Election 2020 Live Blog: Mai Vang Wins Sacramento City Council Seat

The Associated Press Calls More California Propositions

The Associated Press has recently declared the results of a few more California state propositions. Four of them remain uncalled. Find results for all 12 propositions here.

• Proposition 16 - End Affirmative Action Ban

• The AP declares that this proposition will fail, which means that government agencies cannot set goals to recruit diverse employees, grant contracts to help women and minority-owned businesses, or boost historically disadvantaged communities.
• Proposition 24 - Expand Consumer Privacy - The AP declares that this proposition will pass, meaning that the state will update current online privacy laws and limit tech companies from your “sensitive personal information.”
• Proposition 25 - Repeal Of Cash Bail

• The AP declares that this proposition will fail, meaning California will not repeal the cash-based bail system for a computer algorithm to assess an arrested person’s public safety and flight risk.

Updated Nevada Results Expected Thursday

Experts say former Vice President Joe Biden will need to win Nevada and Michigan to become the next President of the United States. But while the Democrat is projected to take Michigan, predictions of an easy Democrat victory in the Silver State haven’t panned out.

“Poll data this time was way off the mark, in every possible category,” said Fred Lokken, who heads the Political Science Department at Truckee Meadows Community College.

Political observers have questioned Nevada’s swing state status in the last few years, but early election returns suggest it could still be in play. As of Wednesday afternoon, Biden was leading President Donald Trump by less than 1 percentage point — even smaller than the two point gap that gave Hillary Clinton Nevada’s electoral votes in 2016. 

Meanwhile, Washoe County Registrar of Voters Deanna Spikula said the county still had not processed more than 9,000 mail-in ballots turned in by voters on Election Day at drop-off sites and polling locations. She added those results would be reported by 10 a.m. on Thursday.

Read more from CapRadio Reno/Tahoe Reporter Bert Johnson here.

‘Considerable Amount Of Counting’ Left To Do In Sacramento County

As of 2 a.m. Wednesday, Sacramento County had tallied 342,000 ballots, but estimates that it has another 360,000 to go, according to county spokesperson Janna Haynes.

“It is a considerable amount of counting left to do,” Haynes said. “I think it really mirrors what we have said all along, is that we will not have final results for a couple of weeks, maybe even up to three weeks now, considering the volume that we have and could potentially end up with.”

Social distancing protocols have posed a challenge for election staff trying to tally Sacramento County’s votes as they can’t have as many people in a room processing ballots as they normally would.

“We are also dealing with a record number of ballots,” Haynes said. “We’ve never processed so many ballots before. And so we’re equipped to do it. It’s just going to take time and people are going to have to be patient.”

There are about 887,000 registered voters in Sacramento County, and Haynes said the county potentially saw a record 80% turnout in Tuesday’s election. 

Haynes is optimistic that the county will meet its goal of having a final, accurate tally by Thanksgiving. The next update to the county’s results will be released on Friday at 4 p.m.

— Mike Hagerty

Results Of Stockton Mayoral Election Still Uncertain

Stockton’s mayoral election is still up-in-the-air, with challenger Kevin Lincoln holding about 52% of the vote and incumbent Michael Tubbs holding about 48% as of Wednesday.

These results may have surprised some who thought Tubbs might ease into a second term. Tubbs is a popular figure in the Democratic Party for policies like his universal basic income program, and he’s even the subject of a recent HBO documentary.

Lincoln is the more conservative candidate in the race, backed by the Republican Party as well as the Stockton police and firefighters unions.

As of Wednesday, less than 2,000 votes separate the two, and it could be awhile before we have clarity on this very close race. San Joaquin County plans to release its next round of results on Thursday night.

— Rich Ibarra, Nick Miller

Sean Loloee Confident Against Incumbent Sacramento City Councilmember Allen Warren In Early Results

In North Sacramento, incumbent District 2 City Councilmember Allen Warren is facing a tight race with challenger Sean Loloee.

So far 8,209 ballots have been counted in the race, and between 16,900 and 19,900 ballots are expected to come in, according to projections from Political Data, Inc. This means that about half of the expected ballots have been counted.

While votes are still being counted, early results show newcomer and local business owner Loloee has rallied 55% of the vote to Warren’s 45% as of Wednesday afternoon.

Loloee said he wasn’t surprised by the early results, saying that he “walked and knocked on maybe 5, 6,000 doors for the general election, and the comments that I would hear is that everybody’s wanting change, they wanted change.”

