Elections Archives

Need a break from elections? Check out the aquarium’s MeditOcean

November 2, 2020 12:20 PM Avery Johnson

Elections can be a stressful time, and sometimes you just need a…

Find your polling place in San Benito County

November 2, 2020 11:50 AM Avery Johnson

Ballots have been mailed to all voters in California due to COVID-19, but polling locations are still open for those who would like to vote…

Where to find VoteMobile in Santa Cruz County today and tomorrow

November 2, 2020 11:38 AM Avery Johnson

Santa Cruz County’s mobile voting trailer will be making several stops around the county today and…

Find your polling place in Santa Cruz County

November 2, 2020 11:18 AM Avery Johnson

Ballots have been mailed to all voters in California due to COVID-19, but polling locations are still open for those who would like to vote…

Breakdown of ballots returned by county

October 29, 2020 4:10 PM KION546 News Team

Monterey County According to Monterey County Elections, 104,591 vote by mail ballots had been processed as of Friday. That number represents 50% of…

What to know about Prop 21

October 29, 2020 10:21 AM Max Tarlton

Proposition 21 would allow local governments to establish rent control on residential properties that are more than 15 years old. There’s also a…

Having trouble while casting your ballot? Submit your tips through Electionland

October 29, 2020 1:29 PM Avery Johnson

KION has partnered with ProPublica, a nonprofit investigative news organization, to allow voters to share the problems they have…

Gonzales parents push for new school through Measure J

October 28, 2020 3:44 PM Elisha Machado

If approved, Measure J would authorize $24.5 million dollars in bonds to fund school improvements projects, like repairing current elementary school…

Measure K: Gonzales Unified School District High School Renovation/Technology Improvement Bond

October 8, 2020 1:19 PM Avery Johnson

The Gonzales Unified School District High School Renovation/Technology Improvement Bond would go toward expanding vocational…

Measure J: Gonzales Unified School District Elementary School Construction/Technology Improvement Bond

October 6, 2020 2:47 PM Avery Johnson

The Gonzales Unified School District Elementary School Construction/Technology Improvement Bond would provide funding…

Monterey-Salinas Transit to offer free fares on Election Day

October 28, 2020 12:35 PM Avery Johnson

Monterey-Salinas Transit said it will be offering free fairs system-wide on Nov.…

Pre-election voting surpasses half of all 2016 ballots cast with week left until Election Day

October 28, 2020 3:24 AM CNN

Pre-election voting for the November election has surpassed half of all ballots cast in the 2016 presidential election with a week left until…

Behind-the-scenes: How your ballot is counted

October 26, 2020 2:36 PM Megan Meier

There are only eight days left before the November 3rd Election, and Central Coast counties are hard at work counting early…

Pandemic concerns fueling Carmel-by-the-Sea mayor race

October 23, 2020 2:44 PM Victor Guzman

Carmel-by-the-Sea mayor’s race pits incumbent Dave Potter against Judy…

Proposition 16

October 6, 2020 11:12 AM Avery Johnson

If approved, Proposition 16 would repeal a 1996 initiative that did not allow for state and local governments to discriminate against or…

U.S. Representative, District 20

September 15, 2020 5:13 PM Avery Johnson

Jimmy Panetta Party: Democrat Occupation: U.S. Representative Relevant Experience: U.S. Representative, 2016 to presentDeputy District Attorney,…

San Benito County residents report receiving political calls from “county employees”

October 23, 2020 12:45 PM Avery Johnson

Residents are complaining to San Benito County officials, saying people identifying themselves as county…

What to know about Proposition 19

October 23, 2020 4:29 AM Max Tarlton

Proposition 19 is all about property taxes. If passed, some transfers will mean higher taxes, and for others – lower. The money generated largely…

All-women field of candidates vie for four seats on Santa Cruz City Council

October 19, 2020 1:17 PM Drew Andre

SANTA CRUZ, Calif. (KION) A field of nine candidates are running for four seats on the Santa Cruz City Council. The all-women group of candidates…

Trump, Biden go after each other on coronavirus, taxes

October 22, 2020 8:29 PM The Associated Press

By, JONATHAN LEMIRE, DARLENE SUPERVILLE, WILL WEISSERT and MICHELLE L. PRICE NASHVILLE, Tenn. (AP) — President Donald Trump and Democratic…

Mont. Co. Supervisor District 4 race marked by high campaign contributions

October 18, 2020 2:15 AM Josh Kristianto

SALINAS, Calif. (KION) A Monterey County supervisor race is churning out big bucks with one candidate already raising more than double the dollar…

US officials call out Iran, Russia for election interference

October 21, 2020 4:53 PM The Associated Press

The Director of National Intelligence announced in a special conference that Iran and Russia have taken actions to…

What are the rules around poll watching?

October 21, 2020 2:32 PM The Associated Press

WASHINGTON (AP) What are the rules around poll watching on Election Day in the United States? President Donald Trump has been urging his supporters…

Leopold and Koenig compete for District 1 Supervisor seat in Santa Cruz

October 20, 2020 6:40 PM Drew Andre

SANTA CRUZ, Calif. (KION) One seat on the Santa Cruz County Board of Supervisors is up for grab in November. Incumbent John Leopold is facing…

Debate commission adopts new rules to mute mics

October 19, 2020 5:16 PM The Associated Press

President Donald Trump and Democrat Joe Biden will have their microphones cut off in Thursday’s debate…

Locations of Santa Cruz County mobile voting trailer announced

October 19, 2020 2:29 PM Avery Johnson

Santa Cruz County Elections has released where residents can find its VoteMobile trailer over the next…

How soon will we know the US election outcome?

