About the vote count
As you watch these results, keep in mind:
- There more more than 22.6 million registered voters in California.
- In 2020, the last presidential election, more than 16.1 million Californians cast a ballot.
Get full results:
Keep in mind that in tight races the winner may not be determined for days or weeks after Election Day. This is normal. Here's why.
In California, ballots postmarked on or before Nov. 5 are counted toward the results as long as they arrive within seven days of the election. The California Secretary of State's Office is scheduled to certify the final vote on Dec. 13.
What's at stake in these races
There are thousands of agencies across the state, both public and private, that provide water. The primary responsibility of any agency overseeing a drinking water system is to keep water safe and clean.
Water resilience in the face of an increasingly dry future is also a top concern. Local water agencies make decisions about developing new water supplies, such as recycling wastewater, capturing stormwater and replenishing groundwater. Water affordability is another big consideration for water agencies as increasingly severe drought-to-flood cycles and aging infrastructure affects rates.
Why these races mattered
Water agencies’ size and power vary dramatically, from the Metropolitan Water District of Southern California, which serves nearly 19 million people across six counties, to tiny water agencies that serve just a handful of customers.
-
Scott Schmerelson was unanimously elected Tuesday to lead the LAUSD board after defeating a well-funded challenger in November’s election. -
Nguyen was able to take office weeks early to fill the vacancy caused Do’s resignation. -
Nathan Hochman succeeds George Gascón, known as the godfather of progressive prosecutors.
Water officials today are making decisions that will affect water availability, water rates, and long-term drought resilience for decades to come.
Despite the high stakes for the future of water in California, these are often low-profile races and many people repeatedly run unopposed, which critics say can sometimes lead to a lack of accountability and corruption.
