Young Voters Return Ballots Faster Than 2022
Early ballot-return data shows faster pace among young and Latino voters across all nine Bay Area counties compared with the 2022 midterms.
Updated on Nov. 7, 2026 in Civic Engagement
Live Poll
Did you already vote, or do you plan to vote in your area this election?
Young voters returned ballots at a faster pace than in 2022 in all nine Bay Area counties, according to Political Data Inc. Latino voters' return rates also exceeded the 2022 pace in every county in the region.
Why it matters
Comparing return rates at the same point before or after Election Day gives an early read on which groups are participating more this cycle. Shifts in turnout among younger and Latino voters could affect outcomes in California's Bay Area counties.
Political Data Inc. compared returns at the same number of days before or after Election Day in both years, grouping voters by birth year from the voter file. Complete voter histories are estimated to be available in roughly two months, leaving the final participation picture unverified.
The players
Political Data Inc.
A political data firm that compiles voter file analysis and ballot-return tracking used to compare turnout across election cycles.
The details
Contra Costa County saw about a third of voters ages 18 to 34 with a ballot on record two days after Election Day. In Solano County, overall returns reached about 48%, while the return rate for voters 65 and older fell from 71.9% to 66.6% compared with 2022.
Timeline
2022 midterm election served as the comparison baseline for 2026 ballot-return pace.
Nov. 6, 2026 was the snapshot date comparing returns two days after Election Day.
Complete voter histories are estimated to be available roughly two months after Nov. 6, 2026.
Season Trajectory
Early 2026 returns in the Bay Area are measured directly against the 2022 midterm baseline, with young and Latino voters returning ballots faster than they did that year. Older voters in Solano County returned at a lower rate than in 2022, showing the shift is uneven across age groups.
Voters in Bay Area counties can see from these early returns how turnout is shifting among different age and ethnic groups in their communities. The data does not yet show final participation, so the final picture of who voted will depend on completed voter records.
The takeaway
Early return patterns show that turnout can move differently for different voter groups within the same region, so comparing the same point before Election Day in each cycle gives a clearer picture than final totals alone.
What happens next
Complete voter histories for most counties are estimated to become available roughly two months after the November 6, 2026 election, allowing a fuller turnout comparison.
Further reading
Explore more reporting in the Civic Engagement section for context on how voters participate in elections.
Source note: This article includes information reported by Santa Rosa Press Democrat.
Live Poll
Did you already vote, or do you plan to vote in your area this election?
