This Election Day, Nov. 5, the UCSB community will be able to vote for the next president, local officials and other ballot initiatives that directly impact Santa Barbara County. Polling places will be open from 7 a.m. to 8 p.m. on Election Day.

Canvasser speaks with community member about voting in the 2024 election.
Wesley Haver / Daily Nexus

In the upcoming national election, voters will have the opportunity to vote on elected offices at all levels of government, not just the executive. Voters in Santa Barbara County will be able to elect a representative for the 24th congressional district of California. Incumbent Republican Thomas Cole and current representative, Democrat Salud Carbajal, are on the ballot.

Democratic nominee Kamala Harris and Republican nominee Donald Trump will be on the national ballot for U.S. President. Currently, the two nominees are deadlocked in the race, according to an NBC News poll.

There are 10 state-wide propositions on issues including crime, rent control, affordable higher education and the minimum wage. One is a Santa Barbara County measure H2024 to fund local services such as “maintaining 911 emergency communications” by increasing the Transient Occupancy Tax from 12% to 14%, which is paid by hotel guests, according to a Santa Barbara County voter information guide.

Two U.S. Senate contests are on the ballot, one for the regular six-year term ending Jan. 3, 2031 and the other for the remainder of the current term ending Jan. 3, 2025. Both contests are open to voting. Republican and former Major League Baseball player Steve Garvey and Democrat United States Representative Adam Schiff are on the ticket for U.S. Senator.

Locally, multiple seats are up for re-election, such as the Santa Barbara County school board members, the Goleta water board members and the Isla Vista Recreation and Park District (IVRPD). Six seats are open for the IVRPD board, and candidates Robbin May Dominguez Balagtas, Demi Cain, Kim DuFore, Greg Ortiz, Ash Valenti and Finn Zilles are running.

Voting Resources

At UCSB, it is possible to register to vote online or in-person with campus organizations such as UCSB Campus Democrats, California Public Interest Research Group, Gauchos Vote Coalition and the Office of the External Vice President for Local Affairs (EVPLA) who can be found tabling and canvassing in I.V. or on campus. 

The voter registration deadline for the Nov. 5 election is Oct. 21 at 11:59 p.m. Anyone who lives in I.V. or on campus who is at least 18 years old and a U.S. citizen is eligible to vote in Santa Barbara County. Students living in a residence hall or house should use the name of the specific residence hall/house as their residence address. 

On the last day to register to vote, the EVPLA is holding a voter registration drive on Oct. 18 from 3-5 p.m. at the Pardall Center.

Those registered to vote in I.V. will receive a ballot in the mail. The ballot should be returned to a drop box located outside the Student Resource Center. Those who want to vote in-person should bring their ballot to a polling place. 

There are nine polling stations in and around I.V. Those who live in I.V. can find their polling station at sbcvote.com or drop off their ballot at the Student Resource Building on campus. Ballots can also be dropped off at the I.V. Community Center, located at 976 Embarcadero del Mar.

Election day polling places are located at the Santa Catalina Residence Hall Linda Vista Room, Sierra Madre Villages Miramar Center, San Nicolas Hall, Santa Cruz Hall and the Loma Pelona Center on campus.

A version of this article appeared on p. 1 of the Oct. 17, 2024 edition of the Daily Nexus.

Print