2:16 p.m. Low voter turnout in Santa Clara County still higher than state
It’s a slow day at the polls in Santa Clara County, but returns tend to be higher locally than statewide numbers.
Santa Clara County currently has a return rate of 19%, while the statewide return rate is 17%. Approximately 190,958 ballots were cast locally.
The county’s Registrar of Electors predicts a turnout of 35% to 45% for Tuesday’s primary election. There are over one million registered voters in the county.
Demographic data from PDI Inc. shows Latinos have the lowest percentage of voter returns in Santa Clara County — 13% — compared to 24% for black voters, 22% for white voters, and 18% for Asian voters.
To help boost the Latin American vote, Services, Immigrant Rights and Education Network, also known as SIREN, is hosting a “get out of the vote” campaign today in east San Jose.
1 p.m. Some concerns about election security
One of the most popular voting sites this year, according to county officials, was to be Central Park in Santa Clara. But by mid-afternoon, queues remained short – with less than 10 people waiting to vote.
Despite a series of voter security measures taken by the Santa Clara County Registrar of Electors, some voters said Tuesday they were concerned that ballots could be tampered with. In Silicon Valley, 80% of voters vote by mail and all registered voters receive a mail-in ballot.
Santa Clara resident Ted Cordoncillo, 58, said he trusts in-person voting and write-in ballots more than machines.
“I prefer to vote on paper than on a machine. The elections are rigged,” he said.
This year, the County Elections Office has taken several steps to ensure a safe and accurate election cycle. Officials revamped the ballot inventory process, created a new internal inventory tracking program, hired paid security at polling centers and changed some of the rules for observers.
“There has been and still is a lot of misinformation and misinformation across the country, but I will speak for Santa Clara County,” Shannon Bushey, registrar of voters, previously told San Jose Spotlight. “All parts of our process are very transparent and we are here for observers and the public to come and learn what we are doing.”
Cordoncillo, a credit collections analyst, said he cares about fixing roads and providing utilities. A hot topic in his city is Levi’s Stadium – home of the San Francisco 49ers – and he would like to see elected leaders put a dome over it to reduce noise.
11:20 a.m. Library vote center open despite shooting
After some speculation, election officials confirmed on Tuesday that a polling center at the Hillview Library branch was open despite a recent shooting.
The library, located at 1600 Hopkins Dr. in San Jose, was the site of a gang-related shooting Monday. According reports, two men entered the building and chased a victim. They shot the victim before fleeing. The victim should survive. Children were inside the building at the time.
Michael Borja, spokesman for the Registrar of Electors, said library services are closed but a voting center inside its community hall remains open.
9:15 a.m. Short lines to the Registrar of Electors
Election officials told the San Jose Spotlight that turnout was around 17% countywide this morning. About 175,000 ballots were cast.
No problems were reported at polling centers, officials said.
Be Nguyen, 56, is one of those voters who got up early to vote in person.
She wanted her vote to be counted correctly. She said she voted for candidates who will work hard for their communities – not typical politicians.
“They should work for the people, not for themselves,” Nguyen said.
San Jose voter Patricia Giron, 55, has voted every year. She went to work late today to vote.
“It’s important that people have a voice and it’s the best way to express our support for particular initiatives and candidates,” she said, adding that she cares most about social justice. , social services, homelessness, gun control, COVID , schooling and safety. She would like to see health insurance reformed. “There are so many issues right now that need to be dealt with at a higher level.”
She said San Jose’s mayoral race is interesting with newer and more experienced candidates all vying for the city’s top political office.
“It’s good sometimes to have change,” she says. “To have new blood and new ideas and have that opportunity.”
Aardavan Farbajhsh, 77, a retired municipal inspector who lives in San Jose, has voted since arriving in the country from Iran in 1968. He said the elections were absolutely safe. He worries about global warming.
He has voted for Cindy Chavez for mayor of San Jose since she became a Democrat, but has voted for both parties in the past.
“If you don’t vote, you don’t have a voice,” he said. “End of the story.”
8:00 a.m. Voters go to the polls
Election day is underway in Silicon Valley.
Voters headed to the polls on Tuesday to vote in 11 local races, 20 statewide contests and 7 local measures. In San Jose, voters will choose a new mayor for the first time in 8 years to replace Mayor Sam Liccardo which ends in December.
San Jose voters will also choose their representatives in five council districts – Districts 1, 3, 5, 7 and 9. Three of those races, Districts 1, 3 and 5, are open seats and voters will elect a new one. member of the board. In District 7, Councilwoman Maya Esparza is fighting for re-election against two formidable opponents, and District 9 Councilwoman Pam Foley is running for re-election without a challenger.
Learn more about each San Jose City Council contest here: Mayor, District 1, District 3, District 5, District 7, District 9.
Voters in San Jose will also consider a move to move municipal elections to presidential years in a bid to boost voter turnout. And in Santa Clara County, all three county seats are up for grabs — sheriff, district attorney, and county assessor. Candidates are also vying for District 1’s open seat on the Santa Clara County Board of Supervisors, while District 4 Supervisor Susan Ellenberg is running unopposed.
Officials expect a 35-45 percent turnout in today’s primary elections. There are over one million registered voters in Santa Clara County.
This year, the County Elections Office opened 101 voting centers throughout Santa Clara County. To find an electoral center near you, Click here. You can find the ballot drop-off locations by click here.
Voting centers are open from 7 a.m. to 8 p.m. After the closing of the voting centers, the results of the elections will be posted here.
Check back throughout the day for more updates.
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