In Photos | Election Day in Isla Vista

November 13, 2020 at 12:53 pm by Daily Nexus Photography

Many Isla Vistans showed up on Election Day to cast their ballots at the two local polling stations: Isla Vista Community Center and Santa Catalina Hall. Election night concluded in Santa Barbara with Joe Biden taking the county by a significant lead in the presidential race, according to official tallies.

Daily Nexus photographers documented scenes at polling places in I.V. throughout the day.

: Given that university housing has been mostly evacuated since the beginning of the pandemic, the number of polling locations near the campus was greatly reduced. One of the polling sites was located at the Linda Vista Room of Santa Catalina Residence Hall. (Sicheng Wang / Daily Nexus)

: Social distancing measures were in place at the polling sites. At Santa Catalina Residence Hall, a notice to follow safety guidelines was displayed alongside the American flag. Several voters interviewed by the Nexus acknowledged that the COVID-19 pandemic added special meaning to the election. (Sicheng Wang / Daily Nexus)

: Voters wait outside the polling station at Santa Catalina Residence Hall. (Sicheng Wang / Daily Nexus)

: Volunteers answer questions from voters outside Santa Catalina Residence Hall. (Kaiyi Yang / Daily Nexus)

: While many casted their ballots on-site, some came to drop off pre-filled ballots. At the Santa Catalina Residence Hall polling station, voters put their ballots in the drop box with the assistance of the site volunteers. (Sophia Ramos / Daily Nexus)

: At the polling station exit area, Caroline Casey, a second-year UCSB student, waited while her friend voted. “The election means our future — basically everything for our kids, for us,” Casey said, urging fellow undergraduates to vote if they are able to. (Sophia Ramos / Daily Nexus)

: Meanwhile, on the streets of Isla Vista, campaigns promoting participation in the election or candidates were ongoing. Ethan Bertrand, a director for the I.V. Community Services District, promoted voting while tabling on Pardall Road. Bertrand was excited for everyone to vote and unleash the mixture of anxiety and excitement that had been building up in the community. “I did not really sleep last night because I was just anxious for this day,” he told the Nexus. “We have been waiting for this day for four years.” (Sophia Ramos / Daily Nexus)

: A courtyard with signs in support of the Democratic candidates for the local races and presidency on Embarcadero Del Norte. (Sicheng Wang / Daily Nexus)

: Another polling station was set up at the I.V. Community Center. Both stations saw intermittent lines of voters throughout the day. (Kayi Yang / Daily Nexus)

: Voters cast their ballots in the I.V. Community Center behind glass roller doors, which were slightly raised for ventilation. (Kayi Yang / Daily Nexus)

: Voting continued as the day turned dark. (Sicheng Wang / Daily Nexus)

: At the I.V. Community Center, the line to vote grew longer after the sunset. With social distancing protocols in place, the line stretched onto the curb of Embarcadero Del Mar. (Sicheng Wang / Daily Nexus)

: Voters waited outside next to a cardboard box in which election staff had provided free water and sanitizer. (Sicheng Wang / Daily Nexus)

: A volunteer dispensed hand sanitizer to voters. (Sicheng Wang / Daily Nexus)

: Diners at the Rockfire Grill had their meals as NBC’s election coverage aired on TV. As the contest for the presidency stretched into a bitter battle that lasted several days, election night in I.V. was largely uneventful. (Sicheng Wang / Daily Nexus)