A last-minute voter's guide to the June 2 primary election

Voting for the June 2 primary began May 4, but many ballots remain unreturned as voters weigh crowded governor and statewide races. Voters also need to decide on local ballot measures and races. The ballot includes 31 gubernatorial candidates plus statewide offices such as lieutenant governor, attorney general, and insurance commissioner, with complete listings available through the Secretary of State’s voter guide and state-political coverage from major media outlets. Oakland voters will also vote on ballot measures and choose state and federal lawmakers. Measure E proposes an annual parcel tax raising about $34 million per year for police, fire, homelessness services, and maintaining clean, accessible public spaces, with specific annual levy amounts by property type and exemptions for certain low-income households, seniors, and others, and a nine-year sunset.

"Voting has been underway for the June 2 primary election since May 4, but most voters have yet to fill out and return their ballots. Election watchers speculate it's because many voters are still trying to figure out who they're going to support in the crowded governor's race. But lots of voters probably also haven't decided how they're going to vote on local ballot measures and races."

"Thirty-one people are running for governor! Dozens more are vying for statewide offices like lieutenant governor, attorney general, insurance commissioner. The Secretary of State's official voter guide has a complete list of races and candidates. And the best places to learn about these high-profile statewide contests are trusted media sources that cover state politics, like KQED, Calmatters (be sure to check out their " choose your next governor" quiz), the Los Angeles Times, the San Francisco Chronicle, and the Sacramento Bee."

"This annual parcel tax would raise roughly $34 million a year to fund police, fire, and homelessness services, as well as programs that keep public spaces clean and accessible. If approved, the measure would impose an annual $192 levy on single-family homes, with exemptions for certain low-income households, seniors, and others. For owners of apartment buildings and other multiple residential unit properties, the tax is $131 per unit. For non-residential parcels, including commercial buildings, the tax will vary based on the size of the property. It would sunset in nine years."

Read at The Oaklandside