in Marin County is up by nearly 40% in like the last 10 years, averaging about $2,315 a month in 2024.\u003c/p>\n"
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Olivia Allen-Price\u003c/strong>: I mean, I have a child who is in daycare. We pay $2,000 a month. We live down in San Mateo. And we actually feel like that’s a steal. But I think it also speaks to what it costs to run one of these centers, which from what I understand is getting more and more expensive. Has anything similar to this passed elsewhere in the Bay Area?\u003c/p>\n",
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"\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Olivia Allen-Price\u003c/strong>: I mean, I have a child who is in daycare. We pay $2,000 a month. We live down in San Mateo. And we actually feel like that’s a steal. But I think it also speaks to what it costs to run one of these centers, which from what I understand is getting more and more expensive. Has anything similar to this passed elsewhere in the Bay Area?\u003c/p>\n"
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Ericka Cruz Guevarra\u003c/strong>: Yeah, so since 2018, San Francisco, Alameda, and Sonoma counties have raised like several hundred million dollars through these parcel taxes that are specifically created to subsidize childcare spots for families. And then more recently in 2024, voters in this small San Mateo County School District actually passed a parcel tax that has been successfully paying for. Child care providers, to cover tuition for families, and also to recruit locals to become early childhood educators.\u003c/p>\n",
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"\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Ericka Cruz Guevarra\u003c/strong>: Yeah, so since 2018, San Francisco, Alameda, and Sonoma counties have raised like several hundred million dollars through these parcel taxes that are specifically created to subsidize childcare spots for families. And then more recently in 2024, voters in this small San Mateo County School District actually passed a parcel tax that has been successfully paying for. Child care providers, to cover tuition for families, and also to recruit locals to become early childhood educators.\u003c/p>\n"
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Pauline Bartolone\u003c/strong>: So, Ericka, what do we know about who’s supporting this measure, who’s against it?\u003c/p>\n",
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"\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Pauline Bartolone\u003c/strong>: So, Ericka, what do we know about who’s supporting this measure, who’s against it?\u003c/p>\n"
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Ericka Cruz Guevarra\u003c/strong>: Yeah so this is a topic that I feel like people in Marin County have been talking about for a long time, including the Marin County Board of Supervisors. So the whole board is in support of Measure P in addition to U.S. Representative Jared Huffman and State Senator Mike McGuire, who represent this area. But then on the opposition side, there’s the coalition of sensible taxpayers and also some residents of Marin County who are sort of making this argument that, like, this is not a good time for more taxes. People are really feeling the pinch, and that Measure P lacks, like, a clear plan for how the money will be spent. But I will say that advocates say that that’s sort of by design, like that they want some wiggle room to really determine the greatest child care needs for families, and that sometimes that changes from year to year.\u003c/p>\n",
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"\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Ericka Cruz Guevarra\u003c/strong>: Yeah so this is a topic that I feel like people in Marin County have been talking about for a long time, including the Marin County Board of Supervisors. So the whole board is in support of Measure P in addition to U.S. Representative Jared Huffman and State Senator Mike McGuire, who represent this area. But then on the opposition side, there’s the coalition of sensible taxpayers and also some residents of Marin County who are sort of making this argument that, like, this is not a good time for more taxes. People are really feeling the pinch, and that Measure P lacks, like, a clear plan for how the money will be spent. But I will say that advocates say that that’s sort of by design, like that they want some wiggle room to really determine the greatest child care needs for families, and that sometimes that changes from year to year.\u003c/p>\n"
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Pauline Bartolone\u003c/strong>: So the devil’s in the details.\u003c/p>\n",
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"\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Pauline Bartolone\u003c/strong>: So the devil’s in the details.\u003c/p>\n"
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Ericka Cruz Guevarra\u003c/strong>: And that is it for my story for this edition of our News Roundup, we’re gonna take a quick break, but when we come back, we’ll talk about some of the other stories we’ve been following this month. And by the way, if you appreciate the work that we do here on The Bay, consider becoming a sustaining KQED member. Just go to donate.kqed.org/podcasts. We’ll be right back. And welcome back to the Bay’s October News Roundup, where we talk about some of the other stories on our radars this month. Pauline Bartolone, I want to turn to you. What story did you bring for us this month?\u003c/p>\n",
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"\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Ericka Cruz Guevarra\u003c/strong>: And that is it for my story for this edition of our News Roundup, we’re gonna take a quick break, but when we come back, we’ll talk about some of the other stories we’ve been following this month. And by the way, if you appreciate the work that we do here on The Bay, consider becoming a sustaining KQED member. Just go to donate.kqed.org/podcasts. We’ll be right back. And welcome back to the Bay’s October News Roundup, where we talk about some of the other stories on our radars this month. Pauline Bartolone, I want to turn to you. What story did you bring for us this month?\u003c/p>\n"
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Pauline Bartolone\u003c/strong>: Well, I’m the nerdy mom who likes to follow school board races, or I’m curious about them, at least. And actually, KQED reporter Katie DeBenedetti did a great piece on this that people should check out, it’s about why school board races matter. I think school board races maybe have a reputation for being boring or inconsequential, or if I’m not a parent, why should I care? And there’s actually a lot of reasons why people should care.\u003c/p>\n",
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"\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Pauline Bartolone\u003c/strong>: Well, I’m the nerdy mom who likes to follow school board races, or I’m curious about them, at least. And actually, KQED reporter Katie DeBenedetti did a great piece on this that people should check out, it’s about why school board races matter. I think school board races maybe have a reputation for being boring or inconsequential, or if I’m not a parent, why should I care? And there’s actually a lot of reasons why people should care.\u003c/p>\n"
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Olivia Allen-Price\u003c/strong>: What are those reasons? Why should they care?\u003c/p>\n",
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"\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Olivia Allen-Price\u003c/strong>: What are those reasons? Why should they care?\u003c/p>\n"
