South Pasadena voters had returned 5,510 ballots by Monday, Nov. 2. That is 30 percent of the 18,315 ballots mailed to the city’s voters, according to ballot-tracking data from Political Data Inc. (PDI), a Sacramento-area firm that tracks returns statewide.
That puts the city ahead of the county and the state. In Los Angeles County, about 24 percent of more than 5.9 million registered voters had cast ballots as of Sunday. Statewide, PDI counts about 23 percent of California’s 23.2 million ballots returned.
That still leaves 12,805 South Pasadena ballots outstanding with one day to go.
Who Has Voted So Far In South Pasadena
Democrats have returned 3,471 of 10,430 ballots, or 33 percent.
Republicans have returned 777 of 2,544 ballots, or 31 percent.
Voters with no party preference or a minor party have returned 1,262 of 5,341 ballots, or 24 percent.
Democrats hold 57 percent of the city’s mailed ballots but make up 63 percent of the ballots returned so far. Republicans hold 14 percent of mailed ballots and 14 percent of returns. Independent and minor-party voters hold 29 percent of mailed ballots but only 23 percent of returns.
Older Voters Are Carrying The Early Count
Voters 65 and older have returned 2,127 of 4,405 ballots, or 48 percent. They are about 24 percent of the city’s voters but 39 percent of the ballots cast so far.
Voters 50 to 64 have returned 1,560 of 4,671 ballots, or 33 percent.
Voters 35 to 49 have returned 1,153 of 5,150 ballots, or 22 percent.
Voters 18 to 34 have returned 670 of 4,074 ballots, or 16 percent. They account for 12 percent of the ballots in.
Cacciotti vs Trehan District 4, South Pasadena’s Contested Council Seat
In District 4, where sitting City Councilmember Michael Cacciotti faces Current Finance Commission Chair Nevin Stanton-Trehan, 943 of 3,371 ballots are in, or 28 percent. That trails the city’s 30 percent pace. It leaves 2,428 ballots out, so nearly three-quarters of the district’s potential vote has not been cast.
District 4 is still running well ahead of the last midterm. At the same point in 2022, the day before the election, 695 ballots had come in, or 22 percent, according to PDI, which maps the 2022 returns onto today’s district lines. That puts this year 248 ballots and nearly 6 percentage points ahead.
Democrats have returned 645 of 1,984 ballots (33 percent). They hold 59 percent of the district’s mailed ballots but make up 68 percent of returns so far. Republicans have returned 99 of 405 (24 percent) and make up 10 percent of returns. No party preference and minor-party voters have returned 199 of 982 (20 percent), the lowest rate of any group in the district.
The age gap is as wide as it is citywide. Voters 65 and older are at 48 percent turnout (328 of 684), while voters 18 to 34 are at 17 percent (142 of 817). Voters 50 to 64 stand at 30 percent (270 of 890) and voters 35 to 49 at 21 percent (203 of 973).
What South Pasadena Voters Are Deciding
Beyond the District 4 council race, South Pasadena voters face Measure SOS, an $80 million streets and sidewalks bond and the biggest municipal spending decision put to residents in decades.
Statewide, voters are choosing a governor in the race between Democrat Xavier Becerra and Republican Steve Hilton, along with 14 statewide propositions.
California On Pace For A Record
PDI Vice President Paul Mitchell has said California is on pace for about 60 percent turnout, which would be the most ballots ever cast in a California governor’s race. Statewide, Democrats make up 51 percent of returned ballots against 45 percent of registered voters. Republicans make up 29 percent of returns against 25 percent of registration.
How And When To Vote
Vote centers and drop boxes are open Tuesday, Nov. 3, from 7 a.m. to 8 p.m. Mail ballots postmarked by Election Day count if they reach the county by Nov. 10. No postage is required.
Los Angeles County will post results about every 15 minutes after polls close Tuesday night. On Nov. 4, 5 and 6, updates post at 9 a.m. and 4 p.m. Starting Nov. 7, updates post daily between 4 and 5 p.m. Counting is expected to run through Nov. 26.
About The Numbers
PDI’s figures come from county ballot-return files and are unofficial. They can trail the county’s own count by a day or more. PDI measures turnout against ballots mailed. Because every registered voter in Los Angeles County is mailed a ballot, that figure closely tracks turnout among registered voters. The Los Angeles County figure comes from the county Registrar-Recorder/County Clerk as reported by LAist.
