Today is the final day for California voters to return their vote-by-mail ballots or cast ballots at voting centers in the gubernatorial recall election.
The recall ballot contains only two questions: should Gov. Gavin Newsom be recalled— or removed—from office, and if so, which of the 46 candidates on the ballot or seven write-in candidates should replace him?
If 50% or more voters respond “no” to the first question, Newsom will remain in office, and the results of the second question will be irrelevant.
If more than 50% of people vote “yes” on the first question, Newsom will be removed from office and replaced with the candidate who receives the most votes in the second question on the ballot.
“This recall is a referendum on Gavin Newsom’s failure,” said former San Diego Mayor Kevin Faulconer, who is among the Republicans seeking to replace Newsom. “That’s why so many Californians not only signed the recall petition, but that’s why Californians in all parts of the state, all party registrations, are ready for a change at the top.”
Newsom on Monday morning again took to social media to urge voters to reject the recall, writing, “Tomorrow CA has the power to stand up for progress. For science. For women’s rights. For immigrant rights. For commonsense gun safety. Tomorrow we can show the rest of the nation that we won’t let Republicans drag our state backwards. Make sure your voice is heard.”
President Joe Biden urged voters Monday night to reject the recall, citing Newsom’s record on the coronavirus pandemic, women’s rights, climate change and minimum wage.
“We need science, we need courage, we need leadership. We need Gavin Newsom,” Biden said during an approximately 15-minute address at Long Beach City College. “A governor who follows science, who’s got the courage to do what’s right.”
Republican talk show host Larry Elder, also a leading candidate in the recall race, dismissed the presidential support for the governor. “If Gavin Newsom thinks that flying in Joe Biden and Kamala Harris—not exactly the most admired government officials at the present time—will make him look better, that’s all you need to know about how oblivious and detached Newsom is from a large majority of Californians,” Elder tweeted last week.
Voting locations will be open until 8 p.m. Tuesday. Vote-by-mail ballots will be tallied as long as they are postmarked by Tuesday.
The ballots can also be dropped off at any voting location or county elections office, or placed in a ballot drop box. For a list of where to vote in Long Beach, click here.
According to the Secretary of State’s office, more than 8 million vote-by-mail ballots had been returned statewide as of Sunday. Nearly 22.4million were sent to voters.
IN PICTURES: Protests, traffic and cheers as President Joe Biden visits Long Beach