Live Updates: Can you take a ‘ballot selfie’? What you can and can’t do at polls
It’s Election Day in California, when voters head to the polls for the state’s primary contest. We’ll be updating live here with news on the state’s closely-watched gubernatorial contest, as well as other statewide and congressional races, and several key local elections in the Central Valley.
Update: 1:20 P.M. Tuesday
Poll workers enjoy being part of the democratic process
By noon, the Martin G. Petersen Event Center in Modesto had seen a couple of dozen voters.
Sean Condrin, lead poll worker for the site, said it’s been fun being a part of the democratic process. “I want to be more civically active and got the opportunity to do so.”
Zoe Rego said this was her first time acting as a poll worker but she’s been working at the center since it opened on May 30.
“The voting center has been a little bit slow, of course, but that’s been the case for most of the voting centers,” Rego said. “Except for today, where we’ve had way more voters coming in on election day, thankfully.”
Condrin said the vote center’s location may be a contributing factor to the slower foot traffic. “We do our best to make sure people see us, but it’s the crossroads that no one really uses.”
— Kathleen Quinn, The Modesto Bee
Update: 1:15 P.M. Tuesday
Election signs and ballot selfies: What you can and can’t do at the polls
California bans “electioneering” within 100 feet of a polling place. That includes signs and, yes, hats, T-shirts, buttons, stickers or other clothing promoting a particular candidate or initiative.
Although so-called “ballot selfies,” photos taken by voters showing their completed election ballots, are banned in some states, they are legal in the Golden State, the California Secretary of State’s Office said.
But be careful — election officials can limit shooting photos at a polling place if it intimidates or threatens the privacy of other voters, or causes some other disruption.
— Don Sweeney and Angela Rodriguez
Update: 12:30 P.M. Tuesday
Stanislaus County poll worker: ‘It’s been busy today’
A steady stream of voters filed into the Stanislaus Veterans Center on Tuesday morning, and many donned their “I voted” stickers as they left.
Donna Linder, Stanislaus County registrar of voters, said the drop box at the downtown elections office has been busy. In-person voting has been steady with no line, which is typical for a primary election, she said.
“A lot of people vote after work, so we’re ready for that,” Linder said.
The slight uptick Linder said she saw leading up to Election Day with mail-in voting has continued.
Poll worker Sam Rasho helped shepherd in voters. “It’s been busy today,” he said.
Rasho wore a button that indicated he also speaks Assyrian.
Local races in the county are largely uncontested, but regional contests like the California Senate District 4 race and the statewide election for governor have been competitive.
Karen Overend said she usually votes at the Veterans Center, which is at Coffee Road and Sylvan Avenue. She hopes her vote leads to a better community.
“I feel like my vote might matter now, it seems more secure,” she said.
She said she usually mails in her vote, but this year she wanted to deliver it.
Delilah Porus dropped her ballot off at around 10 a.m. “I believe Californians are finally waking up – I hope there is change,” Porus said. “We need change.”
Gracie Martinez was born and raised in Modesto and said she’s feeling hopeful for this election.
“It was breezy, friendly,” Martinez said of the voting experience. “I hope everybody participates, more voters are included and are signing up.”
— Kathleen Quinn, The Modesto Bee
Update: 12:20 P.M. Tuesday
If I’m voting in person, what should I bring to the polls?
Most California voters do not need to show identification at polling places.
However, first-time voters who registered by mail without providing a driver license number, state ID or the last four digits of their Social Security number might be required to show identification. The California Secretary of State’s office encouraged voters in that position to bring identification to the polling location, or include a copy in a vote-by-mail ballot.
Acceptable forms of ID to bring to your polling place include:
- A copy of a recent utility bill
- The sample ballot booklet you received from your county elections office
- Passport
- Driver’s license
- Official state identification card
- Student identification card showing your name and photograph
— Angela Rodriguez, The Modesto Bee
Update: 12:15 P.M. Tuesday
California voters are slow-moving in the June primary
California governor reporter Lia Russell reports on how voters were slow, comparied to 2022, to cast their ballots in the lead up to Tuesday’s primary. Election data scientist Paul Mitchell offered analysis on what is going on with voters this year. Read Russell’s full story here.
— The Sacramento Bee
Update: 11:30 A.M. Tuesday
How to research your ballot
Voter organizations in California and across the country have created guides and resources online for voters to gather all the information they need to make a choice on their ballot.
The League of Women Voters has created a website, vote411.org, designed to educate voters around the country. It does not show any of the nonprofit’s endorsements or policy opinions, but provides factual information on voting and offers candidates a platform to showcase their opinions at no cost. Users can search for their address — which does not get saved anywhere — and get curated information on what will be on their specific ballot, said Claudia Bonsignore, co-president of the League of Women Voters of Sacramento County.
The Sacramento LWV team emailed every candidate for the region a survey with policy questions that are then uploaded to the vote411.org website, though Bonsignore said many do not respond in time for the primary.
These other voter organizations also provide voter education resources:
- OnTheIssues.org - Candidate policy stances, political track record
- Ballotpedia.org - Information on current elected officials
- PluralPolicy.com - Current legislators and bills
Many news organizations put together voter guides — including The Bee — which include reporting from the newsroom as well as endorsements from editorial boards. Judicial positions can be particularly hard to find information on, but The Sacramento Bee has compiled a guide to help with research.
For more information, read the Bee’s full guide to researching your ballot here.
— Camila Pedrosa, The Sacramento Bee
Update: 11:15 A.M. Tuesday
Polls suggest tight race between Becerra, Steyer, Hilton
Our Ben Paviour reports this morning that recent polls suggest a tight three-way contest for governor involving Democrats Xavier Becerra and Tom Steyer, as well as Republican Steve Hilton, will shape up today. Polls suggest it’s more plausible — though still not likely — that two Democrats, Becerra and Steyer, could advance to the November vote under California’s top-two primary system. You can read Paviour’s full story here.
— The Sacramento Bee
This story was originally published June 2, 2026 at 12:44 PM.
