California Early Ballots Top 2022 Midterm Pace
California had recorded more than 6.4 million ballots by Sunday, exceeding the roughly 5.47 million counted on the eve of the 2022 midterm election by about 934,000, or 17.1%. This year’s state snapshot came two days before Election Day, while the 2022 figure was taken one day before voting concluded.
The state total included 6,107,024 mail ballots submitted and 299,137 in-person votes. Mail ballots made up about 95% of the early tally. More than 3 million were returned through the postal service, nearly 2.7 million were placed in drop boxes, and about 396,000 were handed in at designated drop-off sites or polling hubs. Local offices had received 99.07% of mail ballots sent back.
Political Data Inc. pollster Paul Mitchell said his tracking showed returns running about 1.2 million to 1.3 million ahead of the comparable point in 2022. He cautioned that his figures and the state’s totals use different cutoffs, and that county reporting can lag by about a day. A separate tracker cited in a California broadcast showed about 23% of ballots returned statewide.
Los Angeles County had nearly 1.4 million ballots, but returns equaled 23.45% of voters issued mail ballots, below the statewide 27.32% rate. San Diego County’s rate was 34.03%, while Sierra County led the state at 47.99%; Imperial County was lowest at 16.61%. Mitchell also said Latino participation had risen substantially statewide. The state’s totals will continue to change as counties report ballots arriving after Election Day.
California Voters Turn Out Early as Latino Participation Rises
California’s early vote is running well ahead of the 2022 midterm pace, with more than 6.4 million ballots counted by Sunday—about 934,000 more than on the eve of that election. The state’s snapshot came two days before Election Day this year, rather than one day before in 2022, and pollster Paul Mitchell said his tracking showed an even larger lead of roughly 1.2 million to 1.3 million ballots.
The numbers point to a broad early response from voters, including a substantial increase in Latino participation statewide, Mitchell said. Mail ballots accounted for about 95% of the tally. More than 3 million were returned by mail, nearly 2.7 million through drop boxes, and about 396,000 at specified ballot-drop sites or polling hubs.
Participation varied sharply by county. Los Angeles County contributed nearly 1.4 million ballots, though its return rate was 23.45% of voters issued mail ballots, below the statewide 27.32%. San Diego County reached 34.03%, and Sierra County led with 47.99%; Imperial County was lowest at 16.61%.
The state’s 6.4 million total included 6,107,024 mail ballots and 299,137 in-person ballots. Mitchell warned that comparisons are complicated by different reporting cutoffs and county processing delays. The count will keep rising as counties report additional ballots, including those arriving after Election Day.
Early Ballot Surge Shows California’s Election Is Still Unsettled
California’s early ballot total has already passed the 2022 midterm’s eve-of-election count, but the comparison is not a final measure of turnout or the result. The state counted more than 6.4 million ballots on Sunday, about 934,000 above the roughly 5.47 million recorded one day before the 2022 election. This year’s count was taken two days before Election Day.
Pollster Paul Mitchell said his own tracking showed returns about 1.2 million to 1.3 million above the comparable point in 2022. He also cautioned that his figures and the state’s tally have different reporting cutoffs, and county processing can lag by about a day. A separate tracker showed about 23% of ballots returned statewide, underscoring that the figures capture a moment in a changing count.
The state total included 6,107,024 submitted mail votes and 299,137 votes made in person. Of the mail ballots, more than 3 million came through the postal service, nearly 2.7 million through drop boxes, and about 396,000 through designated drop-off sites or polling hubs. Local offices had received 99.07% of mail ballots sent back.
County participation rates were far from uniform. Los Angeles County had nearly 1.4 million ballots, but a 23.45% return rate among voters issued mail ballots, below the statewide 27.32%. San Diego County stood at 34.03%, while Imperial County was at 16.61%. Counties will continue reporting ballots, including those that arrive after Election Day.
Reported by KTVU FOX 2, New York Post.
