Live election updates: Here's the latest on California's midterm in Ventura County

On Tuesday, voters get a final day to cast their ballots. Along with dozens of local, state and federal races, the election will decide what could be one of the most crucial Ventura County supervisor's races in years.

A councilwoman in Thousand Oaks and a former Republican state legislator are seeking a seat that hasn't turned over in 20 years.

We will be there until vote centers close at 8 p.m.

Hot races:

• Close race, big issues in campaigns to replace open-space champion Linda Parks

• Brownley, Jacobs square off in volatile race in the 26th Congressional District

• Conejo Valley school board dissidents find a home at Newbury Park's Godspeak Calvary Chapel

– Refresh for the latest news and photos from around the county.

In Santa Paula City Council race, results for 3 seats show 2 incumbents among leaders

9:55 p.m.: Incumbents Jenny Crosswhite and Carlos Juarez and candidate Pedro Chavez took early leads in the race for Santa Paula City Council, initial results from the county's Election Division showed Tuesday night.

Irwin takes decisive lead in race for Assembly District 42

9:55 p.m.: Assemblymember Jacqui Irwin was on track Tuesday to win a fifth term in the state legislature for the newly redrawn Assembly District 42.

Ojai mayor's race shows Anson Williams leading in early results

9:55 p.m.: Initial results in the race for Ojai mayor show Anson Williams ahead of incumbent Mayor Betsy Stix Tuesday night.

Ojai City Council elections results for 3 seats

9:55 p.m.: Initial results Tuesday night show how races are shaping up in Ojai, where three of four City Council seats are in play.

Early returns show Judge, Rhodes ahead in races for two Simi Valley City Council seats

9:50 p.m.: Simi Valley City Council incumbent Mike Judge took an early lead Tuesday night over challenger Sean Weisman for a four-year term on the five-member council.

Salud Carbajal gains commanding lead in 24th Congressional District

9:50 p.m.: Incumbent Salud Carbajal jumped to a commanding lead over challenger Dr. Brad Allen in early returns Tuesday night for the 24th Congressional District.

Incumbent Brownley jumps to lead over Jacobs in 26th Congressional District

9:50 p.m.: Incumbent Julia Brownley jumped to an early lead Tuesday over challenger Matt Jacobs in a 26th Congressional District race that has attracted national attention as Democrats and Republicans vie for control of the House.

In Port Hueneme, name-change measure lags while City Council race takes shape

9:50 p.m.: In Port Hueneme, early elections returns show residents rejecting a possible change to the city's name, while two of three incumbent City Council members posted early leads.

Ventura City Council race posts early results for 4 seats

9:45 p.m.: Liz Campos, Jeannette Sanchez-Palacios, Marie Lakin and Jim Duran were leading in their respective districts in the race for Ventura City Council, according to the first set of results from the county's Election Division Tuesday night.

Parvin posts large lead against Perez for supervisor's seat

9:45 p.m.: Moorpark Mayor Janice Parvin was leading college trustee Bernardo Perez by more than 20 percentage points in the first returns posted Tuesday night for the Simi Valley-based seat on the Ventura County Board of Supervisors.

In Oxnard City Council races, incumbents take early leads

9:45 p.m.: Incumbents Bert Perello, Gabriel Teran and Gabriela Basua have took early leads in a race for three seats on the Oxnard City Council, according to Tuesday night's initial results.

Bill-de la Peña leading in early returns in quest to succeed Parks

9:40 p.m.: Claudia Bill-de la Peña was leading Jeff Gorell by a little over 5 percentage points in early returns Tuesday night in the race to succeed Supervisor Linda Parks on the Ventura County Board of Supervisors.

Moorpark City Council results show former councilmember Mikos in lead for 1st District

9:40 p.m.: In Moorpark's District 1 City Council race — the council's only competitive seat in the general election — Roseann Mikos took the early lead over two other contenders after Tuesday's initial results.

Thomas takes early lead in Simi Valley mayor race

9:35 p.m.: Simi Valley mayoral candidate Fred Thomas took an early lead Tuesday night.

Bennett takes lead over Brocato in state Assembly race

9:30 p.m.: Early returns showed Steve Bennett with 64% of the votes in the 38th Assembly District in Tuesday's election, leading opponent Cole Brocato.

Preliminary results to be unveiled shortly

8:10 p.m.: The first returns are expected to be released shortly after polls close at 8 p.m.

Officials say the first batch of results reflects ballots received and processed by Election Day, including those mailed, cast at vote centers and deposited in drop boxes. By the last update Election Night, all votes cast in person Tuesday are expected to be added to the tally.

Additional updates are expected to be released Thursday. The elections office has until Dec. 8 to certify the final vote, but usually does so before that.