Updated results in this race and others in Sacramento County will come on Friday afternoon.

— Sarah Mizes-Tan

State Legislative Races Still Too Close to Call

Democrats are hoping to flip a handful of southern California legislative seats this election cycle. But it’s still too early to call those races.

More than half the ballots in California have already been counted, but millions more remain. That means it could be days, maybe even weeks, before some legislative races are decided.

Unofficial results Wednesday show Republican state Sen. Scott Wilk in a 50-50 race against Democratic challenger Kipp Mueller.

State Senate District 23, an open state Senate seat covering parts of San Bernardino and Riverside counties, is very close. Early results show fewer than 150 votes separating the two candidates — Republican Rosilicie Bogh and Democrat Abigail Medina running for a district currently held by Republicans.

Preliminary tallies show two GOP senators in Orange County with 48% of the current vote in their races. Incumbents John Moorlach and Ling Ling Chang are each trailing their Democratic challengers by at least 10,000 votes — but there are still anywhere from 20,000 to 80,000 votes left to count in these races.

— Nicole Nixon

Early Results Show Sacramento Voters Rejecting Strong Mayor, Rent Control Measures — Though Many Votes Still To Be Counted

Preliminary results in Sacramento show that 57% of voters have rejected Measure A —  the so-called “strong mayor” proposal that would give Mayor Darrell Steinberg more executive power.

So far, we’ve seen just over 94,400 ballots counted for Measure A. CapRadio expects anywhere between 200,000 to 224,000 ballots cast in this race.

A majority of voters so far — 62% — are also saying no to Measure C, which would provide increased protections for renters. To date, 93,999 ballots have been counted, about one-third of the total expected ballots. Sacramento County intends to update vote tallies in this race on Friday afternoon.

It could take days — or weeks — for final results in these races.

California Propositions called by the Associated Press

Wednesday morning after the Election, California is still counting votes, with many of the 12 propositions on the ballots still awaiting more votes before being finalized.

Since Tuesday night, a few of the propositions were projected to win by the Associated Press:

• Proposition 17 - Voting rights for parolees - The AP declares this proposition will pass, allowing people on parole for felony convictions to vote
• Proposition 20 - Stricter parole, sentencing - The AP declares this proposition will fail, which means that more crimes will not be charged as felonies, and people who commit certain misdemeanors will not have to submit a DNA sample to a state database
• Proposition 21 - Local rent control

• The AP declares Prop. 21 will fail, which means that the Contra-Hawkins Rental Housing Act will continue to be upheld
• Proposition 22 - Rules for app-based drivers  

• The AP declares Prop. 22 will pass, allowing tech giants like Uber, Lyft, and DoorDash to keep drivers as independent contractors and supply drivers with some healthcare benefits in lieu of a minimum wage, workers compensation, health insurance, or overtime pay

• Proposition 23 - Dialysis Clinic Requirement - The AP declares this proposition will fail, allowing dialysis clinics to continue operating as they are and not require to report on dialysis-based infections, have a licensed physician, nurse, or physician assistant on-site during treatments, and more.

Nevada Election Results Delayed, Though Most Voting Goes Smoothly

Difficulties at some Clark County polling locations led to delays in the reporting of statewide results in Nevada Tuesday.

Polls were scheduled to close at 7 p.m., but 30 sites around Las Vegas stayed open an extra hour after Republicans in the state filed an emergency lawsuit.

Late Tuesday night, vote tallies had started to trickle in, with former Vice President Joe Biden gaining an early edge. But official results won’t be available until a seven-day period that allows mail-in ballots postmarked on Election Day to be counted.

Despite the delays, most polling places reported no issues. In an election where more voters had cast their ballots before Election Day than participated in the 2016 race, Nevada voters showed up in large numbers despite the COVID-19 pandemic and the potential for voter intimidation.

Washoe County Registrar of Voters Deanna Spikula told reporters turnout for the day had passed 21,000 voters.

“That’s a great number for Election Day,” she said.

— Bert Johnson

Uber, Lyft Can Continue To Classify Drivers As Contractors

Gig companies like Uber and Lyft will likely be able to continue to classify drivers as contractors with voters projected to pass Proposition 22.

