Thank you, Andy. This needs to be said: we have self-inflicted voter suppression happening. People fall into two groups, one of which you mentioned in the article.
1. My vote doesn't matter - voter no shows (Over 20k registered, over 100k non-registered)
2. The voting system is rigged, so the only time to vote is in person on election day - not helpful for low propensity voters.
#2, since you already hit #1. Of the Rep-Plus voters (both R's and Independents that have voted for R's), there are over 35k low propensity voters in SB County alone. Ventura and SLO follow the same trend. Telling people who are already prone to not getting their ballot in to wait until the final day to take the test means many won't show. It also places an impossible strain on the party tracking voters to get them in.
Yes, we have a problem with the voting system. But insisting on playing checkers because of that, while the other side plays chess, makes no sense. There is a difference between outspoken fixing of the voter integrity issue (the process) and an ongoing election (voting). Don't conflate the two. If you can't understand that 30 days gives an advantage over a single day in the game we are given, then you shouldn't be giving voting advice. Just do you. You are not the problem as a high propensity voter, but your "rigged system" voice during elections suppresses low propensity voters - the data is clear. Again, just do you.
Bottom line: Promote voting early and track your ballot until you see it counted, even if you're an adamant in-person voter. If I get kidney stones on election day, I'm going to the hospital for relief, not the ballot box. Accidents and life happen. Use any of the available 30 days to take your test - because the other side is doing this and proactively ballot harvesting the entire time.
Thank you Bob for this info. I've always gone to the polls and voted on the day of election with a paper ballot. I just learned that that isn't the best strategy and will in the future keep track of my ballot after mailing it in.
It's okay if that's your way. I don't want to force you to change your stance as a high propensity voter. But we shouldn't suppress those who don't get their ballots in anyway. I've heard people tell others to wait until after 2 PM on election day because that ensures the least amount of time for "foul play." It's not good to tell someone who rarely gets their vote in to wait until the last minute - just get it in.
Also, as I said, life happens. If we were all voting on a single election day, the "life happens" incidents would cancel each other out. But when we are the only team holding votes until the end, we are the only ones taking "life happens" hits.
Thank you Andy for continuing to sound the alarm. We see the ongoing charade that Dems are perpetuating to the tune of $200 million in special elections costs. What an outrage, all while the state is going broke! It goes to show how desperate they are.
I believe present polling showing Prop 50 passage. Anyone surprised?
Meanwhile, our federal government remains closed due to the Democrat dumpster fire. Soon, air travel will be not possible due to this shutdown. It should be clear to all that the Democratic thug leadership wants to take down the Trump administration, destroying our economy in the process.
How can anyone, especially SENIOR CITIZENS, support this lawlessness, all planned, organized and implemented by our DEMOCRATIC ELECTED OFFICIALS and the Unions which controls them.
Yes, so sad that many of our senior citizens are still living in a time warp. My guess is many were McGovern “Peaceniks” still waiting for their $1000!
Thank you for this very important information, Andy. Unless the people take the short time to make sure they are registered properly, there is no hope for the State of California and the County of Santa Barbara. We’ve been fighting the voter fraud scandal for years now!
No kidding, every single local election is decided by undergrads at UCSB. I told Mr. Smith that if he wants to go to Washington, he’ll need to get the youth vote. Sadly, I don’t think Turning Point USA has much of a presence here.
VOTE! Much is at stake. We cannot risk losing Congressional seats including Rep Kevin Kiley. Only 32.6% of registered voters have returned ballots in our Candidate Bob Smith’s District 24 which includes SB County (plus parts of SLO and Ventura). Statewide only around 25% have voted. Encourage others!
I’m sending Bob a donation today. We need Bob Smith to beat Salud. He needs $250,000 this quarter ending December to get some federal PAC money. I hope everyone chips in what you can to help message that we need high quality, responsive representation.
He is probably the most effective new GOP congressman out of his entire class. So Newsom naturally had to stuff his more rural district outside of Sacramento into Newsom's own new home district in über-liberal Marin County.
That is how sick and cynical Newsom has been about this entire farce of a special election. No Kings? Ha! Look in the mirror Petty satrap Newsom.
Another very talented writer on Current site. I am very impressed with a lot of what I read here.
Bottom line for me is yes you really need to vote no matter what. This is what a democracy is all about and we need to keep voting until we get the right people in office to set us on the right course.
If we could just pull together as a country I believe that we could solve many of the problems that plague us. We the people have but one lever and that is to vote.
Andy: A huge unaddressed challenge is how to get No Party Preference (NPP) independents to vote. No local is willing with the required funds to organize or even message to NPPs.
Newsom on Prop 50: “There’s nothing I dislike more than a politician who lies to you. That’s why I’m focused on fair and free elections: Prop 50.” Meet The Press interview 11/2/2025 8:30a. Full interview available on line. What a predictable response from Newsom.
