Elections

As coronavirus cases in the world and the U.S continue to soar, we will talk with local experts about what you need to know to stop the spread, stay safe, get tested and how prepared we are to fight this outbreak, as well as what are the political implications of this pandemic for the U.S.

On this week's Issues and Ideas, California Secretary of State Alex Padilla stops by to discuss big changes coming to California elections in 2020. Also, the CEO of San Luis Obispo health and wellness tech company MindBody breaks his silence following a multibillion-dollar acquisition. We talk with Rick Stollmeyer about future plans for MindBody, if the company will stay in San Luis Obispo and what the acquisition means for the Central Coast tech industry. And we get to know more about eating disorders on college campuses through the eyes of a survivor, a dietary expert and a reporter who has been covering one student's journey.

California Secretary of State Alex Padilla was in San Luis Obispo this week to crown Cal Poly the winner of the inaugural California University and College Ballot Bowl. That's a new competition from the Secretary of State's office and various nonprofits aiming to encourage voting among California's students. Of the schools that competed, Cal Poly students and administrators registered the largest number of students to vote in the 2018 election: 3,178.

Central Coast election offices are busy preparing for Tuesday’s Presidential Primary.

Tuesday, June 7, 2016 is Election Day in California as Central Coast voters head to the polls to pick their primary candidates for President of the United States, Congress and various supervisor seats in Santa Barbara, San Luis Obispo and Monterey Counties, among other choices. 

From the moment Central Coast Congresswoman Lois Capps announced her plans to retire at the end of this term, candidates looking to fill her spot began to announce their intentions to run.

Also an earlier 24th Congressional District candidate debate on February 4, 2016 at Cal Poly was moderated by KCBX News Director Randol White.

The debate begins at 18:14 in the video below, produced by Mustang News:

The City of Santa Barbara is working on plans to set up new city council districts for the upcoming November 2015 election.

Until now, the city's council members were elected at-large—meaning any registered voter in the city could cast a ballot for any of the council seats.

The move to districts is the result of a court ruling and settlement under the state's 2001 voting rights act.

Kristy Schmidt is Santa Barbara's Administrative Services Director. She says the city is currently collecting information from the public on forming the geographic boundaries.

ALSO: Hear the argument against Measure G  

On November 4, 2014, voters in the city of San Luis Obispo will decide whether they want to extend a half-cent sales tax for another eight years.

The "general purpose" tax was originally passed in 2006 as Measure Y. This year’s version is known as Measure G, and does come with some changes.

Reporter Jordan Bell spoke with Marilee Hyman, President of the League of Women Voters in San Luis Obispo, about how to evaluate ballot propositions.

Hyman discusses buzz words, endorsements and more.

Election Day is November 4, 2014. The last day to register to vote in California is October 20, 2014.

More information from the San Luis Obispo League of Women Voters can be found on their website. Hyman also recommends the SmartVoter.org site.

This November, California voters will decide who will serve in the state’s top offices, including Governor, Attorney General, and Secretary of State, among others.

California State Senator Alex Padilla is the current front-runner for the Secretary of State race, coming in first place among a crowded field in the June primary, filled primarily with Democrats. He too is a Democrat who currently represents the state's 20th Senate District, which includes much of the San Fernando Valley in Los Angeles County.

A new round of campaigning is just beginning for the candidates involved in three separate Central Coast races that have been extended to November as a result of Tuesday’s primary elections.

Longtime incumbent and Democrat Lois Capps secured her spot in the race for California's 24th Congressional District. She faced a record number of challengers under the state's new "top two" primary system.