With already more than 11.2 million votes recorded in California, the 2020 election is coming to a close with Nov 3, being the last day to cast a vote.
Not only is the upcoming United States Presidential Election between Donald Trump and Joe Biden less than a day away, but so are local and state elections. Citizens will have the opportunity to either vote by dropping off a ballot or in person on the President, representatives, propositions and local officials.
According to the Ventura County Clerk Recorder, as of Nov. 2, voter turnout was 60%, just one day before the election. During the 2016 presidential election, Ventura County had a voter turnout of 82% in total.
For Moorpark College students, a Voter Information Survey conducted by the Moorpark Reporter via email revealed that 628 of 718 students indicated they would be voting in the upcoming presidential election.
There are currently 502,263 registered voters in Ventura County which has a population of 846,006 according to the 2019 census.
Whether you’re unsure of the process, procrastinating until the day of, or just want a refresher, here’s what you need to know about last minute registration and voting:
Voter registration requirements:
Voters must be:
- 18 years or older on Nov. 3, 2020
- Resident of California and US citizen
- Not currently in state or federal prison or on parole for the conviction of a felony
- Not currently found mentally incompetent to vote by a court
How to Register:
Don’t worry, it’s not too late. California has a safety net for residents that missed the Oct. 19 deadline. Same Day Voter Registration is available for Californians that “need to register or re-register to vote within 14 days of an election,” according to the California Secretary of State website. Eligible citizens can complete this process at a polling place, voting center or county elections office.
Where to vote:
Voters have several options for voted ballots:
- Ballots may be mailed and must be postmarked on or before Election Day
- Ballots may be dropped off in person at a local drop box
- Ballots may be returned to a polling center no later than 8:00 p.m. on Election Day
The County of Ventura has 34 secure ballot drop boxes available for voters, with 16 drop box locations available 24/7. Outdoor drop boxes are available at city halls in Camarillo, Moorpark, Ojai, Port Hueneme, Santa Paula, Thousand Oaks and Ventura.
There are currently 48 in-person voting locations open. Including community centers in Camarillo, Moorpark, Oak View, Port Hueneme and Thousand Oaks.
In person voting times for Nov. 2 are from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. On Election Day, Nov. 3, polls will be open from 7:00 a.m. to 8:00 p.m.
The Ventura County Clerk Recorder’s website offers lists of locations for indoor and outdoor drop boxes as well as in person polling locations.
Late vote-by-mail:
For residents who have lost their ballot, need a replacement, or didn’t receive a ballot, late vote-by-mail applications are available. Detailed information is available from the California Secretary of State’s website on the bottom of the webpage.
Propositions:
Both the California Democratic and Republican parties sent out their 2020 endorsements on the 12 propositions on the ballot.
The California Democratic Party, CADEM, endorses nine of the 12 propositions while remaining neutral on one, Prop. 24. The California Republican Party, CAGOP, only endorses two of the propositions.
Unsurprisingly, the two propositions the Republican party endorses are the two the Democratic party recommends against.
Some of the more controversial propositions include Prop. 15 and Prop. 22.
Proposition 15 is all about property tax reform. If passed, Prop. 15 would amend the Constitution of California to allow commercial properties worth more than $3 million to be reassessed and taxed at market values instead of the original purchase price.
Critics of Prop. 15 believe that the higher taxes on the commercial properties could drive companies out of California which could possibly cost many Californians their job. However, supporters of Prop. 15 say that the increased property taxes could provide $6.5 billion to $11.5 billion in funding to schools and local government.
Overall, 40% of the money would go to schools and community colleges while the other 60% would go to cities and counties.
Meanwhile, Proposition 22 is all about app-based employment. If passed, Prop. 22 would establish app-based drivers as independent contractors instead of employees. Companies would have to provide certain benefits to employees that they don’t have to provide to independent contractors. These benefits include paid sick leave, workers’ compensation and access to unemployment insurance.
Critics of Prop. 22 believe that companies like Lyft, Uber, Doordash and more are trying to avoid giving their driver’s benefits and an hourly wage. Supporters of Prop. 22 argue that making these drivers employees would cost the companies more and may not be able to offer as many jobs as they would with contractors. This could mean stricter hours and less flexibility for the drivers.
Results
The election is set to end late Tuesday night. However, unlike past elections, Americans may not know a definitive winner until days after the election due to mail-in voting.