The measure would exempt certain gig workers from Assembly Bill 5, California’s contentious new labor law, by reclassifying app-based delivery and rideshare drivers as independent contractors. Companies including Uber, Lyft and DoorDash spent more than $200 million supporting the measure, making it the most expensive campaign this election.

Proposition 22 would require companies with independent contractors to provide their drivers with benefits such as minimum compensation and health care subsidies based on driving time, vehicle insurance and sexual harassment training, rather than regular employee benefits like a minimum wage, workers’ compensation or overtime pay. 

Those benefits would still be less than those required for full-time employees.

Californians Likely Reject Rent Control, Again

The Associated Press is projecting that California voters have again rejected a call to expand rent control.

Proposition 21 was similar to one on the ballot in 2016 and would have allowed cities and counties to implement rent control for certain residential properties that are over 15 years old. It was meant to replace the Costa-Hawkins Rental Housing Act, which prohibits rent control for housing that was built after 1995 as well as for units such as single-family homes, townhomes and condos.

In other propositions, the AP projects that Prop. 20 — which would have rolled back criminal sentencing reforms — will be defeated. Prop 17, a constitutional amendment would allow people on parole for felony convictions to vote after their state or federal prison term ends, is projected to be approved.

Proposition 23 On Dialysis Rules Projected To Be Defeated

California’s Proposition 23, which would have changed rules for dialysis clinics, is projected to fail, according to the Associated Press.

The measure would have required dialysis clinics to have a licensed physician, nurse or physician assistant on site during kidney dialysis treatment. It's the second dialysis measure California voters have decided on in the past two elections.

It was also one of the more expensive measures on the ballot this year. More than $114 million was spent, with dialysis companies like DaVita putting more than $100 million into fighting the measure.

See where all the 12 propositions on the ballot stand here.

Voters Waited More Than An Hour In South Natomas

Voters waited more than an hour in South Natomas.Ed Fletcher / CapRadio

The South Natomas Library was one of 11 Sacramento County vote centers experiencing long lines on Election Day. As of 6 p.m. the line extended 65 people deep with voters there waiting more than an hour to vote in-person.

While some voters accepted the line in stride, others opted to return their mail-in ballot instead. Others left altogether. 

“The line has been up to this 100-foot sign pretty much all day,” said Sachiko Konatsu, who was campaigning just outside of the no-campaigning zone. 

As the sun set, the line grew longer and stretched into the darkness. Most people stood quietly listening to music or carefully studying their smartphones. 

The list of impacted voting centers included: Sylvan Oaks Library, Hillsdale Baptist, Depot Building, Koreana, APAPA, Citrus Heights Fellowship, Orangevale CC, South Natomas Library, Robertson CC, University of Phoenix and North Highlands-Antelope Library.

— Ed Fletcher

Elk Grove Voters Say They Want Safety, Normalcy

A common theme emerged among voters who showed up at the District52 Community Center in Elk Grove: a desire for safety and normalcy.

But for different people, that means different things.

“For the last four years, it’s been up and down racist. That’s a bit concerning,” said Lakhvinder Singh, an immigrant and small business owner. “People being attacked who are not white — it is not right. It is not America.”

Per California’s electioneering laws, Singh was sitting 100 feet from the building and holding a campaign sign for his daughter, Bobbie Singh-Allen, who’s running for mayor of Elk Grove.

Mike Ralston, 52, says he normally votes Democrat, but he changed his mind earlier this summer, mostly after the “defund the police” movement.

“I’m not a huge fan of [Trump], but when I started to see the protests and the lawlessness going on — law and order all the way,” he said.

Tyrell Jones echoed those thoughts after leaving the vote center half an hour later. 

“I’m voting for Trump, strictly out of like, policies and behaviors of the parties. One side's burning stuff down, the other ones not,” he said.  “The violence over the summer was crucial.”

He said a spike in gun sales this year, brought on by the pandemic and violent protests over racial justice, is concerning. “That's not normal. But yet it's expected. People are afraid.”

Jones said he’s not a “diehard Republican,” but he doesn’t feel there’s a place for him in today’s Democratic Party, either.

“I wish there was a middle ground,” he said. “And there isn't — you’re either left, right, and there is no middle. But I think California, and Elk Grove particularly, showcases that middle ground that we can all live in peace, we can have a difference of opinion, and we can still prosper.”

— Nicole Nixon

Joe Biden Projected To Win California

Polls in California closed at 8 p.m., and Joe Biden is projected to win the state according to the Associated Press.

