Berkeley Prepares To Vote: CA Election

BERKELEY, CA — While the majority of Berkeley voters have already cast their mail-in ballots and returned them, some will venture out to vote centers on Tuesday to either mark their ballots or hand them in for counting.

Here in Berkeley, voters are selecting a mayor, four city councilmembers, two school board members, and five members of the Rent Stabilization Board.

A number of special districts have races, and there are eight measures including three local tax increases. Measure FF would enacts a tax at a rate of $0.1047 per square foot of building improvements; Measure GG would impose a 50 cent tax on ride sharing companies for trips originating in Berkeley, and 25 cents on pooled trips; Measure HH would increase the Utility Users Tax for gas and electricity from 7.5 percent to 10 percent; Measure II would amend the city charter to create an independent Berkeley Police Accountability Board and Director of Police Accountability; Measure JJ would amend the city charter to increase councilmember’s pay; Measure KK would amend the city charter to eliminate a residency requirement for sworn members of the fire department; Measure LL increases the spending cap from 2021 through 2024; and Measure MM would prohibit evictions of qualifying tenants for nonpayment of rent during state or local emergencies, set registration fees for certain partially exempt units and limit ADU exemption to owner-occupied properties with a single-family home and one accessory unit.

>>Vote In Person In Berkeley: Vote Centers Now Open

There are also three county tax measures: V would extend the unincorporated area’s 6.5% Utility Users Tax through 2033; W would increase the countywide sales tax by one-half cent; X would authorize a $90 million bond to upgrade Alameda County Fire Department stations in unincorporated areas.

There’s one open seat on the County Board of Supervisors: Vinnie Bacon is facing David Haubert for District 1.

Alameda County voters are weighing in on races for the statehouse and U.S. Congress.
In the 13th Congressional District, incumbent Barbara Lee is facing Nikka Piterman. In the 15th Congressional District, incumbent Eric Swalwell is facing Alison Hayden. In the 17th Congressional District, incumbent Ro Khana is facing Ritesh Tandon.

In the 15th State Assembly District, incumbent Buffy Wicks is facing Sara Brink. In the 16th State Assembly District, incumbent Rebecca Bauer-Kahan is facing Joseph A. Rubay. In the 18th State Assembly District, incumbent Rob Bonta is facing Stephen Slauson. In the 20th State Assembly District, incumbent Bill Quirk is facing Alexis Villalobos. In the 25th State Assembly District, the candidates are Bob Brunton and Alex Lee.

In the 7th State Senate District, incumbent Steve Glazer is facing Julie Mobley. In the 9th State Senate District, incumbent Nancy Skinner is facing Jamie Dluzak.

Alameda County has 934,030 registered voters, according to statistics from Secretary of State Alex Padilla's office. Statewide, there are 21.2 million registered voters, an increase of 800,000 since the primary in March.

Stay tuned to Patch on Election Day for results.

Want to double-check that your absentee ballot has been received? Track it here.