The Oaklandside is here to help you navigate local elections in a complicated year.
We started reporting on local elections this year—the first election season our new newsroom is around to cover—with a “citizen’s agenda” approach: we asked diverse Oakland residents across the city about what’s working and what’s not in their neighborhoods and school districts. Based on what we learned from you, we asked the candidates about Oaklanders’ priorities, scrutinized campaign finance and other public records, and looked into election security and the impacts of COVID-19 on your ability to vote.
Pick a district below to learn more about its City Council and school board races. (Only odd-numbered districts vote in 2020; evens will vote in 2022.) Don’t know what district you’re in? Enter your address in the map on this page. Read on below for citywide coverage.
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Illustrations by Mike Nicholls.
oakland 2020 Election fundamentals
How to vote in Oakland this year
With the pandemic and suspicious postal service cuts, voters face more obstacles this year. Here’s what local officials are planning, and how to make sure your ballot is counted.
How secure is voting-by-mail in Oakland?
After downtown mail boxes were removed last month, local postal workers and voters are staying vigilant. Here’s how the entire process works, and how to track your ballot as it travels through the mail.
District elections: the surprising history explaining how we vote in Oakland
After a long battle, voters overhauled the city’s political system 40 years ago, making the City Council more racially diverse and accountable to neighborhoods.
Looking for Oakland voter guides? Here’s a partial list
As a nonprofit newsroom, The Oaklandside doesn’t make endorsements. Here are a few voter guides compiled by informed locals.
more Citywide election coverage
After mistakes in 2020, is Alameda County ready for the 2022 election?
A judge rejected a public records lawsuit brought by two voting rights organizations hoping to pressure the county to hand over voting data.
Alameda County’s election was marred by systemic problems, say voting rights groups
Election monitors found that over 100 ballots were lost at an East Oakland voting center, and say language access laws weren’t followed at others.
Oakland’s District 5 City Council race is a nail-biter
Incumbent councilmember Noel Gallo is still leading by a thin margin. But challengers Richard Santos Raya and Zoe Lopez-Meraz say their ranked-choice strategy might still pay off.
Did renters’ rights shape Oakland elections this year?
As Carroll Fife declares victory in D3, voters appear to have put their confidence in candidates who share a goal: protecting tenants.
Oakland school board races come into view, and outgoing members reflect
The teacher’s union, which spent far less on races than other groups, saw a majority of their preferred candidates prevail.
Oakland voters overwhelmingly back police oversight measure
For the second time in four years, a supermajority of Oaklanders voted to give a civilian police commission vast authority.
Oakland live election results 2020
Election results for Oakland City Council, OUSD school board, City Attorney, and Oakland ballot measures.
Oakland artists are projecting huge animated murals around town to help voters find ballot boxes
The Civil Rights-era inspired images gleamed from the walls of the Alameda County Courthouse Sunday night. They’ll be at Frank Ogawa Plaza Tuesday night.
What happens if Oakland voters don’t know their usual polling place is closed this year? These volunteers have a plan
A volunteer group is posting flyers at each of Oakland’s usual polling places to make sure voters know about this year’s 26 voting centers.
Oakland 2020 election live updates: A rally at Frank Ogawa; ranked-choice voting early results
Our reporters were out and about all day and night Tuesday, checking in voting centers and talking to candidates after results started coming in.
Map: Where to drop your ballot at 24/7 official drop boxes in Oakland
There are 17 drop boxes across Oakland, and 66 across Alameda County. You can use any of them. Don’t forget to sign your envelope first!
Voting in person for the 2020 election? Here’s what Oaklanders need to know
Worried about voter intimidation, lost mail, language barriers, COVID-19, or long lines? We looked into it for you, and spell out your rights.
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