While there’s heightened attention this year to the presidential race, the reality is there’s plenty of key battles over the future of democracy taking place right here in Orange County.
As usual, Voice of OC puts you front and center.
This year, our newsroom rolled out the earliest voter guide in our 15-year history, offering residents a way to stay on top of the hottest races across OC.
In the midst of unfolding federal investigations that have impacted the county, Anaheim and Irvine, newsroom reporters have done a great job offering readers a concise and frank Voter Guide, packed with key details on relevant local races.
In addition, our newsroom will stay focused on two key congressional races in the 45th and 47th districts that could end up deciding the majority party in Congress.
[Read: Orange County Voter Guide: November 2024 General Election]
To make it easy to find for residents, the guide will remain up on the top right of our desktop version all the way until Election Day on Nov. 3.
The voter guide will also stay in the second slot on our mobile site as well until Election Day.
Every time we publish a new relevant story, the voter guide will be updated.
While we can’t report on the details of every race, we’ll cover the most competitive races and add new sections in the coming weeks for critical contests like Huntington Beach.
You can also expect in-depth reporting on campaign finances – something that’s become a focal point for many residents in the aftermath of the corruption scandals in Anaheim and Irvine – two of Orange County’s largest cities.
In the wake of federal raids on the home – seemingly outside his district – of incumbent Supervisor Andrew Do, there’s understandably renewed focus on the race to replace him for his termed-out First District Seat.
[Read: FBI Executes Searches on OC Supervisor, His Daughter & Others in Missing COVID Money Case]
Both candidates – Democratic Cypress City Councilwoman Frances Marquez and Republican State Senator Janet Nguyen – will get a chance in the next two months to convene a much-needed discussion about transparency and accountability with voters.
Beyond that county race, numerous cities across Orange County are confronting stressed out budgets, raising key questions about what city council members were doing on budget deliberations in years past and how things will change going forward.
In the meantime, voters will have to confront a series of sales tax increase proposals across a host of OC cities.
[Read: Heading Off a Fiscal Cliff: How Are OC Cities Planning For Budget Shortfalls?]
Beyond budgetary and accountability debates, voters in Santa Ana face a critical election on the future of their city – a contested mayoral race along with three council seats – just after their city manager and police chief were sacked and replaced under questionable circumstances.
[Read: Why Did Santa Ana Pay Out Over $600K to Settle a Claim Alleging the Police Union Runs City Hall?]
Anaheim residents also have a chance to consider candidates for three different council seats in a town where federal agents and independent investigators allege Disneyland resort interests exert outsized influence on City Hall.
[Read: How Disneyland Resort Interests Planned to Withhold Tax Money from Anaheim’s Working Class]
Irvine residents have a chance to vote in a new mayor along with three council seats in an expanded city council with a new district election system.
[Read: Primary Election Night Results: Irvine Residents Vote On Creating District Elections]
All the details on races can be found on the voter guide, which is kept in story form to make it digestible for readers.
[Read: Orange County Voter Guide: November 2024 General Election]
Bookmark the voter guide and keep checking it throughout the season.
These days, there’s myriad ways to register and cast your ballot.
For more detailed information, check the Registrar’s page on voting.
Citizens can vote at local voter centers on Election Day. They can also mail in a Vote-by-Mail ballot or drop it off at designated drop boxes. In addition, they can vote at one of many vote centers across OC before Election Day.
Voter guides are slated to get mailed by the OC Registrar of Voters around Sept. 26.
The Registrar will mail out ballots on Oct. 7 to all active registered voters across the county.
That same day, ballot drop boxes – where Vote-by-Mail ballots can be dropped off – will be available to accept drop off of ballots.
The final date to register to vote is Oct. 21.
However, any potential voter that misses that deadline can still go to the Registrar of Voters office in Santa Ana or a local vote center to conditionally register to vote with a provisional ballot – oftentimes referred to as “same day voting.”
Vote Centers open across OC on Oct. 26 and remain open until Election Day, Nov. 5.
The OC Registrar of Voters will certify the election results on or before Dec. 3.
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