On this Election Day, voters across California are heading to the polls to decide on 12 statewide propositions, the governor’s and U.S. Senate races, numerous highly contested House races and a slew of local races and measures.
Voter registration in California was at an all-time high leading into today’s midterm elections.
Bay Area counties are reporting significantly high voter registration and turnout numbers.
“We hit a new milestone on Friday,” said Jim Irizarry, San Mateo County’s chief elections officer. “For the first time in San Mateo county’s history, we hit 400,000 registered voters… so there’s a lot of voter engagement.” That number is out of 503,000 eligible voters.
For comparison, Irizarry says the Obama and Trump elections had 385-390,000 registered voters. “Those were extremely large presidential elections, so for a midterm election, this is impressive. This is very high.”
In Contra Costa County, one polling station had over 100 people vote before 8:00 a.m. Tuesday.
“For a midterm election, that’s pretty unusual. That’s an indicator that the turnout is going to be pretty consistent and busy all day long,” said Scott Konopasek, assistant county registrar. “We’re looking an overall turnout probably approaching 70 percent, which would be kind of a record for a midterm election … We’re seeing patterns reminiscent of November, 2016.”
In the East Bay city of Antioch, younger voters were energized.
âWe need to get young people in office,” said 30-year-old first-time voter Will Acuavera. “People like Dianne Feinstein, sheâs done great things for California, but her views don’t match mine. So I want to get in to vote her out and get people in who are going to be more likely to battle Trump. I used to be very anti voting until Donald Trump got into office, and seeing how racist things have gotten nationwide, I just couldnât complain and not vote.”
KQED reporters have been monitoring the polls in the Bay Area and in Southern California, where some polling locations are seeing much longer lines than others.
john sepulvado on Twitter This from a â¦@CalReportTweetsâ© voter near Corona, Ca – long morning line.
john sepulvado on Twitter In Simi Valley, people are split at this precinct 50/50 GOP/Dem – anecdotally looks like the makings of a long night in the @SteveKnight25 valley @KatieHill4CA race.
john sepulvado on Twitter In Santa Clarita, we’re seeing a much small group of people (which is why the empty picture) compared to other areas. Much more conservative in this area. @SteveKnight25 needs a big turnout in precincts like this one to carry over the top – not seeing that so far.
Sarah Favot on Twitter I’m at the North Hollywood Recreation Center. Poll worker Richard Cane tells me, “This is the most people I’ve ever seen, including the 2016 (election).
Priska Neely on Twitter The line was longer than expected at 8:30 and it took about 20 mins to get through. The line was still there when I got out #ElectionDay
Nationwide, early voting records were shattered with 38 million people voting early, according to the U.S. Elections Project at the University of Florida, which tracks turnout. If early voting makes up a third of all the vote, that would amount to a turnout of 114 million people, or 48.5 percent. If those numbers hold, it would mark the highest turnout rate since 1914.
ProPublica’s Electionland project is monitoring voting access in real-time, including an election trends map:
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This post includes reporting from NPR.
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