In case anyone is still wondering why Prop 50 is on a crash course to possibly win. Horrors.
Anyone else notice we are now living 24/7 in a Trump failure nightmare right now, according to the Democrat party line. This is what we are in for until 2026 - misery, fear, abuse, exploitation and financial ruin at the hands of one person - Bad Orangemen.
Discuss among yourselves at the next family Thanksgiving dinner.
Thank you Andy. I attended the Vote No on 50 rally yesterday. Carl De Maio and Tony Strickland urges us to get out into the community and encourage people to vote on November 4th.
But more importantly we need to put Voter ID on the ballot And we can do this by signing the petition. Many people will be canvassing neighborhoods for signatures on the petition. 70% of Californians believe we need Voter ID.
If you want to help with this effort, you can contact Carl De Maio at Reform California for more information.
Another point is don't believe polls. Polls are mind games to get people to vote or not vote.
We need a grass roots effort to win and change California in the Future. The Republican and Democrat party in California and have failed us.
People want change and now is the time to make it happen.
Thank you, Andy. I've voted in every election since I was of age, sometimes regretting that the person I voted for turned out to be a disaster (hint: his initials are BO). Here's where I differ from you. I personally believe in God, but I think it's the birthright of every American to choose their religion. I've known avowed atheists who were exemplary citizens and known devout Christians who were lousy ones. I think Charlie Kirk was one of our greatest Americans. And I also believe he would have been that no matter what religion he followed. He spoke in harmony with the life force.
Bruh, your vote don't matter! There is no transparency to the system, so the system is broken. There is no way to know whether our vote has been properly counted. The more digital it gets, the worse this will become. The only way back to an accurate and honest vote is going back to paper ballots and active citizen oversight of the entire counting process. Lots of work but it's the only way at this time.
If Texas was in violation of the redistricting laws, why didn’t Greg Abbott’s AG notify him? Why did the President of the United States need to notify him and at the same time order him to find him five more representatives? Sounds like someone was trying to cheat, as usual. It’s like the call he made to the election official in Georgia, 2020, telling the official he needed to find him 11,800 more votes. Remember to “VOTE YES on 50”.
When he ran for election, Donald Trump said, “If you vote for me, you’ll never have to vote again.” Take him at his word. By the time the election rolls around, he’ll have everything taken care of.
MC: Misinterpretation. Trump meant this will be last time he will be able to run for President which is why you will never need to vote for him again. Luckily, third time was a charm. And indeed there is buyer's remorse that we do not get to vote a fourth time for him.
Not able to run in 2028? He already has campaign hats, “TRUMP 2028.” You can get yours in TRUMP store. But you’re probably right. He won’t need to run, he’ll just appoint himself president for life.
The last I used the ballot drop-off box in front of the county admin building, I put the ballot the Friday before the election. However, my ballot was not "tracked" until the Thursday after the election.
I was told there was no tracking over the weekend and ballots were not picked up from that box until the following Monday so it sat there unattended in the box for four whole days. Eventually my own ballot-track confirmation came days after the winner had already been declared. Never again.
Draw a bigX on that mailin ballot and turn it in as a spoiled ballot wirh the en elope so thry see it wasnt used they have ensure thry give you a prescinct ballot!!! Spoiled ballots have to be kept records! Its the law
Thank you, Andy. This needs to be said: we have self-inflicted voter suppression happening. People fall into two groups, one of which you mentioned in the article.
1. My vote doesn't matter - voter no shows (Over 20k registered, over 100k non-registered)
2. The voting system is rigged, so the only time to vote is in person on election day - not helpful for low propensity voters.
#2, since you already hit #1. Of the Rep-Plus voters (both R's and Independents that have voted for R's), there are over 35k low propensity voters in SB County alone. Ventura and SLO follow the same trend. Telling people who are already prone to not getting their ballot in to wait until the final day to take the test means many won't show. It also places an impossible strain on the party tracking voters to get them in.
Yes, we have a problem with the voting system. But insisting on playing checkers because of that, while the other side plays chess, makes no sense. There is a difference between outspoken fixing of the voter integrity issue (the process) and an ongoing election (voting). Don't conflate the two. If you can't understand that 30 days gives an advantage over a single day in the game we are given, then you shouldn't be giving voting advice. Just do you. You are not the problem as a high propensity voter, but your "rigged system" voice during elections suppresses low propensity voters - the data is clear. Again, just do you.
Bottom line: Promote voting early and track your ballot until you see it counted, even if you're an adamant in-person voter. If I get kidney stones on election day, I'm going to the hospital for relief, not the ballot box. Accidents and life happen. Use any of the available 30 days to take your test - because the other side is doing this and proactively ballot harvesting the entire time.
