Several candidates for California governor are actively campaigning in the Bay Area this weekend, with the June primary now less than a month away. Mail-in ballots have begun arriving in the mailboxes of registered voters, and election officials are urging citizens to check for their ballots and use online tracking tools to monitor their status.
In San Mateo County, approximately 95 to 96 percent of ballots cast are typically submitted by mail, according to Jim Irizarry, assistant chief elections officer. He noted that one voter had already cast a mail-in ballot at a county drop box. The League of Women Voters has reminded voters that the deadline to register for vote-by-mail is May 18.
Election officials have emphasized the importance of proper ballot handling. Voters are instructed to sign the back of their envelope before dropping off ballots at designated ballot boxes or U.S. Postal Service locations. The state's online tracking system, WhereIsMyBallot.sos.ca.gov, allows voters to monitor their ballot's progress through each stage of processing, including whether it has been accepted, opened, scanned, and ultimately counted.
On Saturday night, Republican candidate Steve Hilton addressed supporters at a town hall event in San Francisco, stating that conditions in California can improve. "We know it can be better, because it was better before the Democrats took over, and it's going to be better again starting next year in January," Hilton said.
Other candidates have also been campaigning across the state. San Jose Mayor Matt Mahan held a rally in the South Bay on Saturday, posting on social media about the voter turnout. Billionaire Tom Steyer spent the morning in San Francisco's Chinatown with former candidate Betty Yee at an event hosted by Chinese Hospital.
As the gubernatorial race continues, candidates are utilizing political advertising and grassroots events to reach voters. Election officials and voting advocacy organizations continue to encourage participation before the June 2 primary.
