Voting In Laguna Niguel: Everything You Need To Know

LAGUNA NIGUEL, CA —The majority of Laguna Niguel voters have already cast their mail-in ballots and returned them, though some will venture out to vote centers on Tuesday to either mark their ballots or hand them in for counting.

Here in Laguna Niguel, voters will select new city councilmembers and school board members.

Orange County voters will also weigh in on races for representation in the U.S. Congress.

In the 45th District, Katie Porter, Democrat, the incumbent, faces Greg Raths, Republican, a councilman in Mission Viejo for the district hit hard by the Silverado Fire in late October. Voters will turn out from Irvine, Lake Forest, Mission Viejo, Laguna Hills, and Rancho Santa Margarita to make their voices heard.

In the 48th Congressional District, incumbent Harley Rouda, Democrat, faces Michelle Steel, Republican, County Board Of Supervisors Chairwoman. Rouda is best known for ousting longstanding Republican congressman Dana Rohrabacher in 2018.

The district includes Seal Beach, Huntington Beach, Costa Mesa, Newport Beach, Laguna Beach, and Laguna Niguel.

Incumbent Mike Levin faces Bryan Maryott, a San Juan Capistrano City Councilman, in the 49th District. The 49th spans South Orange County cities of Ladera Ranch, San Clemente, San Juan Capistrano, and north San Diego County.

Orange County Districts Will Vote For State Assembly:

73rd District: Laguna Niguel's Republican Mayor Laurie Davies will face off with Scott Rhinehart, Democrat, and advocate for the LGBTQ+ community. They will battle for the spot left behind by incumbent Bill Brough, Republican, who was outvoted in March's primary. The district includes San Clemente, Dana Point, Laguna Niguel, Ladera Ranch, Coto De Caza, Trabuco Canyon, and Mission Viejo.

74th District: Cottie Petrie-Norris, Democrat and incumbent, faces Diane Dixon, a Newport Beach City Councilmember, Republican. This district includes the cities of Laguna Beach, Newport Beach, Huntington Beach, and Irvine.

Orange County residents will also vote for School Districts, Special District Contests of Water, Community services, Sanitation, Library District and Geologic Hazard Abatement.

Most Orange County cities will vote for city council members, some by district. Patch will be following city council elections in:

• Dana Point
• Laguna Beach
• Laguna Niguel
• Lake Forest
• Mission Viejo
• Newport Beach
• Rancho Santa Margarita
• San Clemente
• San Juan Capistrano

Orange County has 1.7 million registered voters, according to statistics from the Orange County Registrar of Voters. As of this report, Orange County saw a surge in voter registration in September. According to Registrar of Voters Neal Kelley's office, the county's voters consist of 36 percent democratic voters, 34 percent Republican voters.

The largest unknown in the county is the vast number of voters who claim no party preference. This makes up 24 percent of the vote.

According to California 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 they've counted your absentee / mail-in ballot? Track it here.