Biden winning California isn't a surprise, even this early in the night. But many other races remain too close to call. Results will continue to come in soon from around the state, but exactly when depends on your county.

You can follow the latest results in California and Nevada on CapRadio's Live Results page. There you'll be able to get personalized results by entering your address, and for most races in California see an estimate of how many votes are left to count.

This is important because it could take days or weeks to get final results in some races due to the high number of mail-in ballots this year.

Many First-Time Voters Head To Polls At UC Davis

A steady stream of UC Davis students showed up Tuesday to vote inside the ARC Ballroom, a large on-campus vote center that provided plenty of room to safely cast ballots. 

Jan Schafer-Kramer, who said she’s worked as a Yolo County poll worker for 18 years, said she witnessed “many, many first-time voters” come to the polls. 

“It’s pretty exciting to be a part of that experience for them.” She said everything had gone smoothly at the site, noting everyone showed up wearing a face covering. 

Kramer added that some students took advantage of California’s Same Day Voter Registration process, which allows them to register to vote on Election Day. 

That allowed Cole Velez, 20, a second-year student at UC Davis, the opportunity to vote. 

“It was much easier than I thought,” said Veloz, moments after casting his ballot. “I’m from Texas, so I wasn’t registered in California but the whole process took like 10 minutes. It was pretty easy.”

Outside the vote center, Katherine Gee, 19, also a second-year student, said she filled out her mail-in ballot to avoid voting in-person amid COVID-19. 

Like several students, she said it was important to vote for candidates who prioritize environmental issues. 

She added, however, that “the presidential election was my main motive in voting.” 

“Over the past four years,” Gee said, “I have seen a lot of impacts of our current president, and I felt that there could be a lot of improvements and changes if Joe Biden was elected,” Gee said.”I felt that it was important that we all go out and make our voice heard.” 

Just outside the vote center, the League of Women Voters Davis Area operated an authorized Yolo County ballot drop box station where voters could drive up or walk by and leave their mail-in ballots. 

More Downtown Business Board Up, But Is it Necessary?

Several more businesses in downtown Sacramento have boarded up their storefronts to prevent damage in the case of election-related protests. 

The Sacramento Metro Chamber says it has been getting calls from store owners trying to decide if they should do the same. 

New boards are going up across downtown Sacramento. Four store owners declined interviews. One said, “We’re not political.” @CapRadioNews pic.twitter.com/3RGzR8r72k

— 🍂 Ezra David Romero 🥧 (@ezraromero) November 3, 2020

But not all business owners feel the need to add the plywood protection to their brick and mortar businesses on Election Day. 

Aziz Bellarbi-Salah runs three restaurants downtown, Aioli Bodega Espanola, The Grand Wine Bar, and Brasserie Capitale, and said midday on Tuesday that he doesn’t feel a threat on his restaurants right now. 

“I will not be boarding up Aioli or The Grand unless I see a significant change in the climate of downtown Sacramento,” he said.

“I don’t like the position of boarding up. I think it stands against solidarity of the community and I think it gives into fear,” he said.  

Sitting in Brassiere Capitale & I’m overhearing the staff call people to cancel reservations, “Our landlord asked us to board up the building for the next week.”

The owner says it’s the 4th time they’ve boarded up this year. “It’ll result in losses, maybe jobs.” @capradionews pic.twitter.com/Da79nZsCLo

— 🍂 Ezra David Romero 🥧 (@ezraromero) November 3, 2020

However, Bellarbi-Salah says the landlord at one of his restaurants, Brasserie Capitale, decided to put up plywood on the property, so Bellarbi-Salah anticipates being temporarily closed at that location.  

The Sacramento Metro Chamber said many business owners feel uncertainty in light of the election, and are just taking measures to protect property damage.

— Ezra David Romero

Sacramentans Cast Their Vote In Person, Even though Many Could Have Mailed It In. But Why?

Although all Californians had the option to vote from home and mail in their ballot under a governor’s order last May, many Sacramento voters showed up at the polls on Election Day to cast their votes in person. 

Dozens of residents of the South Sacramento neighborhood of Colonial Heights were lined up Tuesday morning to vote at a Stockton Boulevard library. Voters came out to polling places in Meadowview and North Sacramento as well. 

Many said they wanted to make sure their vote didn’t get lost in the mail or get discounted for another reason. 

