‘I just wanted to see what it was like to vote’
9:25 p.m.
Child development junior Crystal Huang was one of the last people to cast their votes at the PAC.
“I was seeing a lot of TikToks and other social media posts on voting today,” said Huang, inspiring her to vote.
“I never voted before, so this is the first time I’m voting. I just wanted to see what it was like to vote.” Huang said.
Huang arrived at the polling location around 7 p.m. and waited almost two hours to vote.
Huang said the wait “was worth it, in a way because it was an experience.”
Initial report show Jan Marx leading for City Council
9:12 p.m.
Former Mayor Jan Marx holds a lead in the City Council general election with 40% of votes in the initial report.
Mike Boswell follows with 34% of votes.
San Luis Obispo Mayor Erica Stewart on path to reelection with 86% of votes, according to initial report
8:56 p.m.
Current San Luis Obispo Mayor Erica Stewart holds a major lead in the election with 86% of votes in the initial report.
Donald E. Hedrick received almost 14% of the vote. He has ran for mayor multiple times.
BREAKING: Election officials sent extra help to Cal Poly polling stations during election day
8:51 p.m.
According to the KCPR x MNTV broadcast, SLO County election officials had to send extra help to campus polling stations because they were filling up quickly.
How volunteers wrap up polling stations
8:45 p.m.
Poll volunteer Julie Rodewald, who has previously served as the SLO county election clerk for 20 years, explained the process for the poll workers after 8 p.m.
She explained that the volunteers first check the validity of the ballots before sending them off to be counted.
“The first thing that we do is account for the ballots that are remaining that weren’t used,” Rodewald said. After that, we can open the ballot box. We don’t actually tally the results, but we count the physical ballots. Once we deliver our ballots to Election Central, it’s probably another 20 or 30 minutes before they will be added to the tallies.”
When asked how much longer the volunteers would be staying after the polls closed, Rodewald said, “We’re hoping to be cleaned up and out of here within an hour or so after the last person votes. We went to continue to make them feel welcome.”
Cal Poly Democrats Club election watch party wraps up
8:25 p.m.
The room cleared out except for the president and one other student.
Political science senior Jose Aguilar has been club president for two years. He said there was a good turnout at the watch party, which had about 50 attendees at its height.
“It’s a space where everyone can have a lot of social cohesion,” Aguilar said. “We want to get a lot of people more involved.”
As for the election results, Aguilar said it is still early.
“Usually these things aren’t dictated in one day,” Aguilar said.
‘I felt like I was stuck between a choice’
8:27 p.m.
Raymond Dennis of San Luis Obispo was the last voter at the Zion Lutheran Church, exiting the location at 8:03pm.
“I had to read through the propositions as I went and I was like why are we even voting on some of this stuff.” Dennis said. “Is somebody trying to get rid of gay marriage?”
He expressed confusion for having to update the constitution.
“I’m glad we’re putting in the constitution but I’m assuming somebody’s trying to take that away,” Dennis said.
He continued to explain his feelings after voting.
“I don’t know, I felt like I was stuck between a choice,” Dennis said. “Like, you’d only pick Democratic or Republic, and I wanted to do the independent ones.”
Turning Point USA hosts watch party
8:00 p.m.
Turning Point USA is hosting an election night in the Cotchett Education building. Twenty students are watching the FOX News Election Day coverage.
TPUSA is a nonpartisan club that aims to create a safe space for free speech, according to club president and engineering management master’s student Madison Pierce.
“We’re just getting started,” Pierce said. “I think everyone’s happy to have a space to relax and hang out with friends and not have the pressure of having someone with opposite views. [We] create a space that’s positive and happy. Everyone’s excited that we have a space for that and excited to watch everything go down.”
CP Democrats start its watch party
7:30 p.m.
Students stood outside of the room, as the space filled up with students. First-time voter and graphic design transfer Tess Ferral was in attendance as well.
“Honestly it is very stressful but I’m also very excited,” Ferral said.
Ferral described the watch party as “tense but hopeful.” After this party, she’s planning to go to another one.
History transfer Mitchel Luther joined the club this quarter. He said it is a stressful time, but he feels fine right now at the watch party.
“There’s a lot on the line here,” he said. “I don’t think anyone in here wants a second Trump presidency.”
Polls prepare to close lines at 8 p.m.
7:00 p.m.
Julie Roderwald, a volunteer at the Zion Lutheran Church told Mustang News the turnout has been inspiring.
“We have had much more of a turnout than we did in March [for the primaries],” Roderwald said.
When the polls are expected to close at 8 p.m., she ensured that anyone who was in line would be counted.
Cal Poly Democrats watch party filled with chatter and CBS News broadcast
6:30 p.m.
