Article 26 of the U.S. Constitution says, “The right of citizens of the United States, who are 18 years of age or older, to vote shall not be denied or abridged by the United States or by any state on account of age.”
In California, “you must be a United States citizen and a resident of California, 18 years old or older on Election Day, not currently serving a state or federal prison term for the conviction of a felony and not currently found mentally incompetent to vote by a court.”
All you have to do is register with the county elections official or at the California online registration webpage and then cast your vote.
Get ready
• Register to vote: countyofsb.org/acr-elections-register-to-vote
• California voter information:
sos.ca.gov/elections/upcoming-elections/general-election-november-3-2026
• Santa Barbara County local measures: countyofsb.org/list-of-local-measures-on-ballot
• Santa Barbara County voting drop box information:
countyofsb.org/acr-elections-voting-using-drop-boxes
Why is your vote important? This is how you have some level of influence on who is elected to “serve you” and/or how your tax dollars are spent. In federal elections, your vote is just one of millions of others that are cast, but in close elections, it might make a difference in the outcome.
In local elections, it’s much more important because the voter base is much smaller. For example, in areas like Lompoc, Santa Maria, and other communities where there are council districts, it gets closer to home. The area represented by the person you elect is much more compact, and you might get your potholes fixed if you mention them to your district representative.
Then there are the various bond measures and propositions that seem to pop up with some regularity. Most of these can cost you a lot of money if you own your house and boost the sales tax you pay for nearly everything you buy locally or from online vendors.
Read or study bond measures and propositions carefully because the title doesn’t always indicate what you’re voting for. Even though it’s not easy to read through these things, you can always go to the “support/yes” and “oppose/no” arguments to see what people who have carefully analyzed the issue think; then make up your mind.
When it comes to candidates, that’s a much more difficult decision to make. Why? Because what people say when they are trying to get your vote isn’t always what they intend to do once in office. Read the candidate statements in your sample ballot carefully; look for any “hidden agendas” or supporting language for issues you don’t support.
There are no ‘truth in advertising’ rules when it comes to politics, and it’s very difficult and costly to get rid someone once they are elected.
Keep in mind that there are no “truth in advertising” rules when it comes to politics, and it’s very difficult and costly to get rid of someone once they are elected. In local elections, it’s a little easier since most of these people are well known in the community, and you may be familiar with how they conduct their businesses and use this as an indicator of how they might govern the community.
Keeping all this in mind, the most important part of an election is your vote. Tuesday, Nov. 3 is the deadline to cast your vote in person; however, you can vote by mail.
If you mail your ballot on the day of the election, you should be aware that the U.S. Postal Service says, “A postmark date does not necessarily indicate the first day that the Postal Service took possession of the mailpiece. Rather, it confirms that the Postal Service accepted custody of a mailpiece, and that the mailpiece was in the possession of the Postal Service on the identified date.”
When I read this, I was confused, so I made it a practice to use one of the county’s official ballot drop boxes. They even let you know that your ballot was received, which the post office does not do.
The bottom line is that you should exercise your privilege to vote or else you have no justification to complain about the outcome.
Ron Fink writes to the Sun from Lompoc. Send a letter for publication to letters@santamariasun.com.
This article appears in October 15, 2026 – October 22, 2026.
