A “Precinct” describes the geographical location and polling place where you and your neighbors are assigned to vote. When the ballot boxes from all of the precincts are returned and counted on election night, counties will report “100% precincts reported.”

Since Vote-by-Mail, is used by 90% of the voters, fewer and fewer ballots are cast at the polls on Election Day. In a traditional election, San Joaquin County reports the results of the early returns of the Vote-by-Mail ballots right after the polls close, before precinct ballots are counted.