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Pauline Bartolone\u003c/strong>: You know, school boards are kind of like microcosms of society. I mean, like school districts are this major public infrastructure. They make a lot decisions about AI and tech in the classroom, transgender people in sports, declining enrollment in public school systems. So by chiming in on the school board races, you can have a say in some of those issues.\u003c/p>\n",
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"\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Pauline Bartolone\u003c/strong>: You know, school boards are kind of like microcosms of society. I mean, like school districts are this major public infrastructure. They make a lot decisions about AI and tech in the classroom, transgender people in sports, declining enrollment in public school systems. So by chiming in on the school board races, you can have a say in some of those issues.\u003c/p>\n"
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Ericka Cruz Guevarra\u003c/strong>: What about if you’re not a parent of a school-aged child, Pauline, like why should you care about school board races in this year’s election?\u003c/p>\n",
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"\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Ericka Cruz Guevarra\u003c/strong>: What about if you’re not a parent of a school-aged child, Pauline, like why should you care about school board races in this year’s election?\u003c/p>\n"
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Pauline Bartolone\u003c/strong>: Yeah, I mean, a lot of these school districts have thousands of kids. They employ thousands of people and good school systems protect property values. So if you’re a homeowner, you wanna live in a place where there’s a good school system.\u003c/p>\n",
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"\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Pauline Bartolone\u003c/strong>: Yeah, I mean, a lot of these school districts have thousands of kids. They employ thousands of people and good school systems protect property values. So if you’re a homeowner, you wanna live in a place where there’s a good school system.\u003c/p>\n"
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Olivia Allen-Price\u003c/strong>: And it’s also if you are somebody who may have kids in the future, the way you vote now could potentially impact what the school district looks like when you have kids down the road.\u003c/p>\n",
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"\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Olivia Allen-Price\u003c/strong>: And it’s also if you are somebody who may have kids in the future, the way you vote now could potentially impact what the school district looks like when you have kids down the road.\u003c/p>\n"
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Pauline Bartolone\u003c/strong>: Another reason why people who don’t have kids should care about school board elections is a lot of politicians use these offices as kind of a launching pad to higher office. So people will be like, okay, I’m gonna dabble my feet in this and see if I like to be in public office and then I’ll run for city council and then for a state office or a state superintendent.\u003c/p>\n",
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"\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Pauline Bartolone\u003c/strong>: Another reason why people who don’t have kids should care about school board elections is a lot of politicians use these offices as kind of a launching pad to higher office. So people will be like, okay, I’m gonna dabble my feet in this and see if I like to be in public office and then I’ll run for city council and then for a state office or a state superintendent.\u003c/p>\n"
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Ericka Cruz Guevarra\u003c/strong>: And Pauline, I feel like there’s been an increased sort of acknowledgement of how important school boards actually are including and we’ve been following this story when if you could talk about it a little bit in Albany?\u003c/p>\n",
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"\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Ericka Cruz Guevarra\u003c/strong>: And Pauline, I feel like there’s been an increased sort of acknowledgement of how important school boards actually are including and we’ve been following this story when if you could talk about it a little bit in Albany?\u003c/p>\n"
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Pauline Bartolone\u003c/strong>: Yeah, so students who are 16 and 17 years old in Albany will have the right to vote for their school board members starting this election, this November. And that follows students of the same age in Berkeley and Oakland who were able to do that a couple of years ago. So this is kind of like a growing movement, shall we say, of giving young people the right to vote.\u003c/p>\n",
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"\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Pauline Bartolone\u003c/strong>: Yeah, so students who are 16 and 17 years old in Albany will have the right to vote for their school board members starting this election, this November. And that follows students of the same age in Berkeley and Oakland who were able to do that a couple of years ago. So this is kind of like a growing movement, shall we say, of giving young people the right to vote.\u003c/p>\n"
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Ericka Cruz Guevarra\u003c/strong>: Yeah, and also it’s like these kids are directly affected by what the school board does.\u003c/p>\n",
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"\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Ericka Cruz Guevarra\u003c/strong>: Yeah, and also it’s like these kids are directly affected by what the school board does.\u003c/p>\n"
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Olivia Allen-Price\u003c/strong>: I love that there are districts where we’re allowing younger people to vote. I mean, I’ve definitely passed this section on my ballot before, especially before I had kids when it felt like I have no skin in this game, other people know more than me, I should let them have the say. But I mean part of what makes it so hard to vote is it’s just hard to do research. Like there’s not a lot of coverage of these races. These people don’t necessarily like have campaign websites where you can like see their position on things.\u003c/p>\n",
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"\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Olivia Allen-Price\u003c/strong>: I love that there are districts where we’re allowing younger people to vote. I mean, I’ve definitely passed this section on my ballot before, especially before I had kids when it felt like I have no skin in this game, other people know more than me, I should let them have the say. But I mean part of what makes it so hard to vote is it’s just hard to do research. Like there’s not a lot of coverage of these races. These people don’t necessarily like have campaign websites where you can like see their position on things.\u003c/p>\n"
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Pauline Bartolone\u003c/strong>: So I do want to also mention as part of Katie’s and the KQED teams reporting, they reached out to almost 400 board candidates in the Bay Area, the Nine County Bay Area and polled them about how they feel about cell phones in the classroom, law enforcement at schools, feelings about charter schools and school closures. So you can actually look up the candidate and see what they told KQED. It’s super helpful.\u003c/p>\n",