Sandra Samaniego said she came to the polls in person because she was worried if she mailed in her ballot, there would be a problem validating her signature. 

“I’m anxious about having my ballot counted,” she said. “I want to vote, I don’t trust whoever’s looking at the signatures. I’m sure it’s somebody who’s not an expert.” 

Sandra and Avery, two voters who met while in line to vote both said they were coming in to vote in person because of worries that their vote wouldn’t be counted otherwise. Avery says he’s most concerned about his finances with this election - says he has 7 kids pic.twitter.com/ZhwugzKzlx

— Sarah Mizes-Tan (@sarah_mizes_tan) November 3, 2020

Samaniego said the pandemic and recent social unrest are part of what motivated her to vote this year.

Phenoy Carter, who voted Tuesday morning at Johnston Community Center in Strawberry Manor, also said she was worried her vote might not be counted if she mailed it in. She was motivated to vote because she wants a change of leadership that will result in more equitable treatment for people of color.  

“It’s not just African Americans, it’s every person of color … we are all treated the same: Horrible,” said Carter. “So I wanted to be sure my vote counted and got in.”

Other Sacramentans at the polls said they were motivated more by national issues rather than local races. 

Alison Sutton-Saelee voted in Colonial Heights with her two young children. She says the presidential election brought her out. 

“I’m thinking about what our reputation is in the world overall, so it’s really important to me that we have leadership starting at the top who respects our position and really sees us as a global power and a more positive force,” Sutton-Saelee said. 

Sutton-Saelee said she usually votes by mail, but this year she came to the polling place to show her children the electoral process.

— Sarah Mizes-Tan

National Issues Bring Placer County Voters To The Polls

Shaina Hamilton voted in Placer County Nov. 3, 2020. Scott Rodd / CapRadio

For some voters in Placer County, national politics played a major role in their motivations to vote on Election Day.

Shaina Hamilton lives in Roseville but was voting in person in Auburn after not receiving her mail-in ballot following a move. She said lots of issues brought her out to vote.

"Black rights, climate change," Hamilton said. "I'm just here voting for my future kids … I think a lot of things need to change.

Mike Fox is legally blind, and said he had a smooth process turning in his ballot Tuesday.

"No issues, they actually helped me out," he said. "I heard I had to sign my ballot and the envelope, but it was just the envelope."

He said national issues overshadowed local issues for him.

"I've worked since I was in the sixth grade and now I'm legally blind, I'm on Social Security disability," Fox said. "When I hear people tell me it's an entitlement? I've paid into that all my life. I do believe we're stronger together than we are divided."

— Scott Rodd

Long Lines At Some Sacramento County Voting Locations

Sacramento County is reporting long lines at nearly a dozen voting locations Tuesday afternoon.

Here are the vote centers with long lines, according to elections officials:

• Sylvan Oaks Library
• Hillsdale Baptist
• Depot Building
• Koreana
• APAPA
• Citrus Heights Fellowship
• Orangevale CC
• South Natomas Library
• Robertson CC
• University of Phoenix
• North Highlands-Antelope Library

Under the Voter's Choice Act, Sacramento County residents can turn in their mail-in ballot or vote in person at any vote center in the county. Here's a map of voting locations in Sacramento, Yolo, Placer and El Dorado counties.

— Chris Hagan

Mothers Use Election Day As A Teaching Moment For Their Daughters

Norma Greathouse gathered outside the Golden 1 Center in downtown Sacramento Tuesday with three of her daughters and a granddaughter. They went over the propositions on the ballot before voting. Ezra David Romero / CapRadio

Californians across the state lined up outside voting centers and polling places today. In the heart of Sacramento, many mothers used Election Day as a teaching moment. 

Norma Greathouse, 60, brought three of her daughters and one granddaughter to the Golden 1 Center in downtown Sacramento to vote. Three voted for the first time.  

“We're not dropping anything off, they wanted to actually vote,” she said. “I want them to have that experience.” 

With her grandma's help, 18-year-old Aria Woodyard voted for the first time. She was nervous because of all the election news and what she sees daily on social media.

“Everything is so opinionated,” Woodyard said. “It's kind of hard to get the real information. That kind of stresses me out.”

Greathouse isn’t alone in teaching her family the importance of voting. Jenny Michelle, 37, brought her daughter Ariel to vote. For the 18-year-old, casting her ballot is about empathy and equality. 

