Final Ballots Still Getting Processed as Proposition 50 Holds a Large Lead in the California Special Election

John Palminteri

SANTA BARBARA COUNTY, Calif. (KEYT) – The Santa Barbara County turnout for the California Proposition 50 election Tuesday showed a massive preference for the vote by mail process.

The ballot had just one item, Prop 50 redistricting, and it was statewide with about two-thirds of the voters casting a yes vote.

In Santa Barbara County there was a steady stream of cars and people around the elections office up until the polls closed at 8 p.m.

The special voter ballot boxes were also emptied and locked at that time.

There was a turnout of about 35 percent by mail and the rest were in person for a total estimate at this point of 39 percent.

One voter Steve Fort said the vote by mail is convenient and he stopped in person voting during  the pandemic.

“I used to like the act of going to do it and going to a place, but Covid just kind of changed that. Just switched to mail.”

Isla Vista residents,  mostly UC Santa Barbara students, were determined to vote, even as the polls were closing.

Emily Hanniff said, “I’m finally at the age where I can make my own decisions and where I finally can act on my civic duty to vote. And I think when there’s a time when there’s so many people that are being marginalized in so many marginalized communities, being oppressed, it’s like even more now. It’s a community issue. It’s not just a political issue. “

Those in line when the polls closed at 8 p.m. are always allowed to cast a ballot, 

Jennifer NNoli said she was happy with the policy. “That’s great that they felt the need to make their vote count and make sure that it was in the ballots for the people to know.”

 It is unknown exactly how many ballots are left to be counted but that will be known this week.

One voter did not expect to hear that 60 percent of the voters did not cast a ballot.

Diego Fernandez said, “Yeah, that’s surprising, especially because we have so many young people here. I come from the Bay area where politically young people are often on the forefront of, you know, political movements and voting is a huge part of that.”

The final ballots to come in are still being verified and counted to have a final result sheet for the Secretary of State on December 12.

The number of remaining ballots and the date for the next totals update is still being determined.

The returns show:

Voters Cast: 100,133 of 250,857

Turnout 39.92%

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CIF playoff wrap: Dons water polo loses, Nipomo volleyball wins semifinal

Mike Klan

SANTA BARBARA, Calif. (KEYT). –

CIF-Central Section Girls Volleyball Semifinals:

Division 3: Nipomo 3, Santa Ynez 1; Bullard 3, Atascadero 0

Nipomo hosts Bullard on Thursday at 6pm in championship

Division 2: Arroyo Grande 3, Garces Memorial 0

AG is at Central Valley Christian on Thursday, 6pm in championship

Division 5: Morro Bay 3, Strathmore 1

Morro Bay will host North on Thursday, 6pm in championship

CIF-Southern Section Boys Water Polo Round 2

Division 3: Hoover 18, Santa Barbara 17 (4OT)

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Sensley shines in season-opening UCSB win over outclassed SF State

Mike Klan

UC SANTA BARBARA, Calif. (KEYT) – Zion Sensley led everyone with 23 points and 14 rebounds as UCSB routed NCAA Division II San Francisco State 98-67 to begin the season.

The sophomore Sensley had a jaw-dropping dunk off an inbound pass in the first half but it was his work on the boards that caught the attention of his head coach Joe Pasternack who said, “I am really proud of Zion Sensley, and he has such a high ceiling. For him to grab 14 rebounds, I am just really proud of him.”

Sensley made 3-of-5 from three point distance and he was one of five Gauchos to score in double-figures.

True freshman CJ Shaw scored 20 points with 7 rebounds and 4 steals.

Colin Smith added 13 points, Miro Little tallied 12 points while Hosana Kitenge scored 11 points for the Gauchos who led 58-35 at the half.

(Miro Little scored 12 points in his Gauchos debut. Entenza Design).

UCSB hosts San Jose State on Saturday at 1 p.m.

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Prop 50 co-author Assemblymember Gregg Hart ready to celebrate

Tracy Lehr

SANTA BARBARA, Calif. (KEYT) When Texas moved to add conservative seats to the House of Representatives, California Democrats including 37th District Assemblymember Gregg Hart and State Senator Monique Limón worked to put Prop. 50 on the November Ballot.

Hart, who was preceded by Steve Bennett, represents an area that was redistricted.