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"\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Pauline Bartolone\u003c/strong>: So I do want to also mention as part of Katie’s and the KQED teams reporting, they reached out to almost 400 board candidates in the Bay Area, the Nine County Bay Area and polled them about how they feel about cell phones in the classroom, law enforcement at schools, feelings about charter schools and school closures. So you can actually look up the candidate and see what they told KQED. It’s super helpful.\u003c/p>\n"
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Ericka Cruz Guevarra\u003c/strong>: Pauline Bartolone, thank you so much for bringing that story. Appreciate it.\u003c/p>\n",
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"\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Ericka Cruz Guevarra\u003c/strong>: Pauline Bartolone, thank you so much for bringing that story. Appreciate it.\u003c/p>\n"
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Pauline Bartolone\u003c/strong>: Oh, my pleasure.\u003c/p>\n",
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"\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Pauline Bartolone\u003c/strong>: Oh, my pleasure.\u003c/p>\n"
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Ericka Cruz Guevarra\u003c/strong>: And last but not least, Olivia Allen-Price. You’ve got a fun little Halloween story for us today. I’m ready for it.\u003c/p>\n",
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"\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Ericka Cruz Guevarra\u003c/strong>: And last but not least, Olivia Allen-Price. You’ve got a fun little Halloween story for us today. I’m ready for it.\u003c/p>\n"
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Olivia Allen-Price\u003c/strong>: Yeah, fun maybe, you can be the judge. So because it’s Halloween, the season of ghosts and haunted houses, I wanted to tell you guys about the story of this one creepy house I’ve been following for years. It’s called the Dunsmuir Hellman Historic House and Estate. It’s a 37-room neoclassical revival mansion, very imposing, and it was built in 1899. And it’s been featured in a lot of scary movies, but it also has some recent news associated with it. It’s, I mean, really falling into disrepair. Most of the reporting is being done by Liam O’Donoghue of the East Bay Yesterday podcast. That’s kind of how it’s on my radar. So there’s new sort of scary things happening with this property.\u003c/p>\n",
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"\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Olivia Allen-Price\u003c/strong>: Yeah, fun maybe, you can be the judge. So because it’s Halloween, the season of ghosts and haunted houses, I wanted to tell you guys about the story of this one creepy house I’ve been following for years. It’s called the Dunsmuir Hellman Historic House and Estate. It’s a 37-room neoclassical revival mansion, very imposing, and it was built in 1899. And it’s been featured in a lot of scary movies, but it also has some recent news associated with it. It’s, I mean, really falling into disrepair. Most of the reporting is being done by Liam O’Donoghue of the East Bay Yesterday podcast. That’s kind of how it’s on my radar. So there’s new sort of scary things happening with this property.\u003c/p>\n"
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Ericka Cruz Guevarra\u003c/strong>: Can you actually tell me a little bit more, Olivia, about the history of this house? Like what was it used for?\u003c/p>\n",
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"\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Ericka Cruz Guevarra\u003c/strong>: Can you actually tell me a little bit more, Olivia, about the history of this house? Like what was it used for?\u003c/p>\n"
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Olivia Allen-Price\u003c/strong>: Yeah, it has an interesting story. So if you’re not familiar, this is a property that’s kind of over by the Oakland Zoo. It’s been owned by the city of Oakland since 1960, but it has been a movie set for several horror films that have been filmed there over the years. Most notably was in 1976, Burnt Offerings was filmed there. Did either of you see Burnt offerings?\u003c/p>\n",
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"\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Olivia Allen-Price\u003c/strong>: Yeah, it has an interesting story. So if you’re not familiar, this is a property that’s kind of over by the Oakland Zoo. It’s been owned by the city of Oakland since 1960, but it has been a movie set for several horror films that have been filmed there over the years. Most notably was in 1976, Burnt Offerings was filmed there. Did either of you see Burnt offerings?\u003c/p>\n"
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Burnt Offerings\u003c/strong>: It all began as a summer vacation. A young family found a beautiful old house. It had secluded spacious grounds…\u003c/p>\n",
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"\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Burnt Offerings\u003c/strong>: It all began as a summer vacation. A young family found a beautiful old house. It had secluded spacious grounds…\u003c/p>\n"
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Olivia Allen-Price\u003c/strong>: Well, in that film, a family moves into the house and then the family kind of begins to unravel because the house sort of absorbs the life force and energy and sanity of its inhabitants.\u003c/p>\n",
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"\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Olivia Allen-Price\u003c/strong>: Well, in that film, a family moves into the house and then the family kind of begins to unravel because the house sort of absorbs the life force and energy and sanity of its inhabitants.\u003c/p>\n"
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Burnt Offerings\u003c/strong>: They thought it was the answer to their dreams, but it was the beginning of a nightmare…\u003c/p>\n",
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"\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Burnt Offerings\u003c/strong>: They thought it was the answer to their dreams, but it was the beginning of a nightmare…\u003c/p>\n"
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Olivia Allen-Price\u003c/strong>: I think what makes that movie so unsettling, it’s not necessarily a haunted house, like where ghosts are in the house. The house itself is the threat. It is like making you sick to be in the house.\u003c/p>\n",
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"\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Olivia Allen-Price\u003c/strong>: I think what makes that movie so unsettling, it’s not necessarily a haunted house, like where ghosts are in the house. The house itself is the threat. It is like making you sick to be in the house.\u003c/p>\n"
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Phantasm\u003c/strong>: Phantasm. Is it a nightmare?\u003c/p>\n",
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Olivia Allen-Price\u003c/strong>: Also the movie Phantasm, which is maybe a little bit better known than Burnt Offerings, that was filmed not inside the house but outside on the grounds and the house sort of stands in as a mortuary. For many, many years it was taken care of by a non-profit that was working with the city and they would lease the house out or the grounds out. They basically used it as an event center. But then in 2010, the city of Oakland took kind of a weird step. They basically kicked the nonprofit out and they said, we are gonna take sole responsibility for the property. The thinking is that they thought they could make more money off the property if the nonprofit wasn’t in the picture. But things seem to have gone pretty sideways because between 2010 and 2020, the house basically fell way behind on maintenance. And water damage became a huge problem. More has become a huge problem and even like the structural integrity of some of the like, you know, inside of the house is now like kind of being called into question. So much so that in 2020 the house had to be closed to the public.\u003c/p>\n",