“I personally voted for the reason of illegal immigrants,” she said. “I want better for them.”

For Michelle Guina, bringing her teenage daughter with her to witness the voting process is about morality.

“I want to vote for someone that's ethical and moral,” she said. “I think it's important that I'm a role model, and that the president is and that's important is the fact that my child will ask, ‘Why is this person like this?'” 

Gunia says as a mother she can stand in as a role model when elected leaders fall short. That’s why when she submitted her ballot, her daughter was right by her side.

— Ezra David Romero

Woman Briefly Disrupts Voting Line At Citrus Heights City Hall

Several dozen people who lined up outside Citrus Heights City Hall on Election Day morning experienced two disruptions while waiting to vote.

Around 11:30 a.m., while the voting line was several dozen deep, a woman walked through the crowd holding a drop-off ballot and began asking people who they were voting for. She then started attempting to discredit scientific evidence about COVID-19 and telling people to remove their masks.

In California, observers cannot harass, attempt to coerce or ask personal questions of voters. Any campaigning must be done at least 100 feet from the polling place.

When a poll worker asked the woman to move beyond 100 feet from the voting center, she initially refused but eventually exited the crowd peacefully.

Later that morning, a young man rode through the crowd at the Citrus Heights voting center on a skateboard with a flag for President Donald Trump draped over his shoulders. The rider was off the scene before poll workers could reach him.

Poll workers at the location told CapRadio that people are allowed to wear slogans and symbols when they go to vote, but clothing and signs can’t contain names or proposition numbers.

Larry Miramontes, inspector at the Citrus Heights center, said the poll workers acted according to protocol when they asked the woman to back up beyond the 100-foot mark.

“We go through a lot of training relative to electioneering, and what that involves and what that means,” he said. “Most of our poll workers here are more than familiar with how to handle that.”

He says there weren’t any other incidents earlier that morning.

Elmo Banning, 64, said he wanted to come out on Election Day specifically to be part of a ‘big red wave’ of people voting for Trump.

“People of my persuasion vote on the day, I just don’t want to take that away,” he said.

A few observers in yellow shirts were onsite as part of a national movement to prevent voter suppression, called Election Defenders . They were not advocating or campaigning, and were mainly providing water and hand sanitizer to voters in line. Miramontes says they were legally able to position near the voting entrance.

— Sammy Caiola

How Soon Will California Election Results Be Released? Depends On Your County

There are a lot of unknowns this election year. One of them is how quickly county elections offices will be able to deliver vote tallies on election night and in the days and weeks ahead.

It’s a valid question considering that all active voters in California received a vote-by-mail ballot due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

The short answer is, it depends on your county . According to a recent news release from the Secretary of State’s office, “each of the 58 county elections offices processes ballots differently, and the distance poll workers must travel from polling places to county offices vary greatly”.

California law requires that county election officials to send their first batch of results to the Secretary of State’s office no more than two hours after they begin tallying votes after polls close on Election Day.

Sacramento County, for example, plans to publish four updates on Election Night, at 8:15 p.m., 10 p.m., 12 a.m., and 2 a.m. It then plans to send out updates a couple of days a week through Dec. 1.

The frequency of releasing polling results depends on the county, with some releasing results only once on Election Day and others, like Sacramento County, releasing it multiple times a night.

The first batch of results will include mail-in ballots counties were able to prepare for the count — likely those that came in before this past weekend — and those cast in-person on Election Day. Later releases will include mail-in ballots that were processed after Election Day and any provisional ballots.

Read more here

— Pauline Bartolone, Chris Nichols

Photos: Sacramento Voters Cast Ballots At Golden 1 Center

The largest — if not most used — vote center in Sacramento is the Golden 1 Center downtown, which has been open since Oct. 24. CapRadio Visual Journalist Andrew Nixon stopped by Tuesday morning to document the scene.

Voters cast their ballots at the Golden 1 Center in downtown Sacramento Nov. 3, 2020. Andrew Nixon / CapRadio

Voters cast their ballots at the Golden 1 Center in downtown Sacramento Nov. 3, 2020. Andrew Nixon / CapRadio

Voters cast their ballots at the Golden 1 Center in downtown Sacramento Nov. 3, 2020. Andrew Nixon / CapRadio

Slogans Allowed On Election Day Clothing, But Not Candidate Names

Election Day doesn’t have a dress code, but there are some rules about what voters can and can’t wear .

