Michelle Holland has her ballot sitting in her office at Stanislaus State’s Stockton campus. But with Election Day less than a week away, she still has questions about some of California’s propositions.
“I get somewhat confused over the proposition sometimes, and so I don’t know where to go,” Holland said.
She was among more than two dozen Stockton residents and students who attended Tuesday’s “Ballots & Burritos” event, where journalists from Stocktonia and CalMatters helped voters navigate the measures and races appearing on their Nov. 3 ballots.
The free, nonpartisan workshop, held Tuesday on the university’s Stockton campus, brought attendees together for a discussion about the upcoming general election, with opportunities to ask questions, explore voter guides and learn more about the issues they will be deciding.
For Holland, who coordinates campus recreation, the information offered a starting point for researching the propositions before completing her ballot.
“Attending this event, I feel more confident,” she said, adding that she planned to spend more time reviewing the information available on the CalMatters voter guide.
Stocktonia, CalMatters and Stanislaus State hosted the event at Willow Hall, where attendees gathered over free food for a lively discussion about an election featuring statewide offices, legislative contests, local races and 14 statewide ballot propositions.
CalMatters Director of Partnerships Dan Hu walked attendees through the nonprofit newsroom’s online voter guide, explaining how voters can research candidates and ballot measures, review campaign contributions and compare arguments from supporters and opponents of individual propositions.
He also demonstrated the website’s personalized ballot tool, which allows voters to enter their address and see the contests appearing in their local races. For Stockton residents, the tool also provides links to local election coverage from Stocktonia.
“This is the easiest way to just go through and see your whole ballot,” Hu told attendees.
Rather than focusing solely on what each proposition would do, the presentation explored how voters could evaluate the arguments surrounding them. CalMatters’ guide includes short explanatory videos, campaign finance information, endorsements and interactive quizzes that allow users to weigh different positions.
Hu used several propositions to demonstrate those resources, including Prop. 4, which would allow public financing of political campaigns at the local level, and Prop. 5, which would change the process for replacing recalled state officials.
The presentation also covered Proposition 39, which would establish voter identification requirements in California. After watching a video explaining the measure and arguments from both sides, attendees discussed their views with others at their tables.
The conversation extended to local politics, with Stocktonia Executive Editor Scott Linesburgh addressing Stockton City Council races and the decisions local elected officials make that affect residents’ daily lives.
San Joaquin Delta College trustee Armando Valerio learned about the event through Stocktonia and decided to attend because he wanted to better understand the ballot propositions.
“I was intrigued because it’s so complicated now with all the propositions,” Valerio said.
He said that the session was informative and that he appreciated the nonpartisan approach to explaining the measures.
For Valerio, the discussion also highlighted an opportunity to bring similar resources to more people, particularly Latino voters who could benefit from community organizations hosting election information sessions.
“It’d be nice that nonprofits would get people together and say, ‘Here’s how to vote. Here’s how the proposition — here’s how it’s broken down in a nonpartisan way,’ ” he said.
Valerio said he’d like to see more organizations collaborate on events that encourage residents to learn about elections and become more involved in their communities.
“We need more things like this for this community, and more people getting involved in it,” he said.
The Stockton workshop was part of CalMatters’ statewide voter education efforts ahead of the general election.
Hu and his colleague, Martin Romero, have been traveling across California to host voter education events in communities throughout the state. Their tour has included stops from San Diego to Mount Shasta, with the remaining events scheduled in Mariposa and Fresno before Election Day. At each stop, the pair introduces residents to CalMatters’ election resources and leads discussions about the issues appearing on the Nov. 3 ballot.
Those resources remain available online for residents who could not attend. CalMatters offers its voter guide in English and Spanish, with information about statewide races, propositions and election deadlines, while Stocktonia provides coverage of local candidates and issues affecting Stockton and San Joaquin County.
The general election is Tuesday. Ballots returned by mail must be postmarked by Nov. 3, but voters may be rolling the dice with that approach at this point. Oct. 27 was the last recommended day to mail your ballot at the post office.
Secure ballot drop boxes are still an option, so long as you deposit your ballot by 8 p.m. Nov. 3.
And you can always vote in person. In San Joaquin County, voters can cast their ballot at the Registrar of Voters Office, at 44 N. San Joaquin St. in Stockton. The registrar’s office is open 8 a.m.-5 p.m. Monday through Friday, and on Election Day, it will be open 7 a.m.-8 p.m. Polling places are also available throughout the county. To find your polling location, visit the Secretary of State’s website and enter your address.