POLL: Does Your Vote Count?

Did you spend time researching all the local ballot measures for the June 5 Presidential Primary Election?

Do you know who won the county supervisor race, whether the school parcel tax passed or do you even care?

We hear time and time again that every vote matters.

when interviewed by Patch Editor Joan Dentler on Tuesday.

"Everyone residing in the county will have their ballot counted," he said.

"In California the rumor that we don't count every vote is false," Tom said. "That's why it doesn't happen overnight and it takes 28 days to certify the results. Voters in San Mateo County have to have their voices heard."

Elections results updates for San Mateo County continue through June 13.

Tom acknowledged that turnout is not where he wants it to be.

"Turnout is low, but there have been a lot of changes in California since the voters passed Proposition 14 in 2010," Tom said referring to the California Two Primaries Act that requires candidates run in a single primary open to all registered voters.

As of June 8, voter turnout in San Mateo County was 31.6 percent, and in Santa Clara County 37.6 percent according to smartvoter.org.

Peninsula residents seem to care more about elections than most Californians. Statewide, voter turnout was just 27.5 percent.

The Santa Clara County Registrar of Voters has a recent @sccvote tweet at the top of its website, Over 90,000 ballots added to the results since Election Night, mostly Vote by Mail. Provisional ballots will be counted next week.

Did you vote in Tuesday's election, and if so why do you think it's important to exercise your right to vote?

If you didn't vote, why didn't you and what changes could be made for you to make every effort never to miss the chance to cast your ballot?