Clerk-Recorder cites higher turnout than statewide average

– The San Luis Obispo County Clerk-Recorder has certified the Nov. 4 Statewide Special Election, completing the official canvass, according to a press release. Most vote tabulation, including the processing of more than 113,000 mail ballots, was finished on Nov. 17. By law, voters had until 5 p.m. on Nov. 30 to cure a missing or mismatched signature on their return envelope. Once voters provided a verifiable signature, their ballot was counted and added to the results.

The Elections staff reviewed more than 2,000 provisional ballots. Most came from polling locations at and around Cal Poly. A voter casts a provisional ballot if they are registering at the polls on Election Day or voting at a precinct that is not their assigned location. In most cases, the ballot must be logged and duplicated onto a ballot from the correct precinct by a three-person team before it can be counted. These steps are part of the canvass process and help ensure that every eligible vote is counted.

“We are really proud of SLO County voters for the 67 percent turnout countywide,” Clerk-Recorder Elaina Cano said. “That’s 17 percent higher than the statewide average of 50 percent and puts us at the fourth highest turnout among all 58 counties.”

Cano noted that a new state law will require all vote-by-mail ballots to be processed within 13 days of an election beginning in 2026. She said that while the county voluntarily met that timeline during this canvass, it will be more difficult during the 2026 primary and general elections.

“One thing that will help is our upcoming move to e-pollbooks, which will cut down on the number of provisionals we’ll have to process, since the e-pollbooks can confirm voter eligibility right there at the polls. The current process requires us to do it back at the office after the fact and that takes time,” Cano said. “We’re also going to do everything possible to encourage Cal Poly students to register or re-register from their home county well in advance of Election Day.”

The regular registration deadline for the June 2026 primary election will be May 18. Individuals who will turn 18 between now and June 2 can pre-register, and their registration will automatically become active on their birthday.

Cano will release a Statement of Votes Cast by Thursday, as required by California Elections Code. The statement will include a detailed breakout of voting participation by precinct. The Elections Office has also provided turnout statistics.

Turnout rate by party:

• Democrat: 73 percent

• Republican: 68 percent

• No Party Preference: 53 percent

• American Independent: 58 percent

• Green Party: 54 percent

• Libertarian: 47 percent

• Peace & Freedom: 34 percent

Turnout rate by city or community services district:

• City of Arroyo Grande: 68 percent

• City of Atascadero: 65 percent

• City of Grover Beach: 61 percent

• City of Morro Bay: 70 percent

• City of Paso Robles: 61 percent

• City of Pismo Beach: 70 percent

• City of San Luis Obispo: 64 percent

• California Valley Community Services District: 61 percent

• Cambria Community Services District: 77 percent

• Nipomo Community Services District: 60 percent

• San Simeon Community Services District: 65 percent

• Templeton Community Services District: 65 percent

• Oceano Community Services District: 54 percent

• Linne Community Services District: 75 percent

• Squire Canyon Community Services District: 79 percent

• Heritage Ranch Community Services District: 65 percent

• Independence Ranch Community Services District: 73 percent

• Avila Beach Community Services District: 67 percent

• Los Osos Community Services District: 74 percent

• San Miguel Community Services District: 47 percent

• Ground Squirrel Hollow Community Services District: 66 percent

Turnout rate by supervisorial district:

• District 1: 63 percent

• District 2: 71 percent

• District 3: 66 percent

• District 4: 65 percent

• District 5: 65 percent

San Luis Obispo County’s final results for Proposition 50 were 54.71 percent Yes and 45.29 percent No. Certified results are available at slovote.com/november2025, and a link to the Statement of Votes Cast will be added to the same page.

The Clerk-Recorder’s Office is located at 1055 Monterey Street, Suite D120, San Luis Obispo, CA 93408. The office phone number is (805) 781-5080.