Election 2020

Elections

California dramatically cut provisional ballots. Here’s how

California officials credit new vote centers for a substantial drop in time-consuming provisional ballots this election cycle.

By Lewis Griswold • November 6, 2020

Elections

With some 4 million ballots to go, what are the odds that big California races swing?

Buried in the mountain of yet-to-be-deciphered popular will of Californians lie the fates of too-close-to-call statewide propositions and dozens of congressional and legislative races. Patience for the final electoral tally may not come naturally to election watchers in Georgia and Pennsylvania — nor, for that matter, the president of the United States. But Californians should […]

By Ben Christopher • November 6, 2020

WhatMatters

How California’s ballot became a battleground

Good morning, California. It’s Friday, November 6. Industry vs. Legislature The fate of four ballot measures — including what would be the largest change to California’s property tax structure in more than 40 years — hangs in the balance of 4.5 million uncounted votes, according to an estimate released Thursday evening by Secretary of State […]

By Emily Hoeven • November 6, 2020

Elections

California’s counters still have millions of ballots to go

California still must count 4.5 million ballots, a bigger job than what it faced two days after the election in 2016.

By Lewis Griswold • November 5, 2020

California Divide

What the failure of Prop. 25 means for racial justice in California

California voters rejected the Legislature’s decision to end cash bail. While it doesn’t mean the end of criminal justice reform, it does signal more work ahead.

By Nigel Duara • November 5, 2020

Elections

As Election Day neared, conflict in Bakersfield between Trump and BLM groups intensified

Months before Election Day, tensions had been building in Bakersfield between Black Lives Matter supporters and a group of Trump backers calling themselves the 1776 Patriots. They’ve clashed in parking lots, on sidewalks and in the road, leading to three arrests–one of a BLM protester brandishing a firearm, another of a 1776 Patriot openly carrying […]

By Freddy Brewster, Dereka Bennett and Injeong Kim • November 5, 2020

Elections

In the Bay Area, hope and anxiety

As President Trump and his supporters moved to stop the counting of mail-in votes in key battleground states yesterday, local activist groups greenlighted rallies in several Bay Area cities. Their message was simple: count every vote. Anxious, scared, but cautiously optimistic, hundreds of protesters peacefully gathered in parks and plazas in the aftermath of an […]

By Brian Howey and Steven Rascón • November 5, 2020

CalMatters en Español

Lo que significa el fracaso de la Propuesta 25 para la justicia racial en California

Los votantes de California rechazaron la decisión de la Legislatura de poner fin a la fianza en efectivo. Si bien no significa el fin de la reforma de la justicia penal, sí indica más trabajo por delante.

By Nigel Duara • November 5, 2020

California Divide

Latino Republicans: ‘Trump is a leader, not a politician’

Even if the Republican loses, Latino supporters highlight the need for Democrats in control in California to be inclusive of an important voting block with differing views on small businesses, health care and immigration.

By Jacqueline Garcia • November 5, 2020

WhatMatters

How California voters changed the future of work

Good morning, California. It’s Thursday, November 5. Big loss for labor unions Uber and Lyft’s $206 million campaign to defy all three branches of California government has paid off — to the tune of $10 billion. That’s how much the gig companies’ valuations shot up after California voters approved Proposition 22 Tuesday night, exempting the […]

By Emily Hoeven • November 5, 2020