Ballot tracker (takes 30 seconds and you can sign up for automatic notifications): https://california.ballottrax.net/voter
P.S. My Prop 50 ballot was kicked back after I submitted early. I had to cure it. Did yours make it in? You should check the tracker!
Thank you Bob for this info. I've always gone to the polls and voted on the day of election with a paper ballot. I just learned that that isn't the best strategy and will in the future keep track of my ballot after mailing it in.
It's okay if that's your way. I don't want to force you to change your stance as a high propensity voter. But we shouldn't suppress those who don't get their ballots in anyway. I've heard people tell others to wait until after 2 PM on election day because that ensures the least amount of time for "foul play." It's not good to tell someone who rarely gets their vote in to wait until the last minute - just get it in.
Also, as I said, life happens. If we were all voting on a single election day, the "life happens" incidents would cancel each other out. But when we are the only team holding votes until the end, we are the only ones taking "life happens" hits.
Those are good points and I also mailed it in yesterday.
Thank you Andy for continuing to sound the alarm. We see the ongoing charade that Dems are perpetuating to the tune of $200 million in special elections costs. What an outrage, all while the state is going broke! It goes to show how desperate they are.
I believe present polling showing Prop 50 passage. Anyone surprised?
Meanwhile, our federal government remains closed due to the Democrat dumpster fire. Soon, air travel will be not possible due to this shutdown. It should be clear to all that the Democratic thug leadership wants to take down the Trump administration, destroying our economy in the process.
How can anyone, especially SENIOR CITIZENS, support this lawlessness, all planned, organized and implemented by our DEMOCRATIC ELECTED OFFICIALS and the Unions which controls them.
Message to Seniors: Stupid is as stupid does!
https://www.sfchronicle.com/politics/article/prop-50-polling-support-explained-21129768.php
"Trump will take away my Medicare and Social Security and perhaps even my government pension.".. ...because he is an OrangemanBad King!
Democrats know how to exploit this senior voting base.
Yes, so sad that many of our senior citizens are still living in a time warp. My guess is many were McGovern “Peaceniks” still waiting for their $1000!
Thank you for this very important information, Andy. Unless the people take the short time to make sure they are registered properly, there is no hope for the State of California and the County of Santa Barbara. We’ve been fighting the voter fraud scandal for years now!
Plus the distortion of the concentrated and harvested Isla Vista vote, shall forever skew our "local" elections.
No kidding, every single local election is decided by undergrads at UCSB. I told Mr. Smith that if he wants to go to Washington, he’ll need to get the youth vote. Sadly, I don’t think Turning Point USA has much of a presence here.
VOTE! Much is at stake. We cannot risk losing Congressional seats including Rep Kevin Kiley. Only 32.6% of registered voters have returned ballots in our Candidate Bob Smith’s District 24 which includes SB County (plus parts of SLO and Ventura). Statewide only around 25% have voted. Encourage others!
https://abev.optiqdata.com/
I’m sending Bob a donation today. We need Bob Smith to beat Salud. He needs $250,000 this quarter ending December to get some federal PAC money. I hope everyone chips in what you can to help message that we need high quality, responsive representation.
Losing GOP Rep. Kevin Kiley will be a huge loss.
He is probably the most effective new GOP congressman out of his entire class. So Newsom naturally had to stuff his more rural district outside of Sacramento into Newsom's own new home district in über-liberal Marin County.
That is how sick and cynical Newsom has been about this entire farce of a special election. No Kings? Ha! Look in the mirror Petty satrap Newsom.
Another very talented writer on Current site. I am very impressed with a lot of what I read here.
Bottom line for me is yes you really need to vote no matter what. This is what a democracy is all about and we need to keep voting until we get the right people in office to set us on the right course.
If we could just pull together as a country I believe that we could solve many of the problems that plague us. We the people have but one lever and that is to vote.
Andy: A huge unaddressed challenge is how to get No Party Preference (NPP) independents to vote. No local is willing with the required funds to organize or even message to NPPs.
Get a list of registered NPPs to ask those why they did or did not vote.
Low propensity voters typically. Prop 50 is no exception. Only 21% ballot returned of registered. Dems are at over 50% turnout of registered.
https://abev.optiqdata.com/
You mean they don't vote at all? What do they think that will accomplish - confirmation that none of it works? Could they be _that_ stupid?
Newsom on Prop 50: “There’s nothing I dislike more than a politician who lies to you. That’s why I’m focused on fair and free elections: Prop 50.” Meet The Press interview 11/2/2025 8:30a. Full interview available on line. What a predictable response from Newsom.
