Early voting begins as Santa Clara County mails ballots

Santa Clara County election officials are anticipating the highest midterm primary voter turnout in years as they mail ballots to households that will determine a slate of local races — and whether San Jose’s mayor has a shot at becoming governor.

More than 1 million active registered voters in Santa Clara County can expect a ballot packet in their mailbox by the end of this week. They’ll be able to return their completed ballots at 111 official drop-off boxes across the county at any time of day. Twenty-four in-person voting centers will open on May 23, with 88 more opening on May 30, 10 days before Election Day on June 2.

May 18 is the last day to register to vote and receive a mailed ballot. After this date, residents can still file for conditional registration — and vote at the same time — at the Santa Clara County Registrar of Voters office or any voting centers through Election Day.

The Registrar of Voters is still gathering data, but election officials said they expect 45% voter turnout in the June primary, which would be higher than the 36% seen in the 2022 midterm primary, 44% in 2018, 32% in 2014 and 43% in 2010. Officials said during gubernatorial races, primary turnout is higher in years when incumbents are termed out.

Spokesperson Michael Borja said there’s also been an uptick in people dropping ballots at official box locations in recent elections.

“There are many advantages to voting early,” Borja told San José Spotlight. “Because we send our county voter information guides ahead of ballots — and because the state sends voter information guides — people can research and study ahead of time.”

But higher turnout doesn’t mean high turnout. Mindy Romero, a political sociologist and founder of the Center for Inclusive Democracy, said 45% voter turnout still leaves a majority of registered voters who aren’t participating.

“We’re not going to see general election turnout levels in this primary, though we could very well see higher than normal turnout for our midterm primary because it’s a competitive gubernatorial race,” Romero told San José Spotlight. “Four years ago we didn’t have a competitive gubernatorial race. This is open in terms of both parties.”

San Jose Mayor Matt Mahan’s presence in the race for California governor might also drive more locals to the ballot box. The mayor has trailed in polling despite endorsements from moderate Democrats and conservative politicos across the state and U.S., as well as millions of dollars in fundraising from Silicon Valley C-suite executives and billionaires.

Mahan’s opponents include former U.S. Secretary of Health and Human Services Xavier Becerra, billionaire Tom Steyer, former Congresswoman Katie Porter, conservative pundit Steve Hilton, Riverside County Sheriff Chad Bianco, former Los Angeles Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa and Superintendent of Public Instruction Tony Thurmond. The top two vote getters will advance to the November runoff.

San Jose’s five odd-numbered City Council districts are also up for election this year, as well as five countywide offices. But of those county races, Sheriff Bob Jonsen, Assessor Neysa Fligor and District 4 Supervisor Susan Ellenberg — who represents parts of the West Valley — are set to coast toward reelection unchallenged.

Voting has become an engine of community gathering for Morgan Hill resident Araceli Gonzales. Her family and friends have turned election years into a “ballot party” tradition featuring pizza, light refreshments and even a PowerPoint presentation explaining each race — as well as its candidates and key endorsements — across a deck of detailed slides. She said the parties, which are weeks ahead of Election Day, have helped people avoid forgetting to vote or waiting until they’re too busy.

Gonzales said it’s been the family’s preferred way of voting for eight years — not just to get informed, but to debate others on their ballot choices and expand their views on certain issues.

“Gathering in a room like that — people were able to say, ‘This is my scenario, if this happens how does that affect my sister or my daughter.’ Everybody gets to share their own story and perspectives,” Gonzales told San José Spotlight. “One of the older folks may say, ‘This is how I see it — it can affect me this way.’ We have different age groups with different interests. It’s always wonderful.”

Contact Brandon Pho at [email protected] or @brandonphooo on X.