Hart and Limón are the among the Democrats who co-authored Proposition 50 that is the only issue on the Special Election ballot in California.

“It is a really important election and I’m glad that we are going to be celebrating soon, the polls are still open, we want people to get out and vote,” said Hart.

During a conversation outside the historic Santa Barbara County Courthouse, Hart said he wants voters to know that Proposition 50 authorized temporary changes to Congressional Districts Maps.

The use of a an independent Citizens Redistricting Commission will be back.

“The redistricting commission and its work will resume after the next census in 2030, so the 2032 lines will be drawn using their skills and expertise and the most current census, only pausing the use of the current lines for the 2026 and 2028 and 30 election,” said Hart.

Hart has written other bills and wanted to work on this, too.

“I think that is such an important issue I wanted to step up and make our voice loud and clear.”

Critics call it s power grab by politicians that hurts fair representation. They also don’t like the estimated $200 million cost of the election.

The moment the polls closed new outlets projected it as a winner.

“I’m thrilled California voters understood this issue very clearly this was an opportunity for us to send a message to the country and the world that we instead to stop Donald Trump from ruining our Democracy,” said Hart.

The 24th District represented by Salud Carbajal is slated to stay the same, while the 26th District represented by Julia Brownley is likely to expand with the exception of Simi Valley.

It will not longer be part of that district.

“I think it is a huge victory across the state in places that people didn’t expect it,” said Hart, “I expect the margin to be over 60 percent it is truly a significant monumental achievement that California stepped up to our role as a leader of the country.”

For more information visit https://electionresults.sos.ca.gov and https://lao.ca.gov

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Two Los Angeles men arrested for burglary in Nipomo

Caleb Nguyen

NIPOMO, Calif. (KEYT) – San Luis Obispo County Sheriff’s Office deputies arrested two Los Angeles men for a pharmacy burglary just after 4:30 a.m. Tuesday morning.

SLOCSO deputies, alongside CHP officers, arrived at the pharmacy and chased one suspect on foot before apprehending him.

The second suspect tried to drive away before SLOCSO deputies detained the driver at a traffic stop and determined that the car used was connected to the burglary.

Evidence in the car connected the vehicle to the crime after a preliminary investigation and SLOCSO deputies identified both men responsible for a separate pharmacy burglary in Templeton.

SLOCSO deputies believe the Templeton burglary took place before the Nipomo burglary on Tuesday morning.

SLOCSO deputies identified a 32-year-old Los Angeles man and a 41-year-old Los Angeles man and arrested both for burglary and conspiracy.

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Commercial burglars arrested in Santa Maria

Caleb Nguyen

SANTA MARIA, Calif. (KEYT) – Santa Maria Police arrested two commercial burglars just after 3:00 a.m. Tuesday.

SMPD officers checked the business and heard both men involved jumping a chain-link fence on one side of the property.

SMPD officers then detained a 31-year-old man and a 33-year-old man after finding a truck registered to the 31-year-old containing many stolen items from the business.

Video surveillance showed both men inside the business committing the burglary and the SMPD later booked both into the SBSO jail for felony burglary charges.

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Prop 50 Could Affect California and Future Elections – What Do You Think?

News Channel 3-12

SANTA BARBARA, Calif. (KEYT) – Following Nov. 4th special state election, former senator and Dale Francisco, former councilman came together on TV Hill for a LIVE discussion on the results.

They shared their thoughts on Prop 50 and the ongoing government shutdown, and answered your questions and comments LIVE in studio.

Leave your questions/comments/concerns in the chat below.

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Final Ballots Coming In To Decide Proposition 50 in California

John Palminteri

SANTA BARBARA, Calif. (KEYT) – A steady stream of cars and voters have been coming through the Santa Barbara County election’s office parking lot in the final hours of the current special election.

The ballot has only one decision for the voters to make. There are no candidates and no initiatives. It is just Proposition 50 dealing with redistricting.

The people showing up on Election Day were basically in two categories: The voters who knew they were going to vote, but had not had a chance to do it yet until this deadline, and others who had not made up their mind on the possible change on district lines which could happen.

 One couple discussed the item but them voted secretly. Claire VanBlaricum said, “we finally decided and  we had to bite the bullet and we did and came down and this was the best way to make sure it was counted.”

