Issue 1: Election Day, the 2027 minimum wage, and two new tools
Three short notes: the November 3 election, the minimum wage change on January 1, and two new DNLH pages for food and school meetings.
Week of October 26, 2026. Published October 26, 2026. General information, not legal advice.
Election Day is Tuesday, November 3
Polls are open 7 a.m. to 8 p.m. You can drop off your ballot at any official drop box, polling place, vote center or county elections office in California by 8 p.m. on November 3. A mailed ballot must be postmarked by November 3 and arrive within 7 days; the state voter guide says to mail it at least 7 days before Election Day.
Sources:
- Your Election Day plan: November 3, 2026 (DNLH guide), checked October 24, 2026
California's minimum wage goes up on January 1
The California minimum wage is $16.90 an hour in 2026 for every employer, of any size. On January 1, 2027, it goes up to $17.40 an hour. Several Bay Area cities set a higher rate; the guide lists them.
Sources:
- Minimum wage in California and Bay Area cities (DNLH guide), checked October 18, 2026
New: make a short plan, or find local help
My Next Steps makes a short plan for finding food or getting ready for a meeting at your child's school: three actions, who to contact, and what to do if the first try does not work. Find Local Help lists food and school support in San Mateo and Santa Clara counties, with hours and phone numbers as each organization publishes them. Neither asks for an account, and nothing you choose is sent anywhere.
Sources:
- My Next Steps (DNLH page), checked October 26, 2026
- Find Local Help (DNLH page), checked October 26, 2026
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