Answering Last Minute Voter Questions Before Election

Here are the morning’s top stories on Tuesday, November 5, 2024…

• Millions of Californians are expected to head to the polls Tuesday in the 2024 general election. They’ll be voting on local measures, state propositions and our next president. If you’re one of those people and you’ve got some last minute questions you’re too afraid to ask, we’ve got you covered.
• PG&E says as many as 15,000 in 17 counties across its sprawling area could lose power starting Tuesday night, because of the onset of dangerous fire weather.

Voters Head To The Polls On Election Day

It’s the final day to vote in the 2024 general election. While millions of Californians have already cast their ballots, many more will head to the polls Tuesday to vote on local measures, state propositions and our next president.

Kim Alexander, President of the California Voter Foundation, says if you haven’t voted yet, there’s still time. “Vote as early as you can. It could get busy. You are entitled under California law to take up to two hours off of work to vote. You needed to ask for that last Friday from your boss. So if you didn’t, they may not grant it, but it doesn’t hurt to ask,” Alexander said.

Another question that many voters have is what if they make a mistake on their ballot? “They might decide that they voted for someone they didn’t mean to vote for, and they want to vote for a different candidate. You can simply cross out the choice that you made, fill in the choice that you want to make and write yes next to it or draw an arrow,” Alexander said. “And under California law, election officials are required to respect voter intent when voters are voting. So they will get a ballot like that and they will remake a ballot that has an error that’s been corrected.”

Remember that polls close at 8 p.m.

More California Polling Places Likely To Lose Power After Voting Ends, PG&E Says

PG&E is widening its planned public safety power shut-offs, leaving more polling places in the outage footprint as dry, windy weather raises the potential for dangerous wildfires.

Although fire weather conditions are expected to ramp up by midday Tuesday, the utility said it would not shut off power until after polls close at 8 p.m. It will likely cut power to approximately 22,000 customers across 17 counties to prevent wildfires sparked by one of its lines — and up to five polling places could be affected, PG&E said.