You've got questions about the California election. We've got answers

Voters cast ballots last week in San Jose.

Nov. 8, 2016 3 AM PT

It’s election day! If you’re headed to the polls, you might need a quick refresher on everything that’s on the ballot.

The record 19.4 million people who are registered to vote in California have a host of races to choose from: the presidential contest, the Senate race, congressional districts, legislative candidates and 17 statewide ballot propositions, along with local initiatives and races.

It’s a lot to get through. Fortunately the Los Angeles Times’ political team has you covered with a quick speed read.

California is going blue, what’s the point?

Sure, the state’s electoral college votes are in all likelihood going to Hillary Clinton. That leaves some voters feeling left out. But the state still matters. You can’t win the presidency without California, and as our cool graphic going back to 1936 shows, it actually hasn’t been a lock for the Democrats for very long. We’ll be watching closely to see if Orange County will go blue for the first time in 80 years.

Why are there two Democrats running for U.S. Senate?

That’s thanks to California’s top-two primary system, which this year sent two members of the same party to a statewide contest for the first time since voters implemented the system in 2012. We’ve covered this race very closely, so check out all the links below.

Why are there so many ballot measures?

For the most part, it’s because turnout was so low in the last statewide election. Also, this was a prime year for people to get their issues in front of the voters, especially given the expected high turnout.

Condoms, really?

Really. In 2012, Los Angeles County voters opted to require adult film actors to wear condoms. Now, Californians statewide are faced with the same question. Proposition 60 has deep-pocketed donors and passionate opponents.

What do polls of California voters say?

Glad you asked. Along with our partners at USC Dornsife, The Times just took one. From the presidential race to the Senate contest to the hottest ballot measures, see how things are shaping up.

Polls open at 7 a.m. and close at 8 p.m. Find your polling place here. And catch up while you wait with some of our top election headlines.

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Ballot measures

The Times’ complete guide to the 17 ballot propositions, with endorsements from the editorial board

Quick summary of the 17 propositions on November’s statewide ballot

All about the $9-billion ballot measure that would fund school repairs

School bonds are popular, but polls show the big one on the ballot is struggling

This man is bankrolling a California ballot measure to force voter approval on big bonds. Would that kill projects like high-speed rail?

California voters are being asked to force transparency in the Legislature. Here’s a Proposition 54 explainer.

If Proposition 55 passes, the state budget will rely even more on California’s highest earners

Why opponents of increasing the tobacco tax aren’t talking about tobacco

Why business groups aren’t fighting California’s tobacco and income tax hike initiatives

Vapers beware: E-cigarettes in line for a big tax increase if Proposition 56 passes

Tobacco companies claim proponents of cigarette tax will ‘use the new revenue to enrich their top executives’

The tobacco tax fight is different this time around, and the $100 million in funds raised is only part of it

Why Gov. Jerry Brown is staking so much on overhauling prison parole

California’s Citizens United ballot measure: Who’s for it, who’s against it and what it could really do

Most of California’s Congressional delegation already wants to get rid of Citizens United regardless of Proposition 59

What you need to know about Prop. 61, the spendy prescription drug measure on November’s ballot

How ‘MASH’ actor Mike Farrell became a leading voice against the death penalty in California

Why Silicon Valley is pouring money into efforts to repeal California’s death penalty

What happens if both death penalty measures are approved by voters on Nov. 8?

Will ending the death penalty save California more money than speeding up executions?

If California votes to speed up the death penalty, what does that mean for the state’s execution methods?

Bilingual education has been absent from California public schools for almost 20 years. But that may soon change

NRA not putting up much of a fight against California gun control ballot measure

What makes Prop. 63 different than the gun control laws passed over summer, and how that’s split gun control supporters

We read it so you don’t have to: 10 things you need to know about Proposition 64, which would legalize pot in California

Billionaire activists like Sean Parker and George Soros are fueling the campaign to legalize pot

Proposition 64 would legalize recreational use of marijuana though it’s illegal under federal law. How will that work?

The push to legalize pot for all has deeply divided the medical marijuana community

A proposition to legalize pot raises DUI concerns: ‘We are going to start losing folks in astronomical numbers’

‘No on Prop 66’ campaign points to Texas case as warning against faster executions in California

Out of time? Here are the propositions explained with emojis.

U.S. Senate race

California Senate candidates Loretta Sanchez and Kamala Harris on policy, politics and the state of their race

Can a San Francisco liberal win in Central Valley?

Riding high in the U.S. Senate race, Kamala Harris pushes to help down-ballot Democrats

When running for U.S. Senate, it’s good to be the highly visible California attorney general

Obama stars in ad for Harris

Senate candidate Kamala Harris makes final pitch to voters

Kamala Harris wins endorsements from Barbara Boxer and Dianne Feinstein in U.S. Senate race

Loretta Sanchez dabbed. Kamala Harris threw shade. What happened in the only Senate debate

Meet the men plotting strategy for California’s U.S. Senate candidates

$25-billion foreclosure settlement was a victory for Kamala Harris in California, but it wasn’t perfect

If Kamala Harris wins the U.S. Senate race, the governor has a rare chance to pick a new attorney general

California’s U.S. Senate candidates are on their own as the national Democratic Party sits it out

Sanchez says she was in the room for tough talk with President Obama on immigration. It’s not clear that she was.

California’s congressional Republicans may prefer Loretta Sanchez for Senate, but they’re staying out of it

Atty. Gen. Kamala Harris overwhelmingly wins state Democratic Party endorsement

Kamala Harris should take bolder action on police shootings, civil rights advocates say

Loretta Sanchez apologizes for Native American ‘war cry’

Democrat Loretta Sanchez may need an assist from GOP voters in Senate race

Join us at latimes.com for full election coverage of California’s measures and propositions.

Thanks for all this. Do you have any other good reads I should check out?

We sure do.

Here’s one about the time the politics team went to Disneyland to talk to people about the election.

And we identified the GOP dead zones in L.A. County, where you won’t find any Republicans to vote for.

And did you know that Donald Trump’s official “Make America Great Again” hats are made right here in California?

OK, I’m sick of the election. Anything else?

Go follow our Facebook page. Our engagement team has some treats in store for readers needing a break. And when you’re ready again, we’ll have lots of analysis and news in our free Essential Politics newsletter, so sign up.

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ALSO

Your ballot box guide to California’s propositions

Coverage of California campaigns and ballot measures

Live results and analysis on election night

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