Carmichael Library Vote Center Inspector Alice Braun says slogans are allowed, as long as it doesn't include the name of a candidate or a proposition number. If someone wore something against the rules, they’d have to ask them to take it off or leave.

But, “because there might be some contention this year .... if it’s not a name or a proposition number, better to get them into vote and get them out,” Braun said. “We wouldn’t make a big production about it.”

At the Carmichael Library, Terry Smith, 61, came to vote wearing a Make America Great Again hat. He said the reaction was somewhat mixed.

Terry Smith, 61, votes at the Carmichael Library on Election Day 2020. Sammy Caiola / CapRadio

“I noticed the fact that I’m on crutches, that I wouldn’t have stood in this line for five minutes without somebody coming up and asking to help me, but seemed like with this on, I stood there the whole time,” he said. “It’s like you're almost invisible.”

Smith said he came to vote in person out of tradition, always voting on Election Day. This year, he said top of mind issues for him include the pandemic, the economy and the Supreme Court.

He wasn’t wearing a mask as he waited in line outside, but did put one on when he went in. Election officials are asking voters to wear masks, but can't turn anyone away for not wearing one .

“I put ’em on because to me it’s the correct thing to do given the times,” he said. “I want to respect everyone’s wishes whether they want to or not. I just don’t want to wear one outside when it’s such a beautiful day.”

— Sammy Caiola

Sacramento Voters Cast Ballots In-Person Due To Nervousness About The Process

Residents choosing to vote in-person on Election Day in the city of Sacramento say they’re a little nervous about the process.

Elsie Lee, 36, cast her ballot at a vote center in Colonial Heights — and she did so because she wasn’t as confident with absentee voting.

"It's important to get out here. I know for a fact. I'd done poll working for eight years so I know that my ballot will be safe putting here, casting my vote, rather than sending it back through the mail,” she said.

Voter Marina Patino, 42, said she woke up with anxiety.

“As a brown woman, [I’m concerned] that my voice is not heard. All my women relatives older than me are scared.”

She continued to discuss her worries after voting in Midtown: “I’m not sure if our voice even matters, but I'll still do it anyways. Just because it was instilled in me from my mom that I should. So I do. But I still wonder if it even counts. ... I think it's just also the electoral college, and everything that happens with voter suppression everywhere in America. Just wondering if it actually really does count. If we vote, does it really matter? Or is something going to happen. I think I feel unsure about that part.”

—Ezra David Romero, Sammy Caiola

Carmichael Residents Turn Out For Criminal Justice, Anti-Racism Reforms

Carmichael residents turned out to vote Tuesday morning at the Carmichael Library, with varied motivations bringing them to the polls.

Elsie Lee, 36, a founder of the prison advocacy group Sisters With Voices, was taking a stand for criminal justice.

Carmichael resident Elsie Lee, 36, voting Election Day at the Carmichael Library. Sammy Caiola / CapRadio

“Today I’m out here voting for my brothers and sisters who were released from prison but not truly free because they’re unable to vote, so we’re out here casting our vote in their honor today,” she said.

She said her organization has been getting the word out to urban communities in recent weeks, placing door hangers and holding a concert in Oakland to “get awareness of what it truly means to be free.”

“There’s so many people right now with COVID running rampantly through the prison systems that don’t have a voice, so we stand up as their sister — even if they don’t have no one, they have a sister in us and we are their voice,” she said.

Tristan Johnson, a 20-year-old Carmichael resident, was at the library voting for the first time.

Carmichael resident Tristan Johnson, 20, votes for the first time at the Carmichael Library. Sammy Caiola / CapRadio

“I came here to try to make a difference,” she said, citing racism as one of her primary concerns.

As to what young people have to say this election, she said she can’t speak to others’ opinions, but she does see voting President Donald Trump out of office as a big motivation.

“It seems like on social media, I feel like a lot of people are voting because they don’t want Trump in office anymore,” she said. “I feel like a lot of younger people are just taking this and going off with it just because they don’t like who’s on the chair.”

— Sammy Caiola

Voters Cast Their Ballots At The Pannell Center in Meadowview

People at the Pannell Community Center in South Sacramento's Meadowview neighborhood started lining up in the early morning hours to vote in-person. The Junior League of Sacramento set up outside the center to assist voters and give them a word of encouragement or even a snack and a drink.

The group said that they are working to help voters feel safe and that their community supports them as they go into the polls to cast their ballot.

