Measure D, a bid to establish city council districts in the City of Irvine has won nearly 60% of voter support. The Orange County Registrar of Voters released its latest count as of 5:43 p.m. March 22, and reported that all ballots have been processed. Here's where Measure D stands:
The election was March 5. Why does it take so long to make it all official?
As a recent LAist story explained: Californians overwhelmingly vote by mail — more than 87% of votes cast in the 2022 general election were mail-in ballots. Those ballots can be postmarked up to and including Election Day. They're counted as long as the ballot arrives within seven days (for the primary, that was Tuesday, March 12).
It's all part of the long and meticulous voting process in California: The Secretary of State is slated to certify the final primary results on April 12.
With the passage of Measure D, Irvine will disband its “at-large” method of electing city council members, and council members will be elected only by the voters in their own districts, instead of by all voters in Irvine.
More Election Results
City of Huntington Beach
City of Irvine
City of Westminster
Orange County
- Board of Supervisors District 1 | Board of Supervisors District 3 | U.S. House District No. 45 | U.S. House District 47
California proposition
How we got here
Previously, residents in all of Irvine could vote for as many candidates as there were open seats. For example, if there were four open council seats, residents could vote for four candidates, regardless of what neighborhood they or the council member lives in.
With Measure D, Irvine voters will add two more members to the four-member city council (for a total of six members) and adopt a map that will divide the city into six corresponding city council districts.
The new council will include the mayor and the six council members: The mayor will remain an at-large position chosen by all voters in Irvine and will still vote on issues that come before the city council.
The conversion to “district elections” has been a trend underway in California for years. Voting rights groups have pressed cities to adopt district elections as a way to ensure more diversity on their city councils.
Irvine, with a population of more than 309,000, is the currently largest California city without district elections.
What's next
The Secretary of State is slated to certify the final primary results on April 12.
Tracking your ballot
Use this tool at the Orange County Registrar of Voters to track the status of your ballot, and more.
