California Recall: Where To Vote In Concord

CONCORD, CA — A gubernatorial recall election could unseat first-term Democratic Gov. Gavin Newsom this week. Ballots have already arrived in mailboxes across the state, but Californians will have an opportunity Tuesday to vote in person.

There were 706,083 people registered to vote in Contra Costa County as of Sept. 13, according to the California Secretary of State's office.

Ballots include 46 candidates who are vying for Newsom's job, including 24 Republicans, nine Democrats and 13 others. But voters should know that former GOP Rep. Doug Ose withdrew his bid for governor last month after having a heart attack.

The state Republican Party last month decided not to endorse a candidate, but conservative talk show host Larry Elder has become the party’s front-runner, leading polls for months.

In a recent poll from UC Berkeley, Elder was the clear leading choice for people planning to vote for a recall candidate in the election, with a 28 percent lead over the next closest candidate.
Democrats have stood behind Newsom throughout the entirety of the intensifying recall effort. On Monday, the governor was set to join President Joe Biden in Long Beach for a final rally against what they’ve referred to as a Republican recall effort.

On the ballot, voters will be asked two things: First, whether Newsom should be recalled, and second, who should replace him if he’s recalled. If more than 50 percent of voters cast a ballot to recall Newsom, the replacement candidate with the largest share of votes will win the governor's seat.

Democrats are pleading with voters to leave question two — where voters can select a replacement candidate — blank amid a lawsuit and allegations that California's recall process is flawed. Read more about that here.

SEE ALSO: CA Recall Latest: How It Works And Who's Running

Here's how you can cast your vote in Concord.

Ballot Drop Boxes

Every registered voter in California received a recall election ballot this month, and there are plenty of ballot drop boxes throughout the county in which to deposit them.

Here are some drop boxes near you:

• Clayton Library, 6125 Clayton Road, Clayton
• Concord City Hall, 1950 Parkside Drive, Concord
• Monument Crisis Center, 1990 Market St., Concord

Click here to find more drop boxes in Contra Costa County and across California.

Polling Places

Concord residents can vote on election day or choose to vote in person early. In-person voting locations will offer same-day voter registration, replacement ballots, accessible voting machines and language assistance for those who need it.

Voting locations are open from 7 a.m. to 8 p.m. on election day at the following locations in Concord:

• Bethel Baptist Church, 3578 Clayton Road, Concord
• Clayton Valley Charter High School, 1101 Alberta Way, Concord
• Concord Blvd Chapel – LDS, 3700 Concord Blvd., Concord
• Concord High School, 4200 Concord Blvd., Concord
• Concord Historical Society, 1928 Clayton Road, Concord
• Contra Costa Farm Bureau Building, 5554 Clayton Road, Concord
• Fair Oaks Church, 1925 Risdon Road, Concord
• First Christian Church – Concord, 3039 Willow Pass Road, Concord
• First Lutheran Church, 4000 Concord Blvd., Concord
• Harvest House – Suite K, 2395 Monument Blvd., Concord
• Holy Cross Lutheran Church, 1092 Alberta Way, Concord
• New Hope Church, 2120 Olivera Court, Concord
• Refuge Church, 1187 Meadow Lane, Concord
• Ayers Elementary, 5120 Myrtle Drive, Concord
• Valley Christian Church, 1411 La Vista Ave., Concord
• Walnut Country – Clubhouse, 4465 S. Larwin Ave., Concord
• Willow Creek Center, 1026 Mohr Lane, Concord

See a list of all polling places and secure drop-boxes in Contra Costa County

Click here to find more area polling places across California.

Ready to cast your vote? Don't forget that the state allows you to sign up to track your ballot throughout the process. Have any questions? Learn more about the recall election at the county website or by calling 925-335-7800.

What's A Recall?

California has had recall elections as part of its political system since 1911. The process allows the public to attempt to remove an elected public official from office before the end of his or her term. Before a recall election can be initiated, a certain number of voters must sign a recall petition within a specified amount of time.

The state has had 54 previous attempts to recall California governors. Only one governor was recalled in California's history: Gray Davis in 2003.

Newsom has pushed back against the effort to unseat him, painting the campaign as one backed by extremists, supporters of former President Donald Trump and those against the coronavirus vaccines.

"This is — and forgive me — a Republican-backed recall where the principal proponent of the recall effort wants to microchip immigrants," Newsom has said. "These folks don't believe in science let alone climate science, and they don't believe in the science behind this pandemic. There's a lot at stake for Californians in this race."

Read more about the gubernatorial recall election:

• Larry Elder Ignites Voter Fraud Initiative Ahead Of Election
• CA Recall Candidate Profile: Meet Heather Collins
• Could The Republican Recall Candidates Create A Housing Boom Through Environmental Reform?
• Police Scramble To Find Larry Elder Egger
• California Recall Candidates Stretch The Truth On COVID, Climate Change And More
• Larry Elder Egged As Hostile Crowd Chases Him From Venice Stop
• Meet John Cox: California Recall Candidate Profile
• Meet Kevin Paffrath: California Recall Candidate Profile
• California Recall Fueled By A Dinner, A Ruling On Same Day
• Inside Larry Elder's Focus On Race