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"\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Olivia Allen-Price\u003c/strong>: Also the movie Phantasm, which is maybe a little bit better known than Burnt Offerings, that was filmed not inside the house but outside on the grounds and the house sort of stands in as a mortuary. For many, many years it was taken care of by a non-profit that was working with the city and they would lease the house out or the grounds out. They basically used it as an event center. But then in 2010, the city of Oakland took kind of a weird step. They basically kicked the nonprofit out and they said, we are gonna take sole responsibility for the property. The thinking is that they thought they could make more money off the property if the nonprofit wasn’t in the picture. But things seem to have gone pretty sideways because between 2010 and 2020, the house basically fell way behind on maintenance. And water damage became a huge problem. More has become a huge problem and even like the structural integrity of some of the like, you know, inside of the house is now like kind of being called into question. So much so that in 2020 the house had to be closed to the public.\u003c/p>\n"
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Pauline Bartolone\u003c/strong>: It just keeps on getting creepier and creepier.\u003c/p>\n",
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"\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Pauline Bartolone\u003c/strong>: It just keeps on getting creepier and creepier.\u003c/p>\n"
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Olivia Allen-Price\u003c/strong>: I know, I know. We actually sent a reporter in a couple years ago and she said there were like Christmas decorations that, you know, were still up from maybe the last time that the public was able to go in, but they had been like, you now, obviously like starting to like mold and like fall apart. So it’s kind of got this like creepy sinister Christmas thing going on inside.\u003c/p>\n",
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"\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Olivia Allen-Price\u003c/strong>: I know, I know. We actually sent a reporter in a couple years ago and she said there were like Christmas decorations that, you know, were still up from maybe the last time that the public was able to go in, but they had been like, you now, obviously like starting to like mold and like fall apart. So it’s kind of got this like creepy sinister Christmas thing going on inside.\u003c/p>\n"
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Pauline Bartolone\u003c/strong>: Is there any effort to restore the house or bring it back to tip-top shape?\u003c/p>\n",
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"\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Pauline Bartolone\u003c/strong>: Is there any effort to restore the house or bring it back to tip-top shape?\u003c/p>\n"
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Olivia Allen-Price\u003c/strong>: There is some effort being made to get Oakland to kind of change course. The Oakland Heritage Alliance has put this petition together that basically urges Oakland to fund a multi-year restoration plan that would aim to sort of reopen that interior space so the public could once again go in for special events, but also just like general public access. And they’re also telling Oakland they should come up with a new stewardship model. We’ll see where that petition goes. You know, I spoke to Liam O’Donoghue from East Bay Yesterday who’s been following this story and he wasn’t feeling super optimistic that anything was gonna change anytime soon.\u003c/p>\n",
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"\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Olivia Allen-Price\u003c/strong>: There is some effort being made to get Oakland to kind of change course. The Oakland Heritage Alliance has put this petition together that basically urges Oakland to fund a multi-year restoration plan that would aim to sort of reopen that interior space so the public could once again go in for special events, but also just like general public access. And they’re also telling Oakland they should come up with a new stewardship model. We’ll see where that petition goes. You know, I spoke to Liam O’Donoghue from East Bay Yesterday who’s been following this story and he wasn’t feeling super optimistic that anything was gonna change anytime soon.\u003c/p>\n"
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Ericka Cruz Guevarra\u003c/strong>: Well, such an interesting story, Olivia. Thank you so much for bringing that one for us. Appreciate it.\u003c/p>\n",
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"\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Ericka Cruz Guevarra\u003c/strong>: Well, such an interesting story, Olivia. Thank you so much for bringing that one for us. Appreciate it.\u003c/p>\n"
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Olivia Allen-Price\u003c/strong>: You’re welcome.\u003c/p>\n",
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"\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Olivia Allen-Price\u003c/strong>: You’re welcome.\u003c/p>\n"
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Ericka Cruz Guevarra\u003c/strong>: That is it for the base October news roundup. Olivia Allen-Price, Pauline Bartolone, thank you so much for joining me. This was so much fun.\u003c/p>\n",
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"\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Ericka Cruz Guevarra\u003c/strong>: That is it for the base October news roundup. Olivia Allen-Price, Pauline Bartolone, thank you so much for joining me. This was so much fun.\u003c/p>\n"
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Pauline Bartolone\u003c/strong>: This was great.\u003c/p>\n",
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Olivia Allen-Price\u003c/strong>: Yeah, let’s do it again.\u003c/p>\n",
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"\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Olivia Allen-Price\u003c/strong>: Yeah, let’s do it again.\u003c/p>\n"
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Ericka Cruz Guevarra\u003c/strong>: The Bay is a production of listener-supported KQED in San Francisco. This episode was produced by producer Gabriela Glueck. Our editor this week was Pauline Bartolone. Support for The Bay’s provided in part by the Osher Production Fund. 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. And I’m Ericka Cruz Guevarra. Thanks so much for listening. Happy Halloween!\u003c/p>\n",
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"\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Ericka Cruz Guevarra\u003c/strong>: The Bay is a production of listener-supported KQED in San Francisco. This episode was produced by producer Gabriela Glueck. Our editor this week was Pauline Bartolone. Support for The Bay’s provided in part by the Osher Production Fund. 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. And I’m Ericka Cruz Guevarra. Thanks so much for listening. Happy Halloween!\u003c/p>\n"
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"title": "Measure P in Marin, Why School Board Races Matter, and the Fate of the Historic Dunsmuir Estate | KQED",
