It’s Election Day. In Merced County, here’s what voters need to know
It’s Election Day in California, and all voting centers in Merced County will be open from 7 a.m. to 8 p.m.
On the ballot in this primary election are legislative and congressional seats, county offices and supervisor races, and who should be the next governor of the Golden State.
It’s essentially too late for Merced County residents to vote by mail, because ballots mailed here aren’t postmarked until they reach Sacramento. At this point, vote-by-mail ballots should be dropped off at the polls or a designated drop box.
There are 12 voting centers throughout Merced County, including four in Merced.
For residents who are eligible to vote but haven’t registered, it’s not too late. The California secretary of state’s website says, “Same Day Voter Registration, known as Conditional Voter Registration in state law, is a safety net for Californians who miss the deadline to register to vote or update their voter registration information for an election.”
Races on the primary election ballot
At the state level, voters will choose who should be California’s next governor, lieutenant governor, secretary of state, attorney general, treasurer, controller, superintendent of public instruction and insurance commissioner.
In Merced County, the congressional race before voters is:
- 13th House District — Incumbent Rep. Adam Gray faces two Republican challengers in a closely watched Central Valley swing district. Despite a Democratic tilt after redistricting, the race remains competitive and nationally targeted.
Two seats in the California Legislature are on the ballot:
- 14th Senate District — Three candidates are competing for an open seat covering parts of Fresno, Madera and Merced counties, with a Democratic assemblymember holding a dominant fundraising advantage.
- 27th Assembly District — Three candidates are running for an open seat spanning west Fresno, Madera and much of Merced County, where water, agriculture and economic growth are central issues, with two well-funded frontrunners.
There are three contested local races to keep an eye on:
- County Supervisor, 3rd District — Daron McDaniel faces challenger Luis Lara in the 3rd District, which covers Atwater, Castle Airport and communities west of Merced city limits.
- County Supervisor, 5th District — Incumbent Scott Silveira faces Miguel Angel Alejandre in the 5th District, covering south county communities including Los Banos and Dos Palos.
- County Superintendent — Four candidates are competing to replace longtime chief Steve Tietjen: Alberto Velarde is a retired principal and school administrator; Ana Boyenga is an assistant superintendent at Atwater Elementary School District; Paula Heupel is superintendent of El Nido Elementary School District; and Richard Lopez is superintendent of Merced River School District in Winton.
For more information, visit www.countyofmerced.com.
