Santa Barbara County voter information guides are currently being mailed to all registered voters, who should receive them in the next few days, county officials announced Friday.
The County Voter Information Guide is a sample ballot that can be used by the voter to mark their choices before they go to their polling place. The voter is able to take the sample ballot with them to mark their official ballot, with the goal of expediting the voting process to reduce long lines on Election Day.
State voter information guides are also being mailed to households listing a registered voter, said Joe Holland, county Clerk-Recorder-Assessor & Registrar of Voters.
“Information specific to the voter’s ballot includes candidates’ statements of qualifications and local measure information; and instructions and information on voting President, crossover voting, updating their registration, voting by mail and voting at the polls,” Mr. Holland said. “The voter’s polling place location is printed on the back cover of the CVIG, as is an application to vote by mail.”
On the March 3 ballot, Rep. Salud Carbajal, D-Santa Barbara, will be running for his third term in Congress. His opposition includes Republican Andy Caldwell and Santa Barbara resident Kenneth Young, who is registered as No Party Preference, according to an unofficial candidate list posted on the county’s website.
Assemblymember Monique Limón, D-Santa Barbara, is running for State Senate against Republican Gary Michaels, of Santa Maria, and Santa Barbara resident Anatasia Stone, who is also registered as No Party Preference. Assemblymember Jordan Cunningham, R-Paso Robles, is looking to retain his seat in the 35th District against Democrat Dawn Addis, of Morro Bay.
Seven candidates, including six Democrats, are running for Ms. Limón’s seat in the 37th District. Santa Barbara Mayor Cathy Murillo and former City Councilman Jason Dominguez are vying for the seat, as well as Santa Barbara City College Trustee Jonathan Abboud. Also running are: Elsa Granados, the longtime executive director of the nonprofit Standing Together to End Sexual Assault; Teacher and Attorney Stephen Blum, of Ventura; Ventura County Supervisor Steven Bennett; and Republican Charles Cole, of Santa Barbara.
Incumbent 1st District Supervisor will be taking on Laura Capps, of the Santa Barbara Unified School District, while incumbent 3rd District Supervisor Joan Hartmann will square off with Karen Jones, of the Santa Ynez Community Services District, Bruce Porter, off Santa Ynez and Jessica Alvarez Parfrey, of Goleta. Bob Nelson, of Orcutt, is the lone candidate running for 4th District Supervisor.
Spots on the Republican and Democrat central committees and the Green County Council will also be decided.
Vote-by-mail ballots will be mailed to voters and will be available starting Feb. 3 at the following county elections offices: 4440-A Calle Real, Santa Barbara, CA 93110; 401 E. Cypress Ave., Room 102, Lompoc, CA 93436; 511 E. Lakeside Parkway, Suite 134, Santa Maria, CA 93455.
Election Day is March 3 and the upcoming election is partisan, therefore voters registered to vote with a political party can only vote for that party’s presidential candidates at the primary election. Voters who are registered as No Party Preference can request to vote for one of these parties’ presidential candidates: American Independent Party; Democratic Party; Libertarian Party.
Voters who have already requested a vote-by-mail ballot do not need to reapply. If a voter receives a ballot and chooses to chance their party, they should contact their elections office to review potential options.
“Though there are many third party websites of information, to ensure correct information, Holland encourages voters to contact his office directly for information on polling place locations, or any question as to why they are receiving a Vote by Mail ballot,” officials said.
For more information, call the Voter Information Line at 1-800-SBC-VOTE (1-800-722-8683) or visit www.sbcvote.com.
email: mwhite@newspress.com
