Merced County’s election is Tuesday. Here’s what is on the ballot, plus last-minute tips
After months of debates and campaign promises, voters will go to the polls for the primary election Tuesday, March 3, and select among many candidates competing at the federal, state and local level.
Merced County provides voters multiple ways to cast their ballots on or before Election Day. A complete list of voter information and resources is on the county’s website.
Vote by mail ballots have already been received in the thousands, yet counts remain lower than typical, according to the Merced County Registrar of Voters.
As of about 3 p.m. Friday, roughly 17,000 vote-by-mail ballots had been tabulated, Registrar Barbara Levey said. She said this number seemed low compared to the counts they had been expecting.
Merced County had 104,706 registered voters as of Feb. 15, according to the California Secretary of State, which means roughly 64.4 percent of eligible voters in the county are registered.
Of that number, 45,090 are registered Democrats, 29,361 are Republicans, 3,658 are registered American Independent, and 310 are registered Green Party. The Secretary of State data did not specifically state the number of voters registered “decline to state” or “other.”
In the last presidential primary election four years ago, Merced County voter turnout hit a typical count for this type of election at about 61%, according to Levey. General elections usually draw higher numbers at about 80%.
Levey said she hopes this year’s voters turn up in higher numbers on Election Day.
Also as of Friday, Merced County was struggling to gather poll workers. Several dropped out, Levey said, mandating last minute additions and training. However, Levey said the polls would be staffed and ready to go by election day.
Here’s what to know so you’re ready to vote on Tuesday:
Voting information
Four voting assistance centers are open for early voting Saturday through Monday from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. and on Tuesday during normal voting hours from 7 a.m. to 8 p.m. Individuals can also register to vote or replace damaged ballots at the centers. Those locations include:
Merced County Office of Education, inside the Newbold Room, 632 W. 13th St. in Merced.
Merced Community College - Los Banos Campus, 22240 State Highway 152 in Los Banos.
Castle Communication Center - Board Room, 1900 Airdrome Gate Entry in Atwater
UC Merced, Crescent Arch Room, 5200 N. Lake Road, Merced
Levey said the centers have helped voters avoid long election day lines in the past.
“It helps take a little bit of the crush off election day,” Levey said. “We’re excited, we hope people will utilize these services again,” she added.
A list of local polling places is posted on the county’s website.
Bus rides will be free on Election Day to voters who present their voting materials to the driver.
Voters can track their ballot and receive updates by email, text or phone call when their vote is counted.
The first round of election results will be posted by hard copy, by phone and on the county website immediately after polls close at 8 p.m. These initial results will come from processed vote-by-mail ballots. Updates will be posted every 30 minutes, Levey said.
Voters can set preferences so that their races of choice show at the top of the page, avoiding a lengthy scroll through candidates, measures and propositions.
The election’s official canvass process will begin March 5 and continue daily excluding weekends and holidays until all votes are counted.
On the ballot
In addition to U.S. president, Merced County residents may cast votes for U.S. Representative District 16, California State Assembly Member District 21, Judge of the Superior Court for offices 5, 7 and 11 and Merced County Supervisor for districts 1, 2 and 4.
Incumbent Democratic Congressman Jim Costa faces three competitors for District 16.
Fresno City Council’s Esmeralda Soria and Mariposa County Human Resources Director Kimberly Williams pose a challenge from within Costa’s Democratic Party. Businessman and Education Consultant Kevin Cookingham, also of Fresno, opposes Costa from the Republican side.
Assemblyman Adam Gray is uncontested in District 21.
Eight hopefuls are running for three Merced County Board of Supervisors seats.
Sonia Alshami, a drug and alcohol counselor who is also involved with Court Appointed Special Advocates and the Boys and Girls Club of America, is competing against incumbent Rodrigo Espinoza for District 1.
District 2 has the most candidates. Challenging incumbent Lee Lor are former Merced City Council member and high school social studies teacher Josh Pedrozo, Yosemite Church pastor and dean of students at Stoneridge Christian School Rev. Angel Barragan and Ricky Aguilera, general manager of Merced Indoor Sports Center.
Incumbent Lloyd Pareira is competing for District 4 supervisor with Merced College Board Trustee Mario Mendoza.
Also on the ballot is California Proposition 13 and several local measures.
This story was originally published February 29, 2020 at 5:00 AM.
