Santa Cruz County election guides

Santa Cruz County election results

For the June 7 elections, Santa Cruz Local is focused on the primary elections for District 3 and District 4 Santa Cruz County supervisor. We press the candidates on the priorities we heard from residents of Districts 3 and 4. We also explain five local ballot measures.

Ballots were mailed to registered voters in early May.

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This guide’s intent is to be a fair, accurate, nonpartisan source for information about the local election. We do not endorse any candidate or take positions on any ballot measure. Read our ethics statement.

Local ballot measures

District 3 Santa Cruz County Supervisor

Justin Cummings, Ami Chen Mills and Shebreh Kalantari-Johnson

From left, Justin Cummings, Ami Chen Mills and Shebreh Kalantari-Johnson are candidates for District 3 Santa Cruz County supervisor in the June 7 primary election. (Photos by Devi Pride, Andrew Rogers and J. Guevara)

On the June 7 ballot, residents of the North Coast and most of the City of Santa Cruz will choose a new District 3 representative on the Santa Cruz County Board of Supervisors. You vote on this race if you live in District 3. View a map or enter your address to see if you live in District 3.

This is a primary election. That means a candidate wins if they get more than 50% of the vote. If no candidate gets more than 50% of the vote, then the top two candidates face off in the Nov. 8 election.

For a deeper understanding of the candidates, read or listen to Santa Cruz Local’s podcast episode: District 3 Santa Cruz County supervisor candidates address voters’ priorities.

Read or listen to the episode

District 4 Santa Cruz County Supervisor

From left, Ed Acosta, Felipe Hernandez and Jimmy Dutra are candidates for District 4 Santa Cruz County supervisor in the June 7 primary election. (Contributed)

On the June 7 ballot, residents of South County will choose a new District 4 representative on the Santa Cruz County Board of Supervisors. You vote on this race if you live in District 3. View a map or enter your address to see if you live in District 4.

This is a primary election. That means a candidate wins if they get more than 50% of the vote. If no candidate gets more than 50% of the vote, then the top two candidates face off in the Nov. 8 election.

Priorities we heard from residents

Santa Cruz Local is committed to helping residents shape the issues in the county supervisor races for districts 3 and 4. In February and March, we interviewed and surveyed more than 100 residents to understand what they want the candidates to talk about. Here’s what we heard:

Campaign fundraising

FAQ

Ballots were mailed to registered voters May 3. Sign up for email or text alerts to track your ballot.

Spanish ballots and voting guides will be mailed the week of May 9 to voters who have requested them on their registration form.

To request a Spanish ballot and voting guide by mail or email, email [email protected] or call 831-454-2060.

Spanish voting materials will be available at all in-person voting locations.

Any Santa Cruz County voter can go to any voting location in the county. Once a location opens for voting, the hours are:

  • 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday to Friday.
  • 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Saturday and Sunday.
  • 7 a.m. to 8 p.m. Election Day June 7.

Two locations opened May 9:

  • Santa Cruz: Santa Cruz County Clerk/Elections Office at 701 Ocean St., Room 310.
  • Watsonville: Watsonville City Clerk’s Office, 275 Main St., fourth floor.

Three locations will open May 28:

  • Aptos: Temple Beth El, 3055 Porter Gulch Road.
  • Live Oak: Santa Cruz County Sheriff’s Office, 5200 Soquel Ave.
  • Scotts Valley: Scotts Valley Community Center, 360 Kings Village Road.

Thirteen locations will open June 4:

  • Aptos: St. John’s Episcopal Church, 125 Canterbury Drive.
  • Bonny Doon: Bonny Doon Elementary School, 1492 Pine Flat Road.
  • Boulder Creek: Boulder Creek Fire Station, 13230 Highway 9.
  • Capitola: New Brighton Middle School, 250 Washburn Ave.
  • Felton: Zayante Fire Department, 7700 E. Zayante Road.
  • Interlaken: Lakeview Middle School, 2350 E. Lake Ave.
  • La Selva Beach: La Selva Beach Clubhouse, 314 Estrella Ave.
  • Santa Cruz: Kaiser Permanente Arena, 140 Front St.
  • Santa Cruz: Masonic Philosophical Society study center, 828 N. Branciforte Ave.
  • Santa Cruz: UC Santa Cruz Stevenson Event Center, 520 Cowell-Stevenson Road.
  • Scotts Valley: Scotts Valley High School, 555 Glenwood Drive.
  • Soquel: Soquel High School, 401 Old San Jose Road.
  • Watsonville: Pajaro Valley Community Health Trust, 85 Nielson St.

The “VoteMobile” van also will offer voter services throughout the county. The schedule will be posted on the county elections website.

  • Drop off: Voters can drop off their ballot in one of 17 outdoor drop boxes in Santa Cruz County. The boxes are marked “Santa Cruz County Official Ballot Drop Box” and are managed by the Santa Cruz County Elections Department.
  • Walk in: Voters can drop off their ballot at an in-person voting location.
  • Mail in: Registered voters received a mailed ballot with a postage paid envelope. Ballots must be postmarked on or before June 7 and received by June 14 to be considered on time.

Outdoor ballot drop box locations

Aptos: Resurrection Catholic Church, 7600 Soquel Drive
Aptos: Polo Grounds near the dog park, 2255 Huntington Drive
Aptos: Cabrillo College parking lot R by the stadium, 3732 Cabrillo College Drive
Ben Lomond: Highlands Park, 8500 Highway 9
Boulder Creek: Boulder Creek Community Church, 12465 Highway 9
Capitola: Capitola City Hall parking lot, 420 Capitola Ave.
Capitola: Capitola Mall near the old Sears, 1855 41st Ave.
Capitola: Capitola Public Library, 2005 Wharf Road
Corralitos: Corralitos Community Center, 35 Browns Valley Road
Felton: Felton Covered Bridge Park, Graham Hill Road at Mount Hermon Road
Los Gatos: Summit Store, 24197 Summit Road
Santa Cruz: County Government Center parking lot, 701 Ocean St.
Santa Cruz: public parking lot, 212 Church St.
Santa Cruz: UCSC Quarry Plaza
Scotts Valley: Scotts Valley City Hall parking lot, 1 Civic Center Drive
Watsonville: public parking lot, 316 Rodriguez St.
Watsonville: County Health Center, 1430 Freedom Blvd.

  • Santa Cruz County residents can sign up to get a ballot by email by May 31. Sign up on the county elections website.
  • You’ll need a computer and printer.
  • Ballots must be returned by mail, at a drop box or a voting location.
  • Questions? 831-454-2060.

You can register to vote even if you don’t have a mailing address. The county elections website has details.

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