California voters will decide contests for governor, the Los Angeles mayor, and several statewide ballot propositions on Tuesday, Nov. 3. According to the California Secretary of State’s office, more than 5 million of the 23.4 million voters sent ballots had already cast them by Oct. 29, representing over 21% of the electorate.
Cost of living drives California voter priorities
More than one-third of likely voters in California identify the economy, inflation, and cost of living as their primary concerns, according to a recent Public Policy Institute of California (PPIC) survey. This economic pessimism is widespread, with nearly 80% of likely voters across all demographics expecting poor economic conditions to persist over the next year.
Current pricing reflects these concerns, with regular unleaded gas averaging $5.947 a gallon as of last Thursday. PPIC data shows 73% of likely voters feel their income is not keeping pace with inflation, a figure that has increased by nearly 5 percentage points since February.
Did You Know? In Los Angeles County alone, more than 1 million people had already cast their ballots as of Oct. 29.
Dr. Fernando Guerra, a political science professor at Loyola Marymount, says affordability is the top priority for Latino voters. He notes that this group’s priorities closely align with other Angeleno voters regarding public safety, homelessness, and housing costs.
Homelessness and public safety split Los Angeles priorities
While statewide voters focus on the economy, a poll by Berkeley IGS and the Los Angeles Times indicates Los Angeles voters prioritize homelessness. Only 9% of those surveyed listed promoting job creation as a priority.
Mayor Karen Bass and challenger Councilmember Nithya Raman have clashed over their respective records on this issue. Raman claims she reduced homelessness in her district by nearly 50%, with Los Angeles Homeless Services Authority (LAHSA) data showing unsheltered people in her district fell from 181 in 2025 to 93 in 2026.
Raman said the city needs “ruthless management” of its spending, specifically targeting the $131.9 million projected for the mayor’s “Inside Safe” initiative for fiscal year 2025-26. Conversely, LAHSA reports the overall number of unhoused people decreased by 2.3% since 2023.
Public safety remains a secondary but critical issue. Mayor Bass has emphasized stability in city government, contrasting her approach with Raman’s previous support for “defund the police” efforts and Raman’s proposal to fire LAPD Chief Jim McDonnell.
Undecided voters may determine mayoral outcome
Analysts Mike Murphy and Bob Schrum of the USC Center for the Political Future state that nearly 20% of Los Angeles voters remain undecided. They suggest that winning over supporters of Spencer Pratt could be the deciding factor in the race.
Murphy noted that current polling indicates undecided voters may be breaking for Pratt, which could lead to a close result. Because of the time required to count votes in Los Angeles, a final result may not be immediate on election night.
Voting logistics for Tuesday
Vote centers will operate from 7 a.m. to 8 p.m. on Tuesday. Anyone in line by 8 p.m. is permitted to vote. Los Angeles County has provided 646 vote centers and 429 ballot drop boxes.
While the standard registration deadline was Oct. 19, California allows for same-day voter registration for those who missed the window.
Frequently Asked Questions
What are the specific voting hours for Election Day?
Vote centers are open from 7 a.m. to 8 p.m. on Tuesday. Voters who are already in line by the 8 p.m. closing time are allowed to cast their ballots.
How many people have already voted in California?
As of Oct. 29, more than 5 million people, or 21% of the 23.4 million voters who were sent ballots, had cast their votes by mail or in person.
What is the “Inside Safe” initiative?
Inside Safe is Mayor Karen Bass’s signature homelessness initiative, with projected expenditures of $131.9 million for the 2025-26 fiscal year.