Here’s your guide to voting and Election Day in Fresno. Mail your ballot or bring an umbrella
For the best voting experience, it’s best to do it early, Fresno County Registrar of Voters James Kus said.
It’s especially important to do it early if you plan to vote in person so that you avoid the lines. There’s also a chance of rain forecast on Election Day, Kus noted, so that’s something voters should consider.
The general election is Tuesday, Nov. 8. Every registered voter in Fresno County should have already received their ballot in the mail.
So far, around 80,000 of nearly 500,000 registered voters in Fresno County already returned their ballot, Kus said. Additionally, more people already have used the in-person vote centers than in the June primary election. So far, turnout is on pace to match historical patterns in gubernatorial general elections, Kus said, which is just under a 50% turnout.
“I expect, and have planned for, and we are ready to serve a greater than 50% turnout,” Kus said.
Fresno County voters’ ballots include federal, state and local offices and a number of statewide propositions and local measures.
Vote by mail
The Elections Office will accept all ballots postmarked by Election Day. Kus had a few tips to make sure your ballot gets post marked.
Again, do it early.
If you return your ballot by mail on Tuesday, make sure to go into a post office to get it postmarked. Kus cautioned voters from dropping their ballot in the post office’s standard blue boxes on Election Day.
There also are dozens of ballot drop boxes located throughout the county. The contents are collected daily. Ballots will be accepted at each drop box until 8 p.m. Tuesday.
Early voting
Dozens of vote centers opened throughout the county on Saturday. They’ll remain open through Tuesday.
Vote centers will be open 9 a.m. through 5 p.m. On Election Day, they’ll be open from 7 a.m. to 8 p.m.
You do not need to bring your ballot to the in-person vote centers. Or, you can bring it and surrender it, Kus said.
All vote centers are accessible, and nearly all of them have accessible transportation options to get there. Each vote center is equipped with three accessible devices to assist voters with visual or manual dexterity so they can vote independently.
You can find the nearest vote center or drop box by going to the registrar of voters website and using the search tool.
Election Day voting
If you’re voting in-person on Tuesday, expect to wait in line, Kus said. And, check the weather and prepare accordingly.
The National Weather Service predicts an 80% chance of rain on Tuesday, and the high temperature is forecast to be 54 degrees.
“Rain, snow, or wind is not going to stop us from getting our ballots and helping people to vote,” Kus said.
If you are voting by mail on Election Day, make sure your ballot is postmarked by Nov. 8. You can drop your ballot in a drop box on Tuesday, as well.
Vote centers close at 8 p.m. If you get into line at 8:01 p.m. you will be turned away, no matter how long the line is. Those in line at 8 p.m. can still vote.
Election staff will be monitoring vote centers for election intimidation.
What’s on the ballot?
Fresno County voters have much to consider on Tuesday.
Locally, voters will decide on new school trustees for the governing boards of Central, Clovis and Fresno school districts. Voters also will choose the next trustees for the Fresno County Board of Education and State Center Community College District.
While no Fresno city government races appear on the ballot, city council and mayoral races are taking place in cities such as Clovis, Kingsburg, Reedley, Sanger, Selma and more. The ballot also includes candidates for irrigation, hospital and fire districts.
Voters also will choose representatives for the state Senate and Assembly; U.S. Senate and House of Representatives; and a number of state offices such as judges, attorney general, secretary of state and governor.
Fresno voters will have three sales tax measures to consider. All three require 66% yes votes to pass.
First, there’s Measure C, a $7 billion, countywide transportation tax renewal. The roads-focused spending plan will lock in future transportation infrastructure for decades.
Measure E proposes adding .02 cents to Fresno County’s sales tax to boost academic programs and athletic facilities at Fresno State. The tax would run for 20 years and generate an estimated annual average of $36 million.
Measure M is a proposed 0.125% sales tax, or one-eighth of a percent, on sales of taxable goods and services in the city of Fresno. The money will go toward veterans facilities and services.
Additionally, voters will decide on a number of state propositions on issues ranging from online sports gambling, reproductive freedom, dialysis requirements, tobacco products, green house gas reduction programs and more.
When will results be reported?
The first round of results will be reported shortly after 8 p.m. on Tuesday. They will be posted on the registrar of voters website. The first report will include results from ballots returned via mail by Monday, Nov. 7.
The results will be updated at least two times Tuesday night — one new report at 10 p.m. and another one sometime before midnight. Those results will include ballots from both early voting and Election Day in-person voting.
The next results reports will come Thursday. A third report likely won’t happen until the following week, after the Veterans Day holiday, Kus said.
For more election information, visit the registrar of voters website at co.fresno.ca.us/departments/county-clerk-registrar-of-voters; call the registrar of voters office at 559-600-2575; or email the registrar’s office at Clerk-Elections@fresnocountyca.gov.
This story was originally published November 6, 2022 at 9:45 AM.
CORRECTION: An earlier version of this story erroneously reported the hours for Fresno County vote centers on Monday. They are open from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m.