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California Primary Election: Voter Turnout in 9 Bay Area Counties

Many Californians opted to skip casting their ballot in the Primary Election, data shows.

NBC Universal, Inc. As the pols opened Tuesday morning for California’s primary election, Santa Clara County Registar of Voters spokesperson Shannon Bushey tells voters what they need to know.

The polls closed Tuesday night in California's Primary Election, and data shows most registered voters opted to skip casting their ballot this time around.

As of Wednesday morning, 19% of registered voters in the state returned their ballots, according to a ballot tracker from Political Data Inc., a California-based campaign firm that tracks voter turnout. 

As of May 23, 81.53% of eligible voters in California were registered, for a total of 21,941,212, according to the Secretary of State.

Tuesday’s Primary Election decided who will run in the general election on Nov. 8. 

Key Races

Some of the key races included Governor, Lieutenant Governor, Secretary of State, Attorney General, State Controller, Superintendent of Public Instruction, Insurance Commissioner, U.S. Senate and U.S. House of Representatives.

In San Francisco, voters decided to recall progressive district attorney Chesa Boudin.

In San Jose, voters narrowed in on two frontrunners in the city’s mayoral race — Santa Clara County Supervisor Cindy Chavez and San Jose City Councilman Matt Mahan. 

The two will likely head to a runoff election in November.

In the Santa Clara County Sheriff’s race, candidates Robert Jonsen and Keven Jensen took the lead and will face each other in a runoff this fall. 

Jensen is a retired sheriff’s deputy and Jonsen serves as Palo Alto police chief.

Take a look at key races in your county using the tool below.

Find Your California Primary Candidates

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Note: The candidate order is randomized. Source: California Secretary of State
Amy O’Kruk/NBC

Voter Turnout in the Bay Area

Here’s a look at voter turnout following Tuesday's election across the nine Bay Area counties, according to Political Data Inc.

  • San Francisco County — 23% (109,941 ballots returned)
  • Santa Clara County — 26% (255,646 ballots returned)
  • Solano County — 13% (34,887 ballots returned)
  • Sonoma County — 26% (79,602 ballots returned)
  • Marin County — 22% (37,627 ballots returned)
  • Contra Costa County — 20% (137,127 ballots returned)
  • Alameda County — 17% (159,599 ballots returned)
  • Napa County — 27% (20,477 ballots returned)
  • San Mateo County — 27% (114,314 ballots returned)

When is the Deadline to Cast My Ballot?

Ballots must be returned in-person or postmarked by Tuesday, June 7. 

Click here to find a polling place near you.

Take a look at NBC Bay Area's 2022 Election coverage here.

In the June 7 primary election, San Jose voters will begin the process of electing the city's next mayor. Mayor Sam Liccardo has hit his term limit, so it's an open race with seven candidates on the ballot. The top two vote getters will head to a November runoff election unless one candidate grabs more than 50 percent of the vote. Big issues in this race are the escalating problems around homelessness and affordable housing in the city, an uptick in crime amid a police staffing shortage, and the future of downtown, where businesses are struggling to recover and Google wants to build a sprawling new campus. Here's what to know about the candidates for the highest office in the Bay Area's biggest city.
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