- Kathleen Wilson

Voters in Camarillo want different qualities in a leader

7:30 p.m.: At least 45 people were waiting in line to vote at the Camarillo Community Center with some holding differing views on who should lead the country.

Yolanda Salvas of Camarillo usually doesn’t vote along party lines, calling herself “undeclared.” But she voted Republican across the ballot on Tuesday. “I think I’m ready for a change,” she said.

Desteni Lebrant, a Republican from Camarillo, wants leaders who unify people. “You don’t have to believe the way I do but let’s find common ground,” she said.

Karin Moon worries about the consequences of a nationwide red wave. “I just feel that will give (Donald) Trump the go-ahead to run for office again,” she said after dropping off her ballot.

Those who arrive after 8 p.m. will not be able to vote.

- Tom Kisken 

More than 500 vote in-person in Newbury Park

6:45 p.m.: A Vietnam veteran was among more than 500 people who voted in person at the Borchard Community Center on the corner of Borchard and Reino Roads in Newbury Park.

Veteran Dan Collins delivered his mail-in ballot alongside those of his 91-year-old in-laws. Voter James Kim brought his two sons, Tyler, 19, and Kenny, 20, to cast their ballots. Kim said he tries to instill a sense of civic duty in his kids and afterward they left to celebrate with carnitas burritos from nearby Establos Meat Market.

- Dawn Megli

Power outage at Oxnard church

6:05 p.m.; A power outage at Iglesia Del Dios Vivo La Luz Del Mundo on Nyeland Avenue in Oxnard resulted in the lights and machines going dark but election workers continued to collect ballots and paper votes.

Election officials sent battery packs and lights to the church that were estimated to arrive before 6 p.m., said Simone Seydoux, spokeswoman for the Ventura County Clerk-Recorder, Registrar of Voters. Power was eventually restored, she said.

- Isaiah Murtaugh and Wes Woods II

Election night forecast calls for showers

5:30 p.m.: After some heavy downpours Tuesday afternoon, the National Weather Service says the storm front has moved past Ventura County.

That may be welcome news for those headed to cast their ballots Tuesday night. But the rain isn’t quite over.

“We do have a little bit of showers over Santa Barbara County right now that can move in,” said Lisa Phillips, a meteorologist with the National Weather Service’s Oxnard office.

The forecast also calls for isolated showers that still could bring moderate to heavy rainfall in some areas.

Prop.1 gets support

4:45 p.m.: Voter Laura Sanchez said she wants to protect abortion rights, which would be added to the state constitution if Prop. 1 is OK’d.

Sanchez was one of about 75 people who had voted by mid-afternoon at the Ventura County Community College District administration building in Camarillo.

- Kathleen Wilson

Looking for a 'red wave'

4:30 p.m.: Lawrence De La Cruz wants a red wave. At the National Guard Armory in Ventura, he voted against Democrats and for change.

“Take a look around you. Are you satisfied? I’m not,” he said.

- Tom Kisken

Drop boxes filling up

4:15 p.m.: Elections staff is having to empty some drop boxes more often then expected as voters cast their ballots Tuesday.

"We're getting reports that they are filling up," Assistant Clerk-Recorder Michelle Ascencion said Tuesday afternoon.

She sees that as a positive – that people are voting and using the drop boxes. Signs on the official boxes have a phone number to call if voters have any issues.

Most voters 'in the middle'

4 p.m.: Josh Hamilton wants “positive change.”

The Republican from Ventura voted against Gov. Gavin Newsom, for Assembly candidate Cole Brocato and “no on everything” for the the propositions, he said. He complained people are painted as far right or far left when most are in the middle.

“I’m not anti-Democrat or anything like that,” said Hamilton, who voted at the National Guard Armory in Ventura Tuesday. “We want people to do the right job.”

- Tom Kisken

Early turnout lags behind 2020, 2021 figures

3:45 p.m.: As of Monday, elections officials reported more than 143,000 of the county's nearly 506,000 registered voters had cast ballots in the midterm.

That figure includes ballots received by mail or dropped off as well as those cast in-person at vote centers, which opened Oct. 29.

By comparison, almost 225,000 voters had cast ballots one day before the governor's recall election in September. Nearly 325,000 had returned ballots one day before the November 2020 presidential election, which had record high 85.9% voter turnout.

'absolutely insane'

3:15 p.m.: Lynda Martin of Ventura has never seen the country so divided.

After voting at the National Guard Armory in Ventura, she cited the attack on Paul Pelosi in San Francisco and alleged voter intimidation in Arizona. To her, it seems like a threat to democracy.

“It’s insane, absolutely insane,” she said.

