What's st stake:
A number of local, state and congressional races — but do will voters show up to the polls? Turnout during primary elections has proven to be abysmal historically.
With fewer than 12 hours to go before the polls close for California’s June primary election, thousands of ballots are expected to stream into the Fresno County Clerk’s Office as the state’s notoriously slow counting process gets underway.
Turnout in primary elections has historically proven to be abysmal. Even though March 2024 was a presidential primary election, only 30% of Fresno County residents eligible to vote turned in their ballots. During the last gubernatorial primary election, it was even worse: In June 2022, Fresno County had a 27.8% turnout.
Fresnoland reporters are speaking with voters who did end up at the polls, asking which candidates, races or issues drove them out there.
Polls remain open until 8 p.m. Anyone in line to vote when the polls close, will be allowed to vote.
With a field of candidates for governor roughly the size of a March Madness first-round tournament bracket, the wild race to replace Gavin Newsom was top of mind for some Fresno-area voters on Tuesday morning.
That included Nancy Donat, a 64-year-old Lowell resident who said she came to vote because “this is a critical moment for the nation.” She works at a global religious non-profit called One Collective and she said it’s imperative for voters to act now through their ballots.
Donat said key races on Tuesday’s ballot include for governor and state senator, and hopes that whoever is voted into office can work with communities to lead “with compassion and love for neighbors.”
Vicky Kham, 50, who works for a local nonprofit and lives in Fresno’s Roosevelt/Sunnyside area, said she voted in part to ensure Southeast Asian communities are represented at the ballot box. She returned her ballot Tuesday at the Betty Rodriguez Regional Library.
Climate change was one of her top concerns. Kham said she supports candidates who prioritize environmental issues and hopes to see more trees planted throughout Fresno to improve air quality.
Looking ahead, she said she wants greater investment in community resources, including better roads, libraries and educational opportunities for young people.
“Education is very important,” Kham said. “Growing up, I didn’t have a lot of supporting systems. I hope by voting we can have more libraries and more public education for the youngsters out there and for the future.”
Janie Castillo, 65, lives in the Mayfair neighborhood and cited high taxes and an increasing homeless population as the motivating factors for her vote. She also dropped her ballot at the Betty Rodriguez library.
Castillo noted that she has seen costs for her insurance balloon since the COVID-19 pandemic with little respite.
Additionally, she said the selection of a new governor needs to bring change and support for working class families.
“Our money is not going where it’s supposed to, and we work hard for the money,” Castillo said.