October 19, 2020 12:48 PM The Associated Press

How soon will we know the results of the U.S.…

Three candidates vying for Salinas City Council District 6 seat

October 16, 2020 1:32 PM Josh Kristianto

SALINAS, Calif. (KION) A three person race is underway for the Salinas City Council seat in District 6 after sitting councilmember Tony Villegas…

California disputed ballot boxes removed, arguing continues

October 16, 2020 4:42 PM The Associated Press

The state Republican Party has removed their unstaffed, unofficial ballot drop boxes that state officials deemed illegal,…

Salinas Mayor

September 30, 2020 4:51 PM Avery Johnson

Chris Barrera Occupation: Businessman Relevant Experience: Partner/Owner, Windermere Valley PropertiesBoard Member, Monterey County Community…

Five candidates push to be the next Mayor of Salinas

October 15, 2020 9:12 PM Aaron Groff

Whoever is voted to be the next Mayor of the City of Salinas has a big job ahead of…

How the Central Coast is using its federal funds to improve the voting process

October 15, 2020 11:32 AM Drew Andre

In 2002, the Help America Vote Act was signed into law aimed at providing states with funding to improve the voting process and security. The law was…

Proposition 22 to decide future of app-based drivers in California

October 15, 2020 10:44 AM Megan Meier

For thousands of Californians, the car is their office. Companies like Uber, Lyft, Door Dash and Postmates allow workers to sign-on when they are…

Can a voter fix a problem on a mail-in ballot?

October 15, 2020 12:31 PM The Associated Press

If a ballot is tossed because of some issue — maybe a missing signature or it got damaged — will the voter be notified…

Former Councilmember Timothy Barrett takes on incumbent Clyde Roberson in Monterey mayoral race

October 14, 2020 11:59 AM Elisha Machado

Incumbent Mayor Clyde Roberson faces a challenger in the race for re-election: former councilmember, Timothy Barrett. Both candidates are running for…

More than 5 million people with felony convictions can’t vote in this year’s election, advocacy group finds

October 15, 2020 10:39 AM CNN

An estimated 5.1 million people across the US won’t be able to vote in the 2020 election due to a felony conviction, a new study…

Elections have a dress code, too. Here’s what can get you turned away from the polls

October 14, 2020 3:50 PM CNN

If you want to make a political fashion statement while voting, you may want to check your state rules…

Seaside Mayoral race heats up

October 14, 2020 12:01 AM Veronica Macias

SEASIDE, Calif. (KION) In Seaside, elections have been among the most intense races along the peninsula. There are two established candidates, the…

Criminal justice reform propositions on the 2020 ballot

October 13, 2020 11:59 AM Elisha Machado

Three criminal justice reform propositions will be put in the hands of California voters on the 2020 ballot, including plans that would restore…

Snapchat endorses youth vote ballot initiative in California

October 13, 2020 2:01 PM CNN

Snapchat endorsed Proposition 18, a ballot initiative in California that would allow 17-year-olds to vote in primary elections in the state as…

CAMPAIGN 2020: Hollister Mayoral Race

October 12, 2020 5:57 PM Megan Meier

Rolling green hills and sprawling agriculture fields: It’s why current Hollister Mayor, and 2020 candidate, Ignacio Velazquez, feels lucky to call…

Santa Cruz County takes voting on the road with new VoteMobile

October 9, 2020 3:15 PM Avery Johnson, Drew Andre

Santa Cruz County Elections will be bringing a mobile voting unit to communities around the area…

Hollister Mayor

October 6, 2020 10:55 AM Avery Johnson

Sal Mora Occupation: Mortgage Loan Officer Relevant Experience: CounselorJuvenile Corrections Officer, Santa Clara County Probation DepartmentSpecial…

Central Coast voters utilizing 24-hour drop off boxes to turn in ballots

Central Coast official ballot drop box locations

October 12, 2020 5:20 PM Avery Johnson

Monterey County These are available 24 hours per day until 8 p.m. on Nov. 3: Carmel Valley Library- 65 W. Carmel Valley Road, Carmel…

California officials say unofficial ballot boxes are illegal

October 12, 2020 11:40 AM The Associated Press

California election officials have received reports that unofficial ballot drop boxes were placed in several counties and…

San Benito County Supervisor, District 4

October 9, 2020 1:46 PM Avery Johnson

Bob Tiffany Occupation: Business owner Relevant Experience: Owner, Tiffany Motor CompanyPresident, Hollister Rotary Club 2000-2001President,…

Measure N could help bridge digital divide in Soledad

October 8, 2020 12:47 PM Megan Meier

After a unanimous vote by the Soledad Unified School District Board of Trustees, schools are back on the ballot for the November 3rd election.…

Measure N: Soledad Unified School District Student Technology and Teacher/Staff Housing Bond

October 8, 2020 3:02 PM Avery Johnson

The Soledad Unified School District Student Technology and Teacher/Staff Housing Bond would provide funding for the district to improve…

Monterey Mayor

October 8, 2020 12:59 PM Avery Johnson

Timothy Barrett Occupation: Educator/Nonprofit Director Relevant Experience: Former City CouncilmemberProduced local television showsNational…

Central Coast voters utilizing 24-hour drop off boxes to turn in ballots

October 7, 2020 11:17 AM Josh Kristianto

SALINAS, Calif. (KION) With early voting underway on the Central Coast, there are still lingering concerns from some residents about ensuring their…