Phyllis Kidd, volunteer poll worker at the Pannell Community Center in Meadowview. Sarah Mizes-Tan / CapRadio

Volunteers such as Phyllis Kidd, 64, said that she always helps at the polls and that there has been a steady stream of voters at the Pannell Center. While nobody has intimidated voters at this location, she said she is on the lookout.

Brittney and her daughter at the Pannell Community Center in Meadowview. Sarah Mizes-Tan / CapRadio

Brittney Bey, a 23-year-old mom, brought her daughter out to the polls to show her what the process is like and to be sure her vote is counted. This is Brittney's first time voting.

—Sarah Mizes-Tan

Daughter Joins Mom To Vote For First Time At Downtown’s Golden 1 Center

Mother and daughter Jenny and Ariel Michelle, 37 and 18, voted at the Golden 1 Center in Sacramento on Election Day morning, November 3, 2020. Ezra David Romero / Capital Public Radio

Who: Jenny Michelle, 37, and Ariel Michelle, 18

Details: CapRadio reporters are at vote centers and polling places across the Sacramento region this morning. Our goal is to bear witness as we take part in this historic election. Reporter Ezra David Romero was at the Golden One Center in downtown Sacramento earlier this morning right as the polls opened at 7 a.m. He spoke to a mother and daughter — one of them participating in the democratic process for the first time.

Ezra: This must be your first time voting, how is the process for you? 

Ariel: It was pretty easy. It was very simple. For a first time, like I thought it was simple. 

Were you nervous at all about the voting process? 

Ariel: Not really. I knew I was going to vote for.

Why come in today to vote instead of dropping it off somewhere or mail it in? 

Jenny: For me, Election Day's always been traditional. I've always liked going in. I love Election Day. I love election night. For me, it's just a little bit more intimate to vote in person than voting by mail. So it's just something I do. 

What are you expecting today as these moments go on? How are you feeling about this process?

Jenny: I mean, at the end of the day, we're a democracy. Right? So whoever wins wins. And we have to just move on and support whoever the president is. The majority of the people are the majority [but] the Electoral College is going to decide who that is. And we just have to move forward as a country and, you know, get to know one another and outside of politics without actually having to name who you're voting for. 

Are there any issues or reasons that brought you to the polls this time? Besides, it's Election Day and you have to vote. 

Ariel: I just know that a lot of people are going because this election is important. I personally voted for the reason of illegal immigrants. I want better for them and I really hope that they get that better. 

Any last thoughts? 

Jenny: I just hope that all Americans can come together at the end of the day. I'm tired of seeing the bickering, the fighting, the insults. You know, we were just talking about people that vote differently than us. There's still great people. The politics bring out the ugly in them. But as long as we can have, like, cordial conversations and dialogue, I hope that that continues to happen more and more often. 

—Ezra David Romero

The Polls Are Open. Here's How To Vote In-Person

In California, the polls are open today from 7 a.m. to 8 p.m. Whether you plan to drop off your mail-in ballot, vote in person, or still need to register, here's how to make sure your vote is counted.

How Do I Register On Election Day?

Californians can register conditionally until  8 p.m. on Election Day. You can do this at your polling place or any vote center, if your county has them. You’ll receive a conditional voter registration because the traditional registration deadline has passed, but you can still cast a provisional ballot which will be counted once your eligibility is verified.

How Do I Vote In Person?

Here are some tips about what to expect at the polls this year:

• Election officials suggest you bring your mail-in ballot, but it is not required.
• If you've voted by mail, you can't change your vote.
• You can call the Secretary of State’s voter hotline 1-800-345-VOTE to get answers about where and how to vote and to document complaints about voter intimidation or harassment.

Additionally, counties are taking precautions against COVID-19. Here's what to do to protect yourself:

• Wear a mask.
• Stay at least six feet from others when plexiglass is not present.
• Bring your own hand sanitizer.
• Consider bringing a face shield or goggles.
• Go to the polls by yourself, don’t bring children or other household members.

Can I Still Turn In My Mail-In Ballot?

Yes. You can turn in your mail-in ballot at your polling location or ballot drop box until 8 p.m. You can look up official ballot drop box locations here , or find a map of authorized locations in Sacramento, Yolo, Place and El Dorado counties here .

Here are some tips to make sure your mail-in ballot is counted.

— Chris Nichols