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"content": "\u003cdiv class=\"post-body\">\u003cp>\n\u003cp class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">In this edition of The Bay’s monthly news roundup, we discuss Marin County’s Measure P, a parcel tax to increase access to childcare, and why school board races might actually be more important than you think. We also discuss the fate of the iconic Dunsmuir Hellman Historic Estate just south of Oakland. Some say the once grand mansion has taken a turn for the worse.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">\u003cstrong>Links:\u003c/strong>\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n\u003cli>\u003ca href=\"https://www.kqed.org/news/12105159/as-costs-crush-families-this-bay-area-county-could-be-latest-to-subsidize-childcare\">As Costs Crush Families, This Bay Area County Could Be Latest to Subsidize Childcare\u003c/a> (KQED)\u003c/li>\n\n\n\n\u003cli>\u003ca href=\"https://www.kqed.org/news/12103823/dont-skip-the-school-board-races-on-your-ballot-heres-why-they-could-be-pivotal\">Don’t Skip the School Board Races on Your Ballot. Here’s Why They Could Be Pivotal\u003c/a> (KQED)\u003c/li>\n\n\n\n\u003cli>\u003ca href=\"https://www.kqed.org/news/11964119/dunsmuir-the-oakland-mansion-that-inspired-hollywood-nightmares\">Dunsmuir: The Oakland Mansion That Inspired Hollywood Nightmares\u003c/a> (KQED)\u003c/li>\n\n\n\n\u003cli>\u003ca href=\"https://eastbayyesterday.substack.com/p/why-should-you-care-about-old-houses\">Why should you care about old houses?\u003c/a> (East Bay Yesterday)\u003c/li>\n\n\n\n\u003cli>\u003ca href=\"https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nnLeML6f6mI\">Dunsmuir House: Past, Present, & Future\u003c/a> (Oakland Public Library)\u003c/li>\n\u003c/ul>\n\n\n\n\u003ch2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">\u003cstrong>Episode Transcript\u003c/strong>\u003c/h2>\n\n\n\n\u003cp class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">\u003cem>This transcript is computer-generated. While our team has reviewed it, there may be errors.\u003c/em>\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">\u003cstrong>Ericka Cruz Guevarra\u003c/strong>: I’m Ericka Cruz Guevarra and welcome to The Bay’s October News Roundup where we sit down to discuss some of the other stories on our radars this month. I’ve got a fun crew with me in the studio today. We’ve got Pauline Bartolone who’s been filling in as editor on The Bay for the last couple of weeks. Welcome Pauline!\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">\u003cstrong>Pauline Bartolone\u003c/strong>: I am just such a fan of both of you, so I’m honored to be in the studio.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">\u003cstrong>Ericka Cruz Guevarra\u003c/strong>: Thank you for being here. And also we’ve got the one and only Olivia Allen-Price, host of Bay Curious. Hey, Olivia.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">\u003cstrong>Olivia Allen-Price\u003c/strong>: Hey. I also jazzed to be here.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">\u003cstrong>Ericka Cruz Guevarra\u003c/strong>: Happy almost election week. Have you two filled out your ballots yet, by the way?\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">\u003cstrong>Pauline Bartolone\u003c/strong>: I just looked at it last night. I feel kind of like a slacker. Usually I’m like two weeks before the election but just been busy.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">\u003cstrong>Olivia Allen-Price\u003c/strong>: I also still have to do mine. I know how I’m voting on pretty much everything, but I haven’t actually sat down and filled it all out yet.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">\u003cstrong>Ericka Cruz Guevarra\u003c/strong>: For last minute voters, we just worked on PropFest with the Bay Curious team, with Olivia and Pauline. I wonder actually, Olivia, if you can just remind folks what PropFest is. I feel like lately we’ve been getting so much great feedback from people on how just like helpful it’s been for them.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">\u003cstrong>Olivia Allen-Price\u003c/strong>: Yeah, so Prop Fest is sort of this project that we do every time there’s a bunch of props on the ballot where we go through every prop in depth because so many of them you kind of read and there’s sort of like the surface level what you think you’re voting on but once you kind get in there you see like, oh, it’s actually about this. So we get kind of into the nitty-gritty on each prop. There are 14 of them on the ballot. So yeah, it is all available on The Bay’s feed and Bay Curious’ feed as well.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">\u003cstrong>Ericka Cruz Guevarra\u003c/strong>: We’re going to stick actually to just this election theme for a little bit for this news roundup starting with the story that I’ve been following out of Marin County where voters are being asked whether or not to adopt a new parcel tax to help increase access to child care in Marin County. So this is called Measure P and I’m following reporting from our colleague Daisy Nguyen here at KQED, who reported that measure P in Marin is just the latest in actually this wave of ballot measures across the Bay Area that we’ve seen in the last eight years that are aiming to create a more local solution to a broken childcare market.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">\u003cstrong>Pauline Bartolone\u003c/strong>: So this is a parcel tax. That means it’s a property tax. So it’s taxing homeowners?\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">\u003cstrong>Ericka Cruz Guevarra\u003c/strong>: Yeah, it’s a parcel tax on single-family homes and also businesses, and it’s anticipated to raise about $12.5 million per year over 15 years.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">\u003cstrong>Olivia Allen-Price\u003c/strong>: And how are they going to dole it out? Is it like an aid situation where people of certain income levels would get a subsidy? Or how does it work?\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">\u003cstrong>Ericka Cruz Guevarra\u003c/strong>: Yeah, so measure P creates this, like, local fund to help mostly low-income and middle-income families afford child care in Marin County. It’s also supposed to help the county grow its early educator workforce and also help add licensed child care spaces. So the way they’re going to dole this money out is the county will create an advisory council that is appointed by the Board of Supervisors. And that council will determine the needs of families in the county.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">\u003cstrong>Pauline Bartolone\u003c/strong>: I wonder why this is happening in Marin County, like if there’s a shortage of childcare workers there or?\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">\u003cstrong>Ericka Cruz Guevarra\u003c/strong>: Yeah, that’s a good question, Pauline. Marin actually has some of the highest child care costs in the nation. According to Daisy’s reporting, the cost of licensed child care in Marin County is up by nearly 40% in like the last 10 years, averaging about $2,315 a month in 2024.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">\u003cstrong>Olivia Allen-Price\u003c/strong>: I mean, I have a child who is in daycare. We pay $2,000 a month. We live down in San Mateo. And we actually feel like that’s a steal. But I think it also speaks to what it costs to run one of these centers, which from what I understand is getting more and more expensive. Has anything similar to this passed elsewhere in the Bay Area?