Voters already deciding two open seats for the Santa Barbara City Council

Santa Barbara voters have had their ballots since the first week in October and the race is on. The City Council has two open seats, from two districts, with eight candidates running.

For one voter, she didn’t need to wait until the Tuesday election day deadline.

Lauda Swan said, ” I already knew who I was going to vote for and what I was going to vote for and I voted right away and mailed it. ”

In debates and campaign literature it’s clear some of the biggest issues include, housing supplies and costs, the impacts of homelessness on the community overall especially in the business districts, traffic and alternative transportation and while it wasn’t a loud campaign issue, public safety and funding for first responders is always a top concern for city leaders.

” Yes I like to vote by mail, ” said Lucky Coil when she was reminded it was a mail-in election.

The ballots have to be postmarked by November 5th and received by November 8th .
They are being counted in Los Angeles County this time around and not in the city as a way to save on costs.
That will also mean, final results will not be known on election day and likely not until several days later.
Voters we talked to said the relatively new concept of district elections seems to be working for them.
” I do because we have a lot of things that are unique to this neighborhood, ” said Lucky Coil about her desire to pick a council member that serves where she lives.

For those still deciding, ” we’re gonna vote we vote at home. Sit down and have a cocktail and read our ballot, ” said resident Feenie Grooms. ” It is all about change and change is always a good thing, I think. ”

Lauda Swan has already voted and said casting a ballot for someone who lives near her was important. ” .. I think it is more neighborhoody and hometowny and I like that. I like the closeness that is why I am in Santa Barbara, ” she said.

In addition to the vote by mail option, there will be in person drop off boxes at City Hall and two other locations, Holy Cross Church on the Mesa and the Franklin Center on the Eastside. They will be open on Saturday and Tuesday.

Often in the smaller districts and races with lower turnouts, the margin of victory can sometime be decided by just a few votes. That’s why all the ballots that come in on election day including provisionals will be verified and counted as soon as possible by the Norwalk (Los Angeles County) elections office.

For those who want to bring their ballots in, there will be drop off locations at Santa Barbara City Hall, the Franklin Center on the Eastside and Holy Cross church on the Mesa staffed with election workers Saturday and Tuesday all day.

For more information go to: https://www.santabarbaraca.gov/gov/vote/