Midterm Elections
It’s here—November 2018, the month we’ve been looking forward to, the month of crucial midterms and state elections.
Here’s what we’re covering this month:
General election information
Midterm Election Day is Tuesday, November 6! Polls open at 7:00am and close at 8:00pm.
The Voter Bill of Rights gives Californians the right to vote if they are in line when the polls close and to get election materials in a language other than English.
Voter registration and polling place info
The last day to register to vote was October 22. The voter registration deadline is always 15 days before an election.
After the deadline, you can conditionally register and vote at your county elections office. Check your voter registration status on the California Secretary of State's site. To find your polling place or your county elections office, check here.
Vote by mail
These are the vote-by-mail ballot deadlines:
- Vote-by-mail ballot requests must arrive at your county elections office by October 30.
- Mailed ballots must be postmarked on or before November 6 and must arrive at the county elections office on or before November 9.
- Personally delivered ballots must be delivered by close of polls November 6.
Voter hotlines
If you observe anything that seems fishy at the polls:
- (800) 345-VOTE (8683) - English
- (800) 232-VOTA (8682) - Spanish
For voter hotlines in other languages, see “Voter Hotlines” on the California Secretary of State’s web page.
When photo IDs are needed
A photo ID may be requested in these circumstances:
- First-time voter
- Voter mailed a voter registration application without a driver's license number, California identification number, or the last four digits of a Social Security number.
Acceptable forms of ID include:
- Copy of a recent utility bill
- Voter Information Guide received from the county elections office
- Another document mailed from a government agency
- Passport
- Driver’s license
- California identification card
- Student identification card
For more information about elections and voting, see the California Secretary of State’s website.
Our endorsements
Ballot initiatives
Indivisible CA: StateStrong endorses these positions on state propositions:
- Prop 1: Veteran and affordable housing bonds: YES
- Prop 2: Use previously collected taxes to house the mentally ill: YES
- Prop 3: Water infrastructure bonds: NO
- Prop 4: Children’s hospital bonds: YES
- Prop 5: Transfer of assessed value of current homes: NO
- Prop 6: Repeal gas tax: NO
- Prop 7: Extend daylight savings time: [no consensus]
- Prop 8: Regulate dialysis center prices: NO
- Prop 9: [removed from ballot]
- Prop 10: Affordable housing act: YES
- Prop 11: Restrictions on rest periods for ambulance workers: NO
- Prop 12: Farm animal housing standards: YES
For an explanation of our positions, see our proposition voter guide.
CALmatters has a series of one-minute videos that explain each of the propositions.
For Governor: Gavin Newsom
The term is four years, with a two term limit. Ask yourself one question: Do you want the person running California to be a Democrat, Gavin Newsom, or a Trump fanboy, John Cox? Indivisible endorses Gavin Newsom!
Newsom has been in politics since the 1990s and is currently Lieutenant Governor (2011–present). Before that he was Mayor of San Francisco (2004–2011), San Francisco Supervisor (1997–2003), Parking and Traffic Commissioner (1996–1997). Despite trying and failing on several occasions, Cox has never held a political office.
Gavin Newsom believes in sanctuary laws, gay marriage, criminal justice reform, universal preschool, two free years of community college and other educational reforms, expanded family leave, affordable childcare, healthcare, fighting climate change, and that the state should invest in affordable housing and tenant protections. He is also business-friendly.
John Cox wants a border wall and deportations, he questions whether humans cause climate change, and he wants to solve the housing problem by cutting environmental standards. He’s promoted the idea of a 12,000-member legislature.
Please vote for the reasonably sane guy! Is he perfect? No. But letting the other one take control of California would be disastrous.
Other candidates for statewide office
We’re endorsing a Democratic ticket all the way down the ballot.
The only partisan statewide office that has two Democrats to choose from is Lieutenant Governor. The lieutenant governor sits on the board of the University of California Regents and the board of trustees for California State University, as well as the boards of the California Ocean Protection Council, the California Emergency Council, and the California State Lands Commission. They also chair the California Commission for Economic Development.
- Eleni Kounalakis is endorsed by Barak Obama, Kamala Harris, National Organization for Women California, NARAL California (and a host of other women’s groups), LGTBQ organizations including Equality California, the California League of Conservation Voters, and many other groups and individuals.
- Ed Hernandez is endorsed by many labor groups, including the California Labor Federation, various SEIU locals, California Teachers Association, California Nurse Practitioners, Planned Parenthood Affiliates of California, Brady Campaign to Prevent Gun Violence, California Attorney General Xavier Becerra, and more.
The State Superintendent of Public Instruction is a nonpartisan office, but Tony Thurmond is more committed to advocating for at-risk students and supporting public schools than competitor Marshall Tuck.
For endorsements by other groups regarding the California State Assembly and Senate, statewide offices, ballot initiatives, and federal offices, see our Additional resources section below.
California Supreme Court Justices
Although justices to the California Supreme Court are appointed by the governor, they must go through a “retention election,” when the public votes on whether to retain them. This occurs during the first gubernatorial election after their appointment, and at the end of their twelve-year terms. There are two Supreme Court Justices up for retention votes in November: Carol Corrigan and Leondra Kruger.
For further information, here are the Ballotpedia page on the California Supreme Court justices, the recommendations of the LA Times, and An Explainer on Electing Judges in California from the San Diego Free Press.
Additional resources
Progressive California guide to progressive candidates for the state legislature.
California Secretary of State guide to election and voter information.
Calmatters provides comparisons between state and federal candidates and ballot measures.
Voter’s Edge access your complete local ballot.
Sierra Club California list of endorsements for statewide executive offices, Senate, Assembly, and ballot measures.
California Labor Federation list of endorsements.
California Democratic Party list of endorsements.
League of Women Voters guide to ballot measures.
San Francisco League of Pissed Off Voters election guide.
ACLU Legislative Scorecard rates state legislators on civil rights and civil liberties issues.
ACLU Smart Justice rates candidates on issues of criminal justice.
LA Progressive “California Voters Midterm Self-defense Manual.”
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