The room in Aglish (Bldg 10) is filled with so much chatter it is hard to hear over one another. Students are having pizza and soda, and there are very few empty chairs left in the classroom. The CBS News broadcast is playing on the screen.
Environment management and protection junior Gabrielle Rojo is glad to be here.
“I thought it would be a good way to meet some like-minded individuals and have a community at this time,” Rojo said. “I feel like I’m needing it.”
The University Union ballot box full, to be emptied for the third time
6:00 p.m.
The ASI front desk supervisor CC Chaffe said the county clerk will come back to empty the ballot box, now for the third time today. Students are being directed to drop ballots off at the Performing Arts Center.
Cal Poly Democrats on Dexter Lawn encourage students to vote
5:45 p.m.
Cal Poly Democrats club held nonpartisan signs at Dexter Lawn. They specifically chose signs with no clear support towards a candidate or party, to avoid voter bias. “Local issues are always underrepresented in my opinion,” political science senior Jordan Schleifer said.
The Election Day at historic Octagon Barn
5:30 p.m.
San Luis Obispo voters turn up to the Octagon Barn to submit their ballots. Read more below to hear why community members think this election season is especially significant.
Voter tests fraud protections
5:15 p.m.
At Grace Central Church, voter Donna Withey expressed concerns over election fraud. She tested the polling station by mailing in her ballot and going in person to vote.
“I’m not so sure that there isn’t a way to double vote,” Withey said.
‘Go Kamala!’
5:15 p.m.
Over at Zion Lutheran Church, traffic has slowed and few voters trickle in with their families. A “go Kamala!” echoed in the parking lot.
Voters at Elections Office get redirected to less busy polling locations
5:00 p.m.
The San Luis Obispo Elections Office is rerouting voters to other polling locations while the line inside for envelopes, registration and ballots is 45 minutes to an hour long.
How voting has gone at the University Union
4:47 p.m.
Cal Poly’s University Union has seen steady voter turnout in the middle of campus. Read more below to hear students’ thoughts on this election.
Polls expect a surge of voters around 5 p.m. as people get off work
4:45 p.m.
Grace Central Coast poll inspector says polls peaked around 3 p.m. and are currently slowing down, but expect to ramp up again around 5 p.m. as people get off work.
‘I think [voting] is something to be treasured’
4:30 p.m.
Seventy-six year old Alabama native Amelia Sherman has been voting since she turned 21. She always chooses to vote in person because of the wrongdoings she witnessed firsthand during the Civil Rights Movement.
“When I go in there with my ballot, I think about all of those civil rights workers, and I think about all of the African American people who weren’t allowed to vote,” Sherman said. “I think [voting] is something to be treasured.”
Grace Central Coast experiences staffing shortage
3:30 p.m.
Afternoon shift poll workers at Grace Central Coast never came in to relieve morning shift workers, forcing some to work the entire day.
When asked if this worker shortage will affect the voting process, poll worker Libby Waterbury said, “No, I don’t think so. [However,] it’ll become more tricky when we start giving more breaks for workers.”
University Union ballot box overflows third time today
3:00 p.m.
The University Union ballot box overflowed and was emptied for the third time today, according to Tracy Watson, a student government administrative assistant for ASI.
Mail-in voters in the University Union were told by ASI representatives to go to the Performing Arts Center and the San Luis Obispo Veteran’s Hall for alternative drop-off locations.
“I’ve never seen the University Union get this busy,” Watson said. “They are going to need to get a bigger box.”
Octagon Barn and Grace Central Coast see no wait times
2:30 p.m.
There are no lines at Octagon Barn and Grace Central Coast, voters are typically in and out within three minutes.
Out-of-town visitors casting ballots in San Luis Obispo
2:00 p.m.
Madi O’Conner is visiting the San Luis Obispo area this week to see her sister. She came unsure if she would be able to vote in the area but filed for voter registration at Grange Hall and was able to vote immediately.
“My first voting experience was a little stressful, but it went very well,” O’Connor said.
Parental support encourages some first-time voters
1:45 p.m.
First-time on-campus voters expressed the importance of familial support.
“I honestly wasn’t going to [vote] and then [my dad] was like, ‘you’re 18, it’s real important,'” mechanical engineering freshman Cameron Mclaughlin said.
Students relied on parental guidance when filling out their ballots and finding drop-off locations.
“My parents helped me out a lot with it,” biology junior Nelly Fabre said. “They’re on that kind of thing, and we have similar views, so I was able to ask them.”
Octagon Barn’s first electioneering
1:30 p.m.
The first instance of electioneering at Octagon Barn involved a person outside the voting station wearing a sweatshirt promoting President Joe Biden at 11:30 a.m. Since Biden is not in the race, the restrictions did not apply.