\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">\u003cstrong>Ericka Cruz Guevarra\u003c/strong>: Yeah, so since 2018, San Francisco, Alameda, and Sonoma counties have raised like several hundred million dollars through these parcel taxes that are specifically created to subsidize childcare spots for families. And then more recently in 2024, voters in this small San Mateo County School District actually passed a parcel tax that has been successfully paying for. Child care providers, to cover tuition for families, and also to recruit locals to become early childhood educators.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">\u003cstrong>Pauline Bartolone\u003c/strong>: So, Ericka, what do we know about who’s supporting this measure, who’s against it?\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">\u003cstrong>Ericka Cruz Guevarra\u003c/strong>: Yeah so this is a topic that I feel like people in Marin County have been talking about for a long time, including the Marin County Board of Supervisors. So the whole board is in support of Measure P in addition to U.S. Representative Jared Huffman and State Senator Mike McGuire, who represent this area. But then on the opposition side, there’s the coalition of sensible taxpayers and also some residents of Marin County who are sort of making this argument that, like, this is not a good time for more taxes. People are really feeling the pinch, and that Measure P lacks, like, a clear plan for how the money will be spent. But I will say that advocates say that that’s sort of by design, like that they want some wiggle room to really determine the greatest child care needs for families, and that sometimes that changes from year to year.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">\u003cstrong>Pauline Bartolone\u003c/strong>: So the devil’s in the details.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">\u003cstrong>Ericka Cruz Guevarra\u003c/strong>: And that is it for my story for this edition of our News Roundup, we’re gonna take a quick break, but when we come back, we’ll talk about some of the other stories we’ve been following this month. And by the way, if you appreciate the work that we do here on The Bay, consider becoming a sustaining KQED member. Just go to donate.kqed.org/podcasts. We’ll be right back. And welcome back to the Bay’s October News Roundup, where we talk about some of the other stories on our radars this month. Pauline Bartolone, I want to turn to you. What story did you bring for us this month?\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">\u003cstrong>Pauline Bartolone\u003c/strong>: Well, I’m the nerdy mom who likes to follow school board races, or I’m curious about them, at least. And actually, KQED reporter Katie DeBenedetti did a great piece on this that people should check out, it’s about why school board races matter. I think school board races maybe have a reputation for being boring or inconsequential, or if I’m not a parent, why should I care? And there’s actually a lot of reasons why people should care.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">\u003cstrong>Olivia Allen-Price\u003c/strong>: What are those reasons? Why should they care?\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">\u003cstrong>Pauline Bartolone\u003c/strong>: You know, school boards are kind of like microcosms of society. I mean, like school districts are this major public infrastructure. They make a lot decisions about AI and tech in the classroom, transgender people in sports, declining enrollment in public school systems. So by chiming in on the school board races, you can have a say in some of those issues.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">\u003cstrong>Ericka Cruz Guevarra\u003c/strong>: What about if you’re not a parent of a school-aged child, Pauline, like why should you care about school board races in this year’s election?\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">\u003cstrong>Pauline Bartolone\u003c/strong>: Yeah, I mean, a lot of these school districts have thousands of kids. They employ thousands of people and good school systems protect property values. So if you’re a homeowner, you wanna live in a place where there’s a good school system.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">\u003cstrong>Olivia Allen-Price\u003c/strong>: And it’s also if you are somebody who may have kids in the future, the way you vote now could potentially impact what the school district looks like when you have kids down the road.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">\u003cstrong>Pauline Bartolone\u003c/strong>: Another reason why people who don’t have kids should care about school board elections is a lot of politicians use these offices as kind of a launching pad to higher office. So people will be like, okay, I’m gonna dabble my feet in this and see if I like to be in public office and then I’ll run for city council and then for a state office or a state superintendent.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">\u003cstrong>Ericka Cruz Guevarra\u003c/strong>: And Pauline, I feel like there’s been an increased sort of acknowledgement of how important school boards actually are including and we’ve been following this story when if you could talk about it a little bit in Albany?\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">\u003cstrong>Pauline Bartolone\u003c/strong>: Yeah, so students who are 16 and 17 years old in Albany will have the right to vote for their school board members starting this election, this November. And that follows students of the same age in Berkeley and Oakland who were able to do that a couple of years ago. So this is kind of like a growing movement, shall we say, of giving young people the right to vote.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">\u003cstrong>Ericka Cruz Guevarra\u003c/strong>: Yeah, and also it’s like these kids are directly affected by what the school board does.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">\u003cstrong>Olivia Allen-Price\u003c/strong>: I love that there are districts where we’re allowing younger people to vote. I mean, I’ve definitely passed this section on my ballot before, especially before I had kids when it felt like I have no skin in this game, other people know more than me, I should let them have the say. But I mean part of what makes it so hard to vote is it’s just hard to do research. Like there’s not a lot of coverage of these races. These people don’t necessarily like have campaign websites where you can like see their position on things.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">\u003cstrong>Pauline Bartolone\u003c/strong>: So I do want to also mention as part of Katie’s and the KQED teams reporting, they reached out to almost 400 board candidates in the Bay Area, the Nine County Bay Area and polled them about how they feel about cell phones in the classroom, law enforcement at schools, feelings about charter schools and school closures. So you can actually look up the candidate and see what they told KQED. It’s super helpful.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">\u003cstrong>Ericka Cruz Guevarra\u003c/strong>: Pauline Bartolone, thank you so much for bringing that story. Appreciate it.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">\u003cstrong>Pauline Bartolone\u003c/strong>: Oh, my pleasure.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">\u003cstrong>Ericka Cruz Guevarra\u003c/strong>: And last but not least, Olivia Allen-Price. You’ve got a fun little Halloween story for us today. I’m ready for it.