Chronicle reporters and producers will be posting live election updates throughout the day on local developments, news from around the state and the country and analysis on the many big issues at stake in this election. Latest updates:
Watch Alameda County workers process ballots live online The public can watch Alameda County election officials process ballots at the county clerk’s office live, officials said. The live stream will be available at acvote.org/obs until all election results are certified. “There is a lot of concern and mistrust that has been caused through misinformation about the election process in recent years here in Alameda County and across the country,” Alameda County Supervisor Keith Carson said in a news release Monday. Getting your vote counted is at the heart of a democratic process and we are committed to making sure every voice counts, regardless of which political party or who you support,” he added. Viewers will be able to see workers open ballots, verify signatures and more. Live streaming was first implemented in 2020 to provide transparency and confidence in the election process, officials said. If people wish to observe in person, they should wear face coverings over their mouths and noses and get tested for COVID-19. Observers may take notes and ask questions, but may not interfere with the proceedings.
Three of Oakland’s ballots focus on housing Voters in Oakland will decide on 10 ballot measures Tuesday – with three focused on housing alone. The measures come as the city faces a growing homelessness crisis, and housing and homelessness are front and center for residents. A recent poll by the Oakland Chamber of Commerce found that 97% of respondents said homelessness is either an extremely or very serious problem. Their concerns come as homelessness has risen by 24% in the past three years, from 4,071 in 2019 to 5,055 in 2022. Measure U, which requires a two-thirds majority to pass, would provide $850 million to preserve affordable housing and fund infrastructure projects. Measure Q, which requires a majority to pass, would allow the city to develop 13,000 affordable rental units. Measure V, which requires a majority vote to pass, would expand eviction protections for renters in mobile homes and tiny homes on wheels on private property.
Krispy Kreme is offering free glazed donuts on Election Day Need a snack after voting? Head to your nearest Krispy Kreme store to grab a free glazed donut. The donut chain is offering one free donut per person to all diners Tuesday in an effort to encourage voter turnout. “A healthy, vibrant democracy depends on engaged citizens who vote. We’re pleased to celebrate our voters and our democracy by giving everyone a free donut with authentic glaze on Election Day,” said Dave Skena, global chief brand officer of Krispy Kreme, in a statement. “So vote and pass; you deserve our sweet thanks,” he added. You don’t have to show an “I voted” sticker or make a purchase at Krispy Kreme to get the donut, spokeswoman Lizzie Duffey said. Find a participating Bay Area Krispy Kreme location here.
And the most money raised in the San Francisco school board race goes to… San Francisco school board candidate Ann Hsu raised the most money since Election Day, bringing in nearly $94,000. The other candidates raised significantly less, with fellow mayor-elects Lainie Motamedi and Lisa Weissman-Ward showing just under $55,000. Hsu, Motamedi and Weissman-Ward were appointed by Mayor London Breed to replace three ousted school board members. The three contenders in the three-seat race were far behind, with Alida Fisher raising $30,000, ousted school board member Gabriela Lopez bringing in $16,000 and Karen Fleshman bringing in $14,000. Hsu retained significant support from the city’s Chinese-American community after making a racist comment that reinforced the stereotype that black and brown parents do not value their children’s education as much as white and Asian-American parents, a false narrative used to explain the lowest academic performance.
The state’s electric car ballot measure remains a bounce-back The poll shows that voters’ feelings on most of the state’s seven measures are so clear that the measures will pass easily or implode in epic fashion. Proposition 30, which would raise taxes on the wealthy to pay for electric car subsidies and charging stations, is the clear exception. Recent polls have shown the measure’s fate remains inexorable, with rival polls showing it slightly ahead or behind. The deciding factor could be how much voters pay attention to Gov. Gavin Newsom’s ads opposing the measure. While Newsom has championed policies to promote electric cars, he has been the face of the “No on 30” campaign. Newsom called the measure a self-serving ploy to benefit “one company,” a clear reference to Lyft, the app that has spent more than $45 million to fund Prop. 30. “Simply put: Prop. 30 is a Trojan horse that puts corporate welfare ahead of the fiscal welfare of our entire state,” Newsom said in a television ad. He has also opposed the measure because it would limit the state’s fiscal discretion. But Newsom has been criticized by some environmentalists and Democrats for his stance. They accuse the governor of opposing Prop. 30 to help his ultra-rich backers avoid a new tax.
‘Very good’ election day in SF so far, official says Election Day in San Francisco was a “very good day” with no reported problems at polling places as of Tuesday afternoon, election officials said. “There was nothing unusual about the equipment and there were no reports of any kind of observers trying to interfere with the process,” said John Arntz, director of the city’s Department of Elections. “It was a good day despite the rain,” he added.
Brown, Breed, Jenkins, Wiener, Speier appear at SF Election Day Luncheon Former San Francisco Mayor Willie Brown, Mayor London Breed, District Attorney Brooke Jenkins, State Sen. Scott Wiener and retired Congresswoman Jackie Speier greeted voters at the free Election Day lunch at John’s Grill near Union Square. At noon Tuesday, San Francisco politicians gathered for their first Election Day luncheon since 2019, weaving their way through the crowd and stopping to shake hands and take photos with longtime voters and San Franciscans. People packed the restaurant, catching up with glasses of red and white wine, salad, ravioli and chicken. John Constine Jr., the son of restaurant owner John Constine, said they expected 1,000 people during the two-and-a-half-hour meal. “I just want to be out with the people who have supported me so much, and a lot of the people here,” Jenkins, who is on the ballot to retain her position as district attorney, said as she moved forward. through the crowd. She said she hopes voters will trust her experience as a prosecutor to allow her to continue doing the job. “I think people want adequacy and experience policies that are going to be effective,” he said. “I think I’m the only one on the ballot who can offer that.” Speier, also inviting people to John’s Grill, said she believes Republicans will win the House and issues like inflation and layoffs — which she noted are global issues and not Democrats’ fault — will drive voters nationally. to vote change. “History repeats itself,” he said. “It is unlikely that we will retain the Parliament.” But her hope is that the losses are modest and that Democrats can continue to “hold Republicans’ feet to the fire.” As for her own plans to retire from Congress, she said she is focused on why problems continue to plague the Bay Area despite its high concentration of billionaires and millionaires.
SF Props. I and J: What about JFK Drive and the Great Highway? The San Francisco Board of Supervisors voted in April to permanently keep Golden Gate Park’s JFK Drive car-free — fueling the fight between competing measures, I and J — and was still weighing the Great Highway’s long-term future before Tuesday. Now, voters will essentially decide the future of the city’s other major thoroughfare that was closed to car traffic at the start of the pandemic. The Great Highway was completely closed to cars before Mayor London Breed ordered a hybrid closure in August 2021 which reopened the coast road to cars on weekdays. A Prop victory. I would reopen the Great Highway to cars 24/7. It will also require the city to reopen the mile-long Great Highway Extension between Sloat and Skyline avenues that is slated to close until next year due to climate-related erosion. The move, according to an analysis by the city auditor’s office, would cost the city $80 million to build a seawall to protect the road from flooding and traffic. …
