A voter drops off a mail-in ballot at City Hall in San Francisco, California, U.S., on Tuesday, March 3, 2020. (David Paul Morris/Bloomberg via Getty Images)
Tuesday is Election Day in California. Registered voters statewide will be able cast their votes in this year’s presidential primaries and weigh in on local and statewide races.
Whether you are trying to locate your nearest polling location or are unfamiliar with this year’s ballot initiatives and races, here are some critical local and statewide races voters should know about before March 5.
When do voting polls open and close?
About 52 voting centers in California will be open from 7 a.m. to 8 p.m. on Super Tuesday.
Finding the nearest polling location
Registered voters can locate polling locations in their county using this website. Locations can also be found on the back of your county voter information guide.
What will be on the ballot?
Voters statewide will see:
Presidential nominations: Votes cast in the primary election will help determine the Republican and Democratic presidential nominees. Donald Trump is favored by Republicans in the Golden State, while President Joe Biden is the front-runner among Democrats.
California’s Senate race: Four hopefuls, Rep. Adam Schiff (D-Calif.), Republican candidate Steve Garvey, Rep. Katie Porter (D-Calif.) and Rep. Barbara Lee (D-Calif.), are all vying for the late Sen. Dianne Feinstein’s vacant seat.
There are two primary elections on the ballot to replace Feinstein: one is to fill the remaining months of her current term and the other is for a full six-year term starting in January 2025.
California has a “top-two” primary system in which all candidates appear on the same ballot regardless of party, and the top two finishers advance to the general election, according to the Associated Press.
Proposition 1: Gov. Gavin Newsom is urging voters to approve Prop 1, a ballot initiative he says is needed to tackle the state’s homelessness and mental health crisis. However, opponents say the measure will cost taxpayers more than $10 billion, according to the California Voter Guide.
In addition to statewide races and measures, voters in Los Angeles County will see:
Los Angeles District Attorney race: Multiple candidates hope to replace embattled L.A. District Attorney George Gascon.
Measure HLA: Healthy Streets LA, also known as Measure HLA, would implement Mobility Plan 2035, which calls for additional safety features such as widening sidewalks, protected bike and bus lanes, road elements to prevent speeding, and more to improve traffic safety.
However, critics of the measure, like local firefighters, say the proposal would make it less safe for emergency vehicles to navigate already congested L.A. streets.
Los Angeles County Board of Supervisors, District 4: Former Los Angeles County Sheriff Alex Villanueva is vying for incumbent Janice Hahn’s seat on the board.
Los Angeles City Council, District 14: Incumbent Kevin de Leon has been a controversial figure after audio recordings of him making racially charged comments during a private meeting about city council redistricting.
De Leon apologized for his actions, disappeared for some time, and returned to the council after two months.
Since his return, he has been working with colleagues who once called for his removal after the scandal, the Los Angeles Times reported.
Multiple challengers, including Assemblymember Wendy Carrillo, Assemblymember Miguel Santiago, and retired lawyer Teresa Hillery, are vying for his seat.
Voters can also expect to see races for open House races.
How to monitor election results?
Follow KTLA’s election page for live Election Day coverage and results.