Electioneering entails wearing clothing that supports or opposes a political candidate. The California Secretary of State website has full details on electioneering.
Voters at Grace Central Coast share their thoughts
1:15 p.m.
Balle Gearhart and her son Randy walked into Grace Central Coast, but only Randy voted from encouragement from his friends. Balle has never voted because of indecisiveness and disinterest in politics.
“It’s a lot to think about,” Balle said. “But I may be learning more now, and I might decide next election to do it.”
Ludwick Community Center sees an increase in voters from other stations
1:00 p.m.
More people are walking to the Ludwick Community Center from the San Luis Obispo County Clerk-Recorder to vote due to other voting stations’ being very busy. Large numbers of provisional ballots are being handed out to help voters in the wrong precinct vote correctly. A small line forms in front of the center.
Voting stations and tables doubled at Performing Arts Center
12:30 p.m.
“Turnout is a little bit more than we expected, which is a great problem to have,” said Heather Gray, the administration and special projects coordinator for the PAC. She and her team are setting up more voting stations and tables, anticipating large turnouts around lunch hours and evening.
Tables have doubled to 20 and every station is being used in the building. San Luis Obispo County is dropping off additional supplies.
“I would just say, get here before 8 p.m.,” she advised. “If you are in line at 8 p.m., you will be able to vote, but make sure that you get here in time.”
‘I’m hoping I voted for the first woman president’
12:15 p.m.
The Weyels, a family of three, went to Octagon Barn, where secrecy folders are around for privacy. The mother said, “I’ll be honest, I’m hoping I voted for the first woman president. I was highly motivated to vote for a woman.” The husband and daughter nodded in agreement.
Ballot box overflows, emptied
12:00 p.m.
The ballot box in the University Union has once again been emptied at 11:57 a.m. by ballot retriever officers from the San Luis Obispo County Clerk-Recorder. The box was first emptied yesterday in the morning and at 5:15 p.m.
High energy near ballot drop-offs
11:30 a.m.
155 voters have dropped off their ballot within the half hour at the University Union. Energy is high — two female students dropped off their ballots, high-fived and said, “Yay women!”
‘Just making sure my voice was heard’
11:00 a.m.
Around 90 voters are dropping off their ballots at the University Union ballot drop box. Voters are forcing in their ballots and envelopes are seen through the slot. Students in line are asking each other how to fill it out correctly.
“For me, it was just making sure my voice was heard,” Jackie Wong, business administration senior and first-time voter said. “Even though there’s so many people in the world, everyone has a voice, and I’m just making sure I can help in any way I can.”
ASI hosting education booth on Election Day
10:50 a.m.
Associated Students Inc. (ASI) is hosting a voter education booth at the University Union Plaza from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. to encourage voter turnout, answer questions and walk students to on-campus polling locations.
For more information about ASI’s primary focus in this booth, read the Mustang News article here.
Cal Poly students register to vote last minute
10:30 a.m.
There is a steady stream of students at the PAC, with a majority of them arriving to register to vote. According to the California Secretary of State, Conditional Voter Registration is another voting option for those who missed the initial registration deadline.
There is a longer line to register than there is to vote.
Voter turnout picks up at multiple polling stations
10:15 a.m.
At the University Union, traffic remains consistent at the ballot drop box as the morning progresses. Several minutes pass without anyone dropping off a ballot. Around 40 voters dropped off their ballot within the half hour, including both staff and students.
As for the Chumash Village, a poll worker said they have seen a steady stream of voters coming in. He said they’re largely older white folks which he thinks may be due to the surrounding area’s demographic. People are largely coming in alone.
People tend to come and go in groups of two or three at Octagon Barn. More people are coming in to vote in person rather than drop off a mail-in ballot.
“I told him to vote by mail, but he said ‘No, I’m old fashioned, I like to do it in person,’” Norine Fernandez said about her husband Delvis Fernandez.
“Well, I just need to see faces and have the experience. Vote by mail, you know, it’s just not the same,” Delvis said.
While different voters expressed various motivations for coming out today, a common theme has been a feeling of duty and obligation to exercise their rights.
“It’s just my civic duty,” Len Kawamoto said as he was exiting the polling building.
A precinct inspector from the PAC said it is always the busiest location.
Two first time voters left the PAC voting center in seemingly good spirits after casting their ballots. Second year students Janet Perez and Genesis Jimenes both thought the voting process was simple and smooth.
“I feel good about it,” Jimenes said.
‘People are more excited to get the sticker than they are to drop off their ballot’
10:00 a.m.
There has still been few showing up to the Grange Hall polling place. One poll worker says that it won’t get any more hectic than this.
