THERE’S A VAST DIFFERENCE between what Olivia Hale, San Joaquin County’s registrar of voters, hopes will happen in Tuesday’s general election and what she actually expects will happen when it comes to voter turnout.
“My election wish is 100%,” she said. “But that doesn’t usually happen.”
Realistically, Hale said Monday she is “shooting for” between 46% and 60% of the county’s 415,611 registered voters to cast their ballots for the long list of candidates and propositions.
The 46% is no wild guess: It would be in line with the 2022 general election, also a non-presidential year, in which the county’s turnout was 46.5%.
And the reason for the 60% prediction?
“We’ve done quite a bit of outreach around this election, plus just what seems to be excitement across the electorate,” Hale said. “I’m being optimistic and hoping for that 60%.”
A ballot chock-full of issues
Not only will Californians be choosing a new governor, but the ballot also includes some of the nation’s most closely watched races. Tops among them: whether the Golden State will enact a one-time 5% tax on billionaires.
Locally, voters will be deciding three city council races in Stockton and four school board seats.
If you are registered, you can vote in any part of the November ballot.
One reason for Hale’s sunny outlook on voter turnout is the 81,000 ballots the office had already received by mail as of Friday.
“That’s pretty encouraging,” she said. “It seems folks really took heed to vote early.”
Of course, there are plenty of votes yet to come.
The county’s polling places will be open from 7 a.m. to 8 p.m. Tuesday.
This story originally appeared in Stocktonia.