- Tom Kisken

In line at 8 p.m.? Vote centers will stay open

2:15 p.m.: County elections chief Mark Lunn said vote centers close at 8 p.m., but anyone in line at that time will get a chance to cast a ballot.

"I don’t anticipate long lines, but if you are in line at 8 p.m., you will be allowed to vote," Lunn said.

The same is true at drop boxes, he said. As long as voters are there by 8 p.m., they can drop their ballot in the box.

More: Election 2022: What you need to know about Rep. Salud Carbajal v. Dr. Brad Allen race for Congress

Port Hueneme voters take sides on city's name

2 p.m.: Kevin Brannon, 43, and Jenni Rivas, 42, waited out the rain at a vote center in Port Hueneme, a, voters are being asked whether to change the name of their city.

Brannon voted to keep the name Port Hueneme, saying there more important things the city can do to boost tourism, such as cleaning up the beach.

“I don’t think the juice is worth the squeeze,” said Brannon, a fourth generation Port Hueneme resident.

Rivas voted in favor of changing the name to Hueneme Beach, but said she didn't feel strongly either way.

- Brian Varela

Voters drop off ballots in Oxnard

1:45 p.m.: In Oxnard, Patrick and Aimee Morrison rushed into a vote center at the Boys and Girls Club of Greater Oxnard and Port Hueneme to drop off ballots and escape the rain.

Aimee Morrison said she supported abortion rights and voted in favor of Prop. 1, which would add the right to abortion to California’s constitution.

Roughly 100 voters had cast ballots at the location by 1 p.m. Tuesday.

- Brian Varela

Ojai voters take advantage of rain breaks

1:15 p.m.: A vote center at the Ojai United Methodist Church had 253 voters by 1 p.m.

“It was slow the first few days, but it’s definitely picked up today," elections worker Rebecca Sanchez said.

People rush in to vote when there is a lull in the rain, she said.

- Wes Woods 

More: Ventura County election: Bill-de la Peña, Gorell close in money chase as campaign nears end

Some voters report intimidation

1 p.m.: Officials said they have had some reports of voters feeling intimidated by observers during the midterm election.

Those reports included a Monday night call from a voter who was concerned about a person standing nearby and watching a Simi Valley drop box. The elections office responded and the situation was resolved, said county elections chief Mark Lunn.

“Elections stir up a lot of emotions,” said Lunn, who urged people to report any problems to election workers.

Voters turning up despite windy, wet weather

12:45 a.m.: By mid-day, this week's winter storm didn’t seem to slowing down voting, said Mark Lunn, the county’s elections chief.

"We've got scattered rain throughout the county. I don't know how that's going to impact things, but we're busy,” Lunn said. “People are voting today, and I'm happy to see that things are going so well.”

A full house in Moorpark

12:30 p.m.: Joseph Tovar, 33, of Moorpark, said development was one of his top issues in this election.

“I want Moorpark to stay small,” the new homeowner said. “There’s a certain charm that me and my family moved here for."

He cast his ballot at the vote center at the Moorpark Community Center, which had a full house shortly before noon.

- Mike Harris

More: Port Hueneme or Hueneme Beach? Residents to decide city's name on Election Day 2022

In-person voting doubles

11:40 a.m.: Around 60 people have voted so far on Tuesday at Oxnard College’s Performing Arts Center.

“It really picked up this morning. That’s double from yesterday," said Joe Belmont, the lead election worker at the vote center. "We had maybe 30 people yesterday.”

- Anthony Plascencia

Weather could affect turnout

11:20 a.m.: With rain in the forecast, those who waited to vote may skip the election, said Tim Allison, a political scientist at CSU Channel Islands in Camarillo.

"You may have some voters that waited because they wanted to make sure they were casting an informed ballot," he said. "That waiting – combined with the fact that we could see rain on Election Day – might mean some of those voters just decide to sit it out."

First batch of results expected shortly after polls close

10:45 a.m.: Initial results will be released shortly after vote centers close at 8 p.m., according to county elections chief Mark Lunn. That tally is expected to include ballots received and processed by Election Day.

Then, elections staff will count ballots that were cast in-person at vote centers on Tuesday and update the results throughout the night.

Additional vote updates are expected Thursday.

More: Election: 2 vie for Ojai mayor's seat share thoughts on water, housing and more

Election Day voting: Slow, but steady

10:30 a.m.: In Ventura, a few dozen had voted in person at the Ventura Avenue Adult Center by mid-morning.

Across the county, a line of voters was picking up at the Ronald Reagan Presidential Library in Simi Valley.

“Slow but steady,” poll worker Kelly Beeby said at the library.

