CVF in the News

Election 2020: What we know about how many locals voted and how many ballots left to count

By Cheri Carlson, Ventura County Star, November 4, 2020

Excerpts:

Ventura County not only had record registration numbers for this election, but also headed into the Election Day with high early turnout.

Back in 2016, the county had received just over 145,000 ballots before the election, according to Miranda Nobriga, spokeswoman for the elections division. This year, 320,498, or 64%, were returned by mail or dropped off by Tuesday.

"So more than twice as many," Nobriga said. "Ventura County voters, they got the message loud and clear to return their ballots early."

Big numbers of early returns were reported throughout California as election offices sent mail-in ballots to all registered voters for the first time. It was one of the changes made because of the coronavirus pandemic in the state.

Rideshare, Flat Tax Measures Spur Billion-Dollar Ballot Spending

By Tiffany Stecker, Bloomberg Government, November 3, 2020

Excerpts:

Uber Technologies Inc., DaVita Inc., and General Motors Co. are among the companies pumping millions of dollars into ballot initiatives in a year when the pandemic has upended political campaigning conventions.

Voters are casting ballots on 120 statewide proposals including legalizing marijuana, employee rights, and taxing the rich. That’s on top of local questions on bond issues, police practices, and more.

There are fewer statewide ballot measures this year than in any previous even-numbered year in the 21st Century, according to the Initiative and Referendum Institute of the University of Southern California. Even so, the fundraising to pass or defeat those questions could end up outpacing 2018’s $1.19 billion; at least $1.13 billion had been raised, according to data compiled as of Oct. 28 by the election-tracking site Ballotpedia.

How not to freak out: A user’s guide to California’s election night results

By Ben Christopher, CAL Matters, November 3, 2020

Excerpts:

If you were looking for the best advice on how to spend the hours after the polls close on election night, here’s the best we have to offer: Go do something else.

Turn off your TV, close your computer, put away your phone. Now go for a walk. Bake a dessert with your family. Take up knitting. Pop a few melatonin and go to sleep early. Do anything but spend the remaining dark hours of Nov. 3 ping-ponging through the cable news channels, doom scrolling on Twitter and watching the New York Times’ dreaded needle (or CalMatters’ own California election results tracker) for any sign of what the will of the people will hold.

But you are not looking for the best advice on how to spend tonight. We know this because you’re reading an article called “A user’s guide to California’s election night results.”

Your Election Day Voting Questions Answered

By Mina Kim, KQED. November 3, 2020

On Election Day, we check in with Kim Alexander of the California Voter Foundation about how voting is going around the state and take your last-minute questions. We want to hear from you: what do the polls look like in your area? (Full Audio)

Navigating Election Day / Voting In California, Deciding Factors / Last-Minute Voting Tips

Capital Public Radio, November 3, 2020

Election Day has finally arrived. Tens of millions of Americans will head to the polls to vote for either Republican incumbent President Donald Trump or Democrat Joe Biden. Nearly 100 million American voters have already cast early ballots but election officials are saying that days or weeks could pass before we know the winner of the presidential election. Today on Insight, Election Day, what you need to know, and what’s at stake. (Full Audio)

Last-Minute Registration and Voting Tips For This Unprecedented Election

By Alice Woelfle, KQED, November 3, 2020

Judge Upholds 'Abuse of Power' Lawsuit Against Governor Newsom

A judge in Sutter County has handed a victory to two Republican state lawmakers who filed an “abuse of power” lawsuit against Democratic Governor Gavin Newsom. The judge struck down an executive order the governor issued in June which set up new requirements for the 2020 election.
Guest: Assemblyman James Gallagher (R-Yuba City)

California Businesses Brace for Potentially Violent Protests

Californians have already voted in record numbers. There is excitement, but there’s also tension in cities and towns around the state. Many businesses are boarding up their windows and bracing for potentially violent protests.
Reporter: Caleigh Wells, KCRW

Oakland Law Enforcement on Standby for Election Night Unrest

Voting the California Way

By Peter Kronish, WHO.WHAT.WHY., November 2, 2020

Excerpts:

Are you here to vote?” Arianna asked two men and a woman approaching the basement entrance to the Hollywood Hotel’s ballroom in Los Angeles. “Just go in and make a right. Tell them if you’re dropping off your ballot so you don’t have to wait.” In less than 15 minutes, the three voters strode back out of the doorway and up the steps to the street, “I Voted” stickers on display.

“There really are so many ways to safely vote here in LA County,” Arianna, a 30-year-old poll volunteer, told WhoWhatWhy. “In my opinion, there really is no good excuse to not get out there and exercise your right to vote.”

VOTING THE CALIFORNIA WAY

By Peter Kronish, Who.What.Why., November 2, 2020

Excerpts:

“Are you here to vote?” Arianna asked two men and a woman approaching the basement entrance to the Hollywood Hotel’s ballroom in Los Angeles. “Just go in and make a right. Tell them if you’re dropping off your ballot so you don’t have to wait.” In less than 15 minutes, the three voters strode back out of the doorway and up the steps to the street, “I Voted” stickers on display.

Election 2020: In-person voting locations open Saturday. Here's what you need to know

By Cheri Carlson, VC Star, October 30, 2020

Exceprts:

Starting Saturday, people can vote in person at 48 locations in Ventura County.

Because of the pandemic, special rules allowed counties to have fewer places for voters to cast their ballots in person. But they also had to be open four days instead of just one.

"If they're planning to vote in person, please, please, please take advantage of the Oct. 31, Nov. 1 and Nov. 2 dates," said Miranda Nobriga, spokeswoman for the county elections division. "Do not wait until Election Day."

In previous elections, voters were assigned to one of hundreds of polling places. This time, voters can show up at any of the 48 spots. That means, popular times or locations could be far busier than in the past, leading to longer lines and delays.

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When should I vote?

How Many SoCal Voters Will Turn Out In 2020?

By Aaron Mendelson, Laist, October 30, 2020

Excerpts:

In Los Angeles, election officials have already received 2.1 million ballots. In Orange County, the figure is nearing 750,000. And across the United States, more than 80 million ballots have been cast.

Do the sky-high early voting numbers mean we'll see record turnout in 2020?

They're certainly a good sign, experts say. But thanks to California's voter-friendly laws, it takes weeks to tally every ballot, and that means we may not know the precise turnout figures until after Thanksgiving.

Millions of ballots have already arrived at counting centers, but election officials still have to process them. That involves checking signatures, tallying write-in votes and inspecting damaged ballots.

Other votes will arrive on election night. In Los Angeles, some are transported to counting centers by sheriff's deputies in helicopters and on boats.

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