Election issues: Your vote really counts

If you haven't voted already, today is the day, with polls closing at 8 p.m.

California has gone out of its way to boost voter turnout, with everything from automatic registration at the DMV to ensuring that ballots are not restricted by political party, and most recently the convenience of mailing every registered voter in the state a ballot to fill out at home and drop in a mailbox or at a polling place.

But heading into Election Day today, none of that has seemingly motivated seemed Californians to vote.

Only about 11% of ballots had been returned as of late last week, and election officials aren't expecting a late surge of voting in what's become more of an Election month than day.

So even if voters end up returning another 15% of the ballots mailed out last month, Tuesday's primary could end up claiming the distinction of having California's lowest primary turnout in 106 years.

The reasons for a low turnout are many: no presidential race, a dearth of competitive or high profile races for state office, and no statewide ballot measures in this election.

As of late last week, only about 22,000 ballots had been returned so far in Santa Cruz County (with about 168,000 registered voters), a slightly higher percentage than the state figure. We expect the final turnout, though, will be higher, as several races or ballot measures have generated a lot of interest. Santa Cruz also is among California's “Voter's Choice Act” counties that on May 28 opened up additional vote centers where voters can vote in person, drop off their ballot, get a replacement ballot, use an accessible voting machine, and register to vote.

But, primary elections are usually not the final word on which candidate will take office, because California's election system means that in races where the candidates have political affiliations, the top two vote getters will face off in the November general election, regardless of party.

So in the state legislative districts and for Congress, we'll vote again in the fall. But in races without political party affiliations, a candidate can win outright by gaining 50% of the vote plus one. Local ballot measures are passed or rejected by a majority vote.

All this to say your vote counts.

Here in short form, are our recommendations on races and measures that affect Santa Cruz County;

19th Congressional District: Jimmy Panetta (D).

Assembly District 28: Gail Pellerin (D).

Assembly District 29: Robert Rivas (D).

Assembly District 30: Jon Wizard (D).

Measure E (District elections with mayor elected for four years, city of Santa Cruz only): Yes.

Measure F (Sales tax hike, city of Santa Cruz only): No.

Santa Cruz County supervisor, Third District: Shebreh Kalantari-Johnson.

Santa Cruz County supervisor, Fourth District: Jimmy Dutra.

Measure D (Priority for trail over rail, countywide): Yes.

Measure B (TOT increase, unincorporated areas of county): Yes.

Measure C: (Single-use cup fees, unincorporated areas of county): Yes.

And a note on your election letters.

Although our daily published Letters to the Editor have for the most part been dominated by election-related correspondence, hundreds of these submissions have not made it into print. There were simply far too many, and many just repeated well-traversed ground. We also attempted to allow new voices – writers who do not submit frequently – to make their opinions known.

Many of these relate to Measure D, the “Greenway” measure that seeks to ensure that county planning for the coastal rail corridor is directed toward ensuring a long-sought recreational trail is constructed and that planning for passenger rail takes a secondary position.

No issue in recent memory has so divided this community, and the letters and guest commentaries have reflected this division. Both sides have spent freely and the back and forth has occasionally, and unfortunately, gotten personal and rancorous.

However this debate is decided, the voters who exercise their privilege will have spoken, and our hope is both sides will find some common corridor ground with a clear direction forward.