Her husband Glenn said, “I don’t know how she voted,  I assume she voted like I did  but we don’t know. She didn’t see my vote.  I didn’t see her vote.”

The ballot drop box in front of the elections office was busy, but it has already been cleared out three or four times today. The final batch will be accepted up to 8:00 p.m. when the election ends and the polls close.

For one voter, Laurie Divatson this site is “only the official one, here at the elections because you never know. ” 

The feeling after voting is one that is unique for those who came through. “It is immediate gratification you get proud it makes you feel more American  but I think the mail in ballot is a wonderful thing to do. As a nurse all of my clients cant make it  to the polling place so they mail it in, ” said Rosanne Marquis.

  “It is a civic duty and it feels like we are participating and that we can make a difference and it feels  good, ” said Cash Upton.

If there is a line and voters are in place they will be accepted in to vote.

Election workers have already been verifying signatures and preparing the ballots for counting.

That process is done in advance in the case there is an issue with a signature that doesn’t match or a damaged ballot. The election workers attempt to find the voter to correct the issue so the vote can count.

(More details, photos and video will be added here later today.)

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Congressman Carbajal Meets with Local Nutrition Program to Brainstorm Over Impact of Government Shutdown

Jarrod Zinn

SAN LUIS OBISPO, Calif. (KEYT) – On Tuesday afternoon, Congressman Salud Carbajal met with Meals That Connect, San Luis Obispo’s Senior Nutrition Program.

The congressman says nearly 42 million people nationwide, including 100,000 from California’s Central Coast, are being impacted by the continuing government shutdown and the resulting halt in supplemental assistance programs like SNAP.

“Programs like ‘Meals That Connect,’ despite the heroic great work that they’re doing to feed all those food insecure veterans, seniors, families and children, they can’t do it all without continued SNAP benefits,” says Rep. Salud Carbajal, (D) California.

The meeting between the service of free healthy meals to over 2,000 seniors in SLO County and the congressman enabled a brainstorming session about the far-reaching impacts on food scarcity, and how to combat shortages.

“In San Luis Obispo County, we’re pushing on 30% of the population being senior citizens, and the congressman was talking about other vulnerable populations,” says Laura Kelsay, Meals That Connect’s Executive Director.

Congressman Carbajal urges a bipartisan agreement to reopen the government as soon as possible to minimize what impacts are already being felt.

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Turkey Drive: New SLO Food Bank Pantry serving thousands monthly with a ‘grocery store shopping experience’

Dave Alley

SAN LUIS OBISPO, Calif. (KEYT) – The new SLO Food Bank Pantry is helping feed people in need in San Luis Obispo County through its innovative design and concept.

“The SLO Food Bank pantry and Community Resource Hub is a place where people can get the food that they need and it’s offered in a grocery store style shopping experience,” said Savannah Colevans, SLO Food Bank Communications Senior Manager. “We opened in the spring of this year and have been operating for a few months and we’re serving over 2,500 people each month.”

Open three times a week on Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays, the pantry is located in a newly constructed building that’s been added to the SLO Food Bank headquarters in San Luis Obispo.

“We offer a variety of produce, fresh produce, often locally sourced, as well as, pantry goods like canned soups and vegetables and meats, tortillas, as well as frozen meat,” said Colevans. “It’s so important that people have access to choice when it comes to food so that they can get the food that they need for their family, their dietary preferences, their medical needs. This space really allows people to get exactly the amounts and types of foods that work best for their families.”

SLO Food Bank is one of two local non-profit organizations that are once again teaming up with News Channel 12 for its annual Turkey Drive.

The fundraiser is now going on through Thursday, Nov. 20 and is collecting donations for SLO Food Bank and Good Samaritan Shelter.

Donations collected in San Luis Obispo County will directly assist SLO Food Bank Clients, while those collected in Santa Barbara County will directly benefit Good Samaritan clients, as well as other local non-profit organizations.

“Providing food during the holidays is not only important for people’s nourishment, but also so that people have the opportunity to participate in the traditions that they love and to connect with their families,” said Colevans. “By giving to the Turkey Drive, you’re really supporting people being able to do what they love during the holidays.” 

For more information about the News Channel 12 Turkey Drive, or to donate, click here.

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