“It is busier now than it is during the day,” Susan Updegrove, a Grange Hall employee said. “You’d think it’d be busy from 5-6 when people are getting off work but nope. ”
Updegrove says that the people who are coming to vote in person are mostly there for the new stickers.
“The stickers were designed by kids, it’s the first time we’ve done this in our county,” Updegrove said. “People are more excited to get the sticker than they are to drop off their ballot.
‘It is my duty to express my right to vote’
9:45 a.m.
Foot traffic is still minimal at the Ludwig Community Center.
Though most individuals are dropping off quick mail-in ballots, some long-time residents have shared their thoughts on the importance of voting. Local voter Steve Murphy says those who choose not to vote do not care.
‘I don’t know if it’s just San Luis, but it’s quiet’
9:20 a.m.
At the Ludwick Community Center, Will Sani, a longtime Californian said, “I don’t know if it’s just San Luis, but it’s quiet.”
There have only been a handful of times where there were more than three voters inside, and many of those voters were only there to drop off their ballots
PAC SLO is also experiencing a lack of attendance, there is not a line outside.
Prospective voters arrive to wrong polling place due to building confusion
9:10 a.m.
A great crowd formed in the building next door to the Octagon Barn voting location, where a land conservancy meeting was beginning. Two members stood outside, pointing confused prospective voters the right way.
Everything you need to know about voting on Election Day in San Luis Obispo
9:00 a.m.
Mustang News produced a San Luis Obispo 2024 Voter Guide to help you make your decisions today. Readers can learn more about candidates or take a quiz to understand more about the candidates’ stances.
Candidates answered questions on challenges facing the city, how they would address housing, safety and more.
In-person voting vs. mail-in ballot
8:50 a.m.
At the Octagon Barn Center, Derek Schmidt, a second-time poll worker and the on-site inspector, offered his hypothesis on the lack of a crowd.
“Since it was introduced, everyone here likes the mail-in ballot,” Schmidt said.
Schmidt is one of eight poll workers at the Octagon Barn Center today.
At the Ludwick Community Center, people have been trickling into the polling place to cast their votes for the past hour and a half, including Richard Murray, a retired Cal Poly professor.
“I just have always been old-fashioned about wanting to come in and vote in-person,” Murray said.
Parents want to show their children the importance of voting
8:45 a.m.
The Chumash Village has been quiet with people slowly trickling in all morning. There are lots of families with kids saying that they want to show their children the importance of voting.
The traffic at Grange Hall has started to increase but still not enough to garner a line. Several of the voters are arriving as a family, with a good amount of children being present. The families have also been taking photos in front of the polling place together.
At Grace Central Coast, there has been a slow start and no line. There has only been about five people come by. Most of the people showing up are families or dropping off a mail in ballot.
‘I wouldn’t say exciting, but it’s something you gotta do’
8:30 a.m.
Agricultural business sophomore Julia Geer and agricultural science sophomore Aaron Briseño walked to the University Union ballot drop box together for Briseño to drop off his ballot before their midterm. Both are first-time voters, and Geer said she mailed in her ballot a few days ago. Geer said it’s exciting to vote during a “pretty important election.”
“It’s a good thing we were able to vote today. I wouldn’t say exciting, but it’s something you gotta do,” Briseño said.
Poll worker said that students are voting before early classes
8:15 a.m.
Poll worker Amy Harway said that the hardest part about her shift has been setting up.
“We had people waiting to vote. Students that wanted to get to class were waiting outside for us to set up,” Harway said.
‘I don’t have trust in the election system anymore’
8:00 a.m.
At the Grange Hall polling location, there have been very few people present. People have been able to go in and out in a matter of minutes.
“This is the first time I’ve been the only one here,” Stanford, a father from San Luis Obispo said. Stanford voted in a person because of his lack of trust in the vote-by-mail system.
“I don’t have trust in the election system anymore after what happened last election,” Stanford said. “I have a son who is a good kid, who gets good grades, never got into drugs, and there are a lot less opportunities for him than there were for me.”
San Luis Obispo sees slow start to Election Day as polling places open
8:00 a.m.
It has been a slow start to Election Day at Grace Central Coast. People are coming in every few minutes, but there has not been a line longer than a handful of people. Many are coming to drop off their votes.
Though approximately 85% of San Luis Obispo County voters opt for mailing in their ballots, 15 early risers showed up to submit their votes at the Octagon Barn Center in the first 30 minutes after it opened. Six of those voters were waiting outside when poll workers opened the doors at 7:00 a.m.
“I always drop it off in person. Especially with all the shenanigans going on,” Patrick Pittarelli said. Pittarelli, a civil service official for the state, cast his first vote for president in 1980.
The polls at the Ludwick Community Center are slow right now. People are trickling in every few minutes to cast their vote, but few are voting in-person. Most people are just dropping off mail-in ballots.