- Stacie Galang and Mike Harris

Local, national issues energize voters

10:10 a.m.: Mike Silverstein, 60, of Simi Valley, said one of his top issues is law enforcement.

"I want to make sure that Simi Valley police do what they have to do, which I think is an awesome job," said Silverstein, a Republican who voted at the Ronald Reagan Presidential Library on Tuesday.

On a national level, he said he believes the country is in bad shape.

- Mike Harris

Patagonia closes for Election Day

10 a.m.: Patagonia closed Tuesday for Election Day. The Ventura company said it gave employees the day off to vote in the midterm election.

More: Appeals court hands down ruling in Godspeak church fight over COVID lockdown

Turnout inches close to 30%

9:45 a.m.: As of Monday, elections officials reported more than 143,000 of the county's nearly 506,000 registered voters had cast ballots in the midterm.

That figure includes ballots received by mail or dropped off as well as those cast in-person at vote centers, which opened Oct. 29.

Rain expected to pick up by noon

9:30 a.m.: The National Weather Service forecast calls for moderate to heavy rainfall to start soaking Ventura County in the next couple of hours.

Much of the county recorded a quarter to a half-inch of rainfall since Monday. In all, the storm is expected to drop 1 to 3 inches of rain in coastal and valley areas.

No long line at Reagan Library

9:15 a.m.: While one of the more popular voting spots in the county, no long lines were reported at the Ronald Reagan Presidential Library early Tuesday. Voters can cast ballots in person or drop them off  at the Simi Valley location.

- Mike Harris

More: 5 candidates vie to succeed retiring Simi Valley Mayor Mashburn in November election

Dozens line up to vote in T.O.

9:10 a.m.: Around 60 people stood in line waiting to vote at the Goebel Adult Community Center in Thousand Oaks by 9 a.m. on Election Day. The center is one of eight locations in the city.

Find a full list of vote centers here.

- Juan Carlo

California allows same-day registration

9 a.m.: If you have yet to register to vote, there's still time. Eligible voters can fill out a ballot and a registration form at the same time.

As of Monday morning, more than 100 Ventura County residents had done so at local voting centers, which opened Oct. 29.

The conditional voter's ballot comes back to the elections office in a different envelope allowing staff to review the information to make sure the person is eligible to vote.

City council seats to be decided

8:45 a.m.: Voters in all of the county's 10 cities will choose from candidates vying for a council seat or to be mayor. Here are the races:

Camarillo: 11 candidates vie for three Camarillo City Council seat

Fillmore: 6 vie for Fillmore City Council seats

Moorpark: 5 candidates seek office on Moorpark City Council

Ojai: 7 candidates seek Ojai City Council seats, 2 vie for Ojai mayor's seat

Oxnard: 9 vie for Oxnard City Council seats

Port Hueneme: 8 candidates seek Port Hueneme City Council posts

Santa Paula: 5 candidates eye Santa Paula City Council seats

Simi Valley: 6 candidates running for 2 Simi Valley City Council seats, 5 candidates vie to succeed retiring Simi Valley mayor

Thousand Oaks: 10 candidates run for Thousand Oaks City Council seats

Ventura: 12 candidates run for Ventura City Council

More: Election central: Your guide to Ventura County races

Vote centers open

8 a.m.: The county's 51 vote centers opened at 7 a.m. for the final day to cast ballots in the midterm election.

The centers will stay open until 8 p.m. Voters can cast ballots at any location in the county, not just those closest to them. Election officials urged voters to bring their mail-in ballot with them for a quicker process.

More: Brownley, Jacobs square off in volatile race in the 26th Congressional District

Turnout reaches 25%

Voter turnout had reached more than 25% in Ventura County as of Monday morning.

The Elections Division had received roughly 130,000 ballots from the county's nearly 506,000 registered voters. That figure includes ballots received by mail, dropped off at vote centers or left in drop boxes.

As of Monday, around 3,700 had cast ballots in person at local vote centers, which first opened Oct. 29.

Port Hueneme or Hueneme Beach?:Residents to decide city's name on Election Day 2022

Last day to vote

No matter how voters choose to cast their ballots, Tuesday is the last day to do so in Ventura County's midterm election.

Vote centers will close at 8 p.m. and vote-by-mail ballots also must be dropped off no later than 8 p.m. whether at a vote center or one of the county's official drop boxes.

If sent by mail, ballots must be postmarked by Tuesday and received by the elections division no later than Nov. 15.

Find a full list of drop box locations and vote centers at venturavote.org.

Cheri Carlson covers the environment for the Ventura County Star. Reach her at cheri.carlson@vcstar.com or 805-437-0260.

This article originally appeared on Ventura County Star: California election: Follow live updates on Election Day in Ventura County