Earlier this month we reported that San Leandro's mail ballots listed every council race, even though voters approved district elections in June. Now officials have said where the error came from and how the votes will be counted.
Where the mistake started
Alameda County Registrar of Voters Cynthia Cornejo told the county Election Commission that a resolution San Leandro submitted on July 23 wrongly said the city's November council elections would be held at large, East Bay Insiders reported. Her office prepared the ballots according to that resolution. Cornejo said cities are responsible for conducting their own elections, while her office administers voting and counts ballots.
Why it matters
San Leandro used a hybrid system for years, in which council members were nominated by district but elected citywide. In June, Measure F passed with 87.33% of the vote, switching the city to fully district-based council elections starting this November. Council seats in Districts 1, 2, 3 and 5 are on the Nov. 3 ballot.
The fix
At an Oct. 12 special meeting, the City Council adopted a resolution asking the registrar to report results by precinct for those four districts, so the winner in each district is decided only by votes from that district. Officials said the ballots will not be reissued. Voters should fill out and return the ballot they received, and voting in another district's race will not invalidate a ballot; it just won't count toward that district. Only District 3 is contested; candidates in Districts 1, 2 and 5 are unopposed. For more on the races, see our San Leandro mayor and District 3 guide.
How to vote
Election Day is Tuesday, Nov. 3. Polls and vote centers close at 8 p.m., and mailed ballots must be postmarked by Election Day and arrive within seven days. You can check your registration and ballot status at sos.ca.gov/elections. California lets you register and vote the same day at a vote center.