For the second time in the state’s history, California is holding a special gubernatorial recall election to decide the fate of Gov. Gavin Newsom, and all registered Santa Barbara County voters can expect to start receiving mail-in ballots soon.
The recall effort was fueled in large part by anger over Newsom’s closures of businesses, schools and houses of worship during the COVID-19 pandemic. Widespread homelessness, drought and wildfires concerns, rising crime rates, and a multibillion-dollar fraud scandal at the state unemployment agency also contributed to the 2.1 million petition signatures submitted in support of dethroning Newsom.
Election day falls on Sept. 14, and ballots were mailed to voters starting Monday.
In the special recall election, the ballot will ask voters two questions. The first question will ask whether they support the removal of Newsom from office, with the second giving them a list of candidates to replace him.
If more than 50% of voters oppose the recall, the second question is moot. However, if the majority supports it, the replacement candidate with the most votes would be elected as the state’s 41st governor.
That means that, if the recall is successful, a candidate can be elected governor without a plurality of votes, explained Santa Barbara County Elections Official Joe Holland.
Voters can vote against the recall and still choose a replacement candidate, as it won’t disqualify their first answer, Holland said. There are 46 replacement candidates on this year’s ballot.
Among Republicans running are businessman John Cox, who lost the 2018 gubernatorial election to Newsom by a double-digit margin; radio talk-show host Larry Elder; former San Diego Mayor Kevin Faulconer; and former Olympian Caitlyn Jenner.
The most well-known Democrat is Kevin Paffrath, a personal finance influencer on social media.
The City of Lompoc will be consolidating a special cannabis tax municipal election with the recall election, and Lompoc voters can expect to see that additional measure on their ballots.
To vote in the unprecedented election, voters must be registered at their correct address before Aug. 30, and all registered voters will automatically receive a ballot in the mail this week. If a registered voter does not receive a ballot by Sunday, contact the Santa Barbara County Registrar of Voters by calling 805.568.2200.
People can check the accuracy of their current voter registration, including residential and mailing addresses, at sos.ca.gov/elections.registration-status. Voters can update their registration or register to vote by clicking here. The conditional voter registration period runs from Aug. 31 until Sept. 14, and Sept. 7 is the last day to request a replacement vote by mail ballot.
To avoid concerns about postal delivery delays, voters are encouraged to complete their ballot and return it to one of the 29 secure drop boxes located across the county. The drop boxes are available 24 hours a day until 8 p.m. on election night. Click here for a list of drop box locations located throughout the county.
Voters also can mail in their ballot with no postage required, as long as it is postmarked by election day and received by county election officials on or before Sept. 21.
In order for a ballot to count, voters must make sure to sign the ballot envelope. The signature on every returned envelope will be compared to the signature on the voter’s registration record before it is counted, and the Department of Motor Vehicles signature may be used for people who registered to vote online, according to the County Elections Office.
If you are authorizing someone to return your ballot for you, you must sign the envelope where required, and the authorized person must sign the authorization flap of the return envelope or the ballot will not be accepted.
If voting by mail or using a secure dropbox, voters can track the status of their ballot to make sure it is received and accepted by clicking here, or by calling the County Elections Office at 805.568.2200.
Voters who require language assistance, or just want to vote in person, can vote at their designated polling place on election day.
In the November 2020 election, polling places were open for four days to accommodate COVID-19 safety precautions. This year, however, polling places will be open on election day only from 7 a.m. until 8 p.m. Voters have been assigned to polling place locations, which are listed on the voter’s sample voting guide. Click here for the county’s sample voting guide and to find your correct polling location.
The three county elections offices are also open for voting, voter registration and voter questions through election day:
» Santa Barbara: 4440-A Calle Real; open 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday through Friday, except holidays
» Lompoc: 401 E. Cypress St., Room 102; open 8:30 a.m. to noon, 1 p.m. to 4:30 p.m. Monday through Friday, except holidays
» Santa Maria: 511 E. Lakeside Pkwy., Suite 134; open 8 a.m. to noon, 1 p.m. to 5 p.m. Monday through Friday, except holidays
— Noozhawk staff writer Jade Martinez-Pogue can be reached at jmartinez-pogue@noozhawk.com. Follow Noozhawk on Twitter: @noozhawk, @NoozhawkNews and @NoozhawkBiz. Connect with Noozhawk on Facebook.