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">\u003cstrong>Olivia Allen-Price\u003c/strong>: Yeah, fun maybe, you can be the judge. So because it’s Halloween, the season of ghosts and haunted houses, I wanted to tell you guys about the story of this one creepy house I’ve been following for years. It’s called the Dunsmuir Hellman Historic House and Estate. It’s a 37-room neoclassical revival mansion, very imposing, and it was built in 1899. And it’s been featured in a lot of scary movies, but it also has some recent news associated with it. It’s, I mean, really falling into disrepair. Most of the reporting is being done by Liam O’Donoghue of the East Bay Yesterday podcast. That’s kind of how it’s on my radar. So there’s new sort of scary things happening with this property.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">\u003cstrong>Ericka Cruz Guevarra\u003c/strong>: Can you actually tell me a little bit more, Olivia, about the history of this house? Like what was it used for?\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">\u003cstrong>Olivia Allen-Price\u003c/strong>: Yeah, it has an interesting story. So if you’re not familiar, this is a property that’s kind of over by the Oakland Zoo. It’s been owned by the city of Oakland since 1960, but it has been a movie set for several horror films that have been filmed there over the years. Most notably was in 1976, Burnt Offerings was filmed there. Did either of you see Burnt offerings?\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">\u003cstrong>Burnt Offerings\u003c/strong>: It all began as a summer vacation. A young family found a beautiful old house. It had secluded spacious grounds…\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">\u003cstrong>Olivia Allen-Price\u003c/strong>: Well, in that film, a family moves into the house and then the family kind of begins to unravel because the house sort of absorbs the life force and energy and sanity of its inhabitants.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">\u003cstrong>Burnt Offerings\u003c/strong>: They thought it was the answer to their dreams, but it was the beginning of a nightmare…\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">\u003cstrong>Olivia Allen-Price\u003c/strong>: I think what makes that movie so unsettling, it’s not necessarily a haunted house, like where ghosts are in the house. The house itself is the threat. It is like making you sick to be in the house.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">\u003cstrong>Phantasm\u003c/strong>: Phantasm. Is it a nightmare?\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">\u003cstrong>Olivia Allen-Price\u003c/strong>: Also the movie Phantasm, which is maybe a little bit better known than Burnt Offerings, that was filmed not inside the house but outside on the grounds and the house sort of stands in as a mortuary. For many, many years it was taken care of by a non-profit that was working with the city and they would lease the house out or the grounds out. They basically used it as an event center. But then in 2010, the city of Oakland took kind of a weird step. They basically kicked the nonprofit out and they said, we are gonna take sole responsibility for the property. The thinking is that they thought they could make more money off the property if the nonprofit wasn’t in the picture. But things seem to have gone pretty sideways because between 2010 and 2020, the house basically fell way behind on maintenance. And water damage became a huge problem. More has become a huge problem and even like the structural integrity of some of the like, you know, inside of the house is now like kind of being called into question. So much so that in 2020 the house had to be closed to the public.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">\u003cstrong>Pauline Bartolone\u003c/strong>: It just keeps on getting creepier and creepier.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">\u003cstrong>Olivia Allen-Price\u003c/strong>: I know, I know. We actually sent a reporter in a couple years ago and she said there were like Christmas decorations that, you know, were still up from maybe the last time that the public was able to go in, but they had been like, you now, obviously like starting to like mold and like fall apart. So it’s kind of got this like creepy sinister Christmas thing going on inside.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">\u003cstrong>Pauline Bartolone\u003c/strong>: Is there any effort to restore the house or bring it back to tip-top shape?\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">\u003cstrong>Olivia Allen-Price\u003c/strong>: There is some effort being made to get Oakland to kind of change course. The Oakland Heritage Alliance has put this petition together that basically urges Oakland to fund a multi-year restoration plan that would aim to sort of reopen that interior space so the public could once again go in for special events, but also just like general public access. And they’re also telling Oakland they should come up with a new stewardship model. We’ll see where that petition goes. You know, I spoke to Liam O’Donoghue from East Bay Yesterday who’s been following this story and he wasn’t feeling super optimistic that anything was gonna change anytime soon.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">\u003cstrong>Ericka Cruz Guevarra\u003c/strong>: Well, such an interesting story, Olivia. Thank you so much for bringing that one for us. Appreciate it.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">\u003cstrong>Olivia Allen-Price\u003c/strong>: You’re welcome.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">\u003cstrong>Ericka Cruz Guevarra\u003c/strong>: That is it for the base October news roundup. Olivia Allen-Price, Pauline Bartolone, thank you so much for joining me. This was so much fun.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">\u003cstrong>Pauline Bartolone\u003c/strong>: This was great.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">\u003cstrong>Olivia Allen-Price\u003c/strong>: Yeah, let’s do it again.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">\u003cstrong>Ericka Cruz Guevarra\u003c/strong>: The Bay is a production of listener-supported KQED in San Francisco. This episode was produced by producer Gabriela Glueck. Our editor this week was Pauline Bartolone. Support for The Bay’s provided in part by the Osher Production Fund. 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. And I’m Ericka Cruz Guevarra. Thanks so much for listening. Happy Halloween!\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">\u003cem>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/em>\u003c/p>\n\u003c/div>\u003c/p>",
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"content": "\n\u003cp class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Sarah Longwell has conducted hundreds of focus groups and spoken with thousands of American voters over the past decade. As a result, the former Republican strategist, who left the party after President Trump was elected in 2016, has become one of the nation’s preeminent experts on voter sentiment. Less than a week before election day, Longwell joins Marisa to discuss the state of U.S. politics in 2026. \u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Longwell is also the New York Times bestselling author of “\u003ca href=\"https://static.macmillan.com/static/smp/how-to-eat-an-elephant-9781250464170/\">How to Eat an Elephant: One Voter at a Time\u003c/a>,” publisher of The Bulwark and host of The Focus Group podcast. \u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Don’t forget to use \u003ca href=\"https://www.kqed.org/voterguide\">KQED’s voter guide\u003c/a> when filling out your ballot!\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Plus, 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\n\n\u003cp class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">\u003c/p>\n",
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"info": "KQED’s statewide radio news program providing daily coverage of issues, trends and public policy decisions.",