Reality check: What is Gavin Newsom feeding his Prop 50 supporters - plenty of Orangeman Bad and Newsom alone can save you from Orangeman Bad:
https://www.breitbart.com/clips/2025/11/02/newsom-trump-is-trying-to-rig-the-election-he-knows-gop-will-lose/
In case anyone is still wondering why Prop 50 is on a crash course to possibly win. Horrors.
Anyone else notice we are now living 24/7 in a Trump failure nightmare right now, according to the Democrat party line. This is what we are in for until 2026 - misery, fear, abuse, exploitation and financial ruin at the hands of one person - Bad Orangemen.
Discuss among yourselves at the next family Thanksgiving dinner.
Point counterpoint: Rebuttal to Newson's string of lies.
https://www.thegatewaypundit.com/2025/11/newsoms-latest-anti-trump-talking-point-just-got/
The Commie-Dems aren't even kidding themselves anymore about Orangeman progress.
Thank you Andy. I attended the Vote No on 50 rally yesterday. Carl De Maio and Tony Strickland urges us to get out into the community and encourage people to vote on November 4th.
But more importantly we need to put Voter ID on the ballot And we can do this by signing the petition. Many people will be canvassing neighborhoods for signatures on the petition. 70% of Californians believe we need Voter ID.
If you want to help with this effort, you can contact Carl De Maio at Reform California for more information.
Another point is don't believe polls. Polls are mind games to get people to vote or not vote.
We need a grass roots effort to win and change California in the Future. The Republican and Democrat party in California and have failed us.
People want change and now is the time to make it happen.
Thank you, Andy. I've voted in every election since I was of age, sometimes regretting that the person I voted for turned out to be a disaster (hint: his initials are BO). Here's where I differ from you. I personally believe in God, but I think it's the birthright of every American to choose their religion. I've known avowed atheists who were exemplary citizens and known devout Christians who were lousy ones. I think Charlie Kirk was one of our greatest Americans. And I also believe he would have been that no matter what religion he followed. He spoke in harmony with the life force.
Pol - you voted for BO? That stinks! :)
I also protested against him. Will send you a photo.
Bruh, your vote don't matter! There is no transparency to the system, so the system is broken. There is no way to know whether our vote has been properly counted. The more digital it gets, the worse this will become. The only way back to an accurate and honest vote is going back to paper ballots and active citizen oversight of the entire counting process. Lots of work but it's the only way at this time.
So in-person at the ballot box only? Fer sure the best, but just a dream.
I think mail-in can work, with proper validation of ID in advance. And I do dare to dream.
Mail-in has a fatal chain of custody problem. It simply cannot be fixed. Mail-in ballots pass through too many unsecured hands .
Especially in certain parts of Pennsylvania?
Andy. Your message is always on point. I look forward every Sunday to reading your column.
Julie
If Texas was in violation of the redistricting laws, why didn’t Greg Abbott’s AG notify him? Why did the President of the United States need to notify him and at the same time order him to find him five more representatives? Sounds like someone was trying to cheat, as usual. It’s like the call he made to the election official in Georgia, 2020, telling the official he needed to find him 11,800 more votes. Remember to “VOTE YES on 50”.
When he ran for election, Donald Trump said, “If you vote for me, you’ll never have to vote again.” Take him at his word. By the time the election rolls around, he’ll have everything taken care of.
MC: Misinterpretation. Trump meant this will be last time he will be able to run for President which is why you will never need to vote for him again. Luckily, third time was a charm. And indeed there is buyer's remorse that we do not get to vote a fourth time for him.
Not able to run in 2028? He already has campaign hats, “TRUMP 2028.” You can get yours in TRUMP store. But you’re probably right. He won’t need to run, he’ll just appoint himself president for life.
https://www.trumpstore.com/product/trump-2028-hat/
MC: Check Fruit of the Loom online, and see if they have twist-proof knickers. You sound like you will need a few pairs. Trump is trolling you.
Confirm that your ballot was received on BallotTrax.net - State of California
https://california.ballottrax.net/voter/
The last I used the ballot drop-off box in front of the county admin building, I put the ballot the Friday before the election. However, my ballot was not "tracked" until the Thursday after the election.
I was told there was no tracking over the weekend and ballots were not picked up from that box until the following Monday so it sat there unattended in the box for four whole days. Eventually my own ballot-track confirmation came days after the winner had already been declared. Never again.
Did Bonnie ever find MIA Joe Holland, who is paid big bucks plus a lifetime pension to oversee elections? 2023 because County has not yet submittted 2024. Why not? https://transparentcalifornia.com/salaries/2023/santa-barbara-county/
Draw a bigX on that mailin ballot and turn it in as a spoiled ballot wirh the en elope so thry see it wasnt used they have ensure thry give you a prescinct ballot!!! Spoiled ballots have to be kept records! Its the law