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"order": 8
},
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"source": "City Arts & Lectures"
},
"link": "https://www.cityarts.net",
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"order": 1
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"id": "commonwealth-club",
"title": "Commonwealth Club of California Podcast",
"info": "The Commonwealth Club of California is the nation's oldest and largest public affairs forum. As a non-partisan forum, The Club brings to the public airwaves diverse viewpoints on important topics. The Club's weekly radio broadcast - the oldest in the U.S., dating back to 1924 - is carried across the nation on public radio stations and is now podcasting. Our website archive features audio of our recent programs, as well as selected speeches from our long and distinguished history. This podcast feed is usually updated twice a week and is always un-edited.",
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"source": "Commonwealth Club of California"
},
"link": "/radio/program/commonwealth-club",
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"info": "KQED’s live call-in program discussing local, state, national and international issues, as well as in-depth interviews.",
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"imageSrc": "https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/04/Forum-Podcast-Tile-703x703-1.jpg",
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"source": "kqed",
"order": 9
},
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"hidden-brain": {
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"info": "Shankar Vedantam uses science and storytelling to reveal the unconscious patterns that drive human behavior, shape our choices and direct our relationships.",
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"airtime": "SUN 7pm-8pm",
"meta": {
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"source": "NPR"
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"link": "/radio/program/hidden-brain",
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"how-i-built-this": {
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"info": "Guy Raz dives into the stories behind some of the world's best known companies. How I Built This weaves a narrative journey about innovators, entrepreneurs and idealists—and the movements they built.",
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"airtime": "SUN 7:30pm-8pm",
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"link": "/radio/program/how-i-built-this",
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"hyphenacion": {
"id": "hyphenacion",
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"tagline": "Where conversation and cultura meet",
"info": "What kind of no sabo word is Hyphenación? For us, it’s about living within a hyphenation. Like being a third-gen Mexican-American from the Texas border now living that Bay Area Chicano life. Like Xorje! Each week we bring together a couple of hyphenated Latinos to talk all about personal life choices: family, careers, relationships, belonging … everything is on the table. ",
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"order": 15
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"jerrybrown": {
"id": "jerrybrown",
"title": "The Political Mind of Jerry Brown",
"tagline": "Lessons from a lifetime in politics",
"info": "The Political Mind of Jerry Brown brings listeners the wisdom of the former Governor, Mayor, and presidential candidate. Scott Shafer interviewed Brown for more than 40 hours, covering the former governor's life and half-century in the political game and Brown has some lessons he'd like to share. ",
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"order": 18
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},
"latino-usa": {
"id": "latino-usa",
"title": "Latino USA",
"airtime": "MON 1am-2am, SUN 6pm-7pm",
"info": "Latino USA, the radio journal of news and culture, is the only national, English-language radio program produced from a Latino perspective.",
"imageSrc": "https://ww2.kqed.org/radio/wp-content/uploads/sites/50/2018/04/latinoUsa.jpg",
"officialWebsiteLink": "http://latinousa.org/",
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"source": "npr"
},
"link": "/radio/program/latino-usa",
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"apple": "https://itunes.apple.com/WebObjects/MZStore.woa/wa/viewPodcast?s=143441&mt=2&id=79681317&at=11l79Y&ct=nprdirectory",
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"rss": "https://feeds.npr.org/510016/podcast.xml"
}
},
"marketplace": {
"id": "marketplace",
"title": "Marketplace",
"info": "Our flagship program, helmed by Kai Ryssdal, examines what the day in money delivered, through stories, conversations, newsworthy numbers and more. Updated Monday through Friday at about 3:30 p.m. PT.",
"airtime": "MON-FRI 4pm-4:30pm, MON-WED 6:30pm-7pm",
"imageSrc": "https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/04/Marketplace-Podcast-Tile-360x360-1.jpg",
"officialWebsiteLink": "https://www.marketplace.org/",
"meta": {
"site": "news",
"source": "American Public Media"
},
"link": "/radio/program/marketplace",
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"rss": "https://feeds.publicradio.org/public_feeds/marketplace-pm/rss/rss"
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},
"masters-of-scale": {
"id": "masters-of-scale",
"title": "Masters of Scale",
"info": "Masters of Scale is an original podcast in which LinkedIn co-founder and Greylock Partner Reid Hoffman sets out to describe and prove theories that explain how great entrepreneurs take their companies from zero to a gazillion in ingenious fashion.",
"airtime": "Every other Wednesday June 12 through October 16 at 8pm (repeats Thursdays at 2am)",
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"officialWebsiteLink": "https://mastersofscale.com/",
"meta": {
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"source": "WaitWhat"
},
"link": "/radio/program/masters-of-scale",
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"rss": "https://rss.art19.com/masters-of-scale"
}
},
"mindshift": {
"id": "mindshift",
"title": "MindShift",
"tagline": "A podcast about the future of learning and how we raise our kids",
"info": "The MindShift podcast explores the innovations in education that are shaping how kids learn. Hosts Ki Sung and Katrina Schwartz introduce listeners to educators, researchers, parents and students who are developing effective ways to improve how kids learn. We cover topics like how fed-up administrators are developing surprising tactics to deal with classroom disruptions; how listening to podcasts are helping kids develop reading skills; the consequences of overparenting; and why interdisciplinary learning can engage students on all ends of the traditional achievement spectrum. This podcast is part of the MindShift education site, a division of KQED News. KQED is an NPR/PBS member station based in San Francisco. You can also visit the MindShift website for episodes and supplemental blog posts or tweet us \u003ca href=\"https://twitter.com/MindShiftKQED\">@MindShiftKQED\u003c/a> or visit us at \u003ca href=\"/mindshift\">MindShift.KQED.org\u003c/a>",
"imageSrc": "https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/04/Mindshift-Podcast-Tile-703x703-1.jpg",
"imageAlt": "KQED MindShift: How We Will Learn",
"officialWebsiteLink": "/mindshift/",
"meta": {
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"source": "kqed",
"order": 12
},
"link": "/podcasts/mindshift",
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"google": "https://podcasts.google.com/feed/aHR0cHM6Ly9mZWVkcy5tZWdhcGhvbmUuZm0vS1FJTkM1NzY0NjAwNDI5",
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