2024 Election live updates: Bay Area, CA voters cast their votes for high-stakes races

The ballot boxes are out, the research has been done and those handy "I Voted" stickers are ready as Bay Area voters cast their votes.

The ballot boxes are out, the research has been done and those handy "I Voted" stickers are ready.

Tuesday is the final day to vote in-person, drop off your ballot and even still register to vote at vote centers in California.

"I think it's one of the most important elections of my lifetime, there are many important issues on the ballot," Mina Bressler, a San Mateo resident said.

"It feels good!" Antonio Encarnacion, a San Mateo resident said. "It's surprising how quickly it came but I'm glad that it's here."

Voters in San Mateo County wasted no time on Election Day heading to the polls as soon as they opened at 7 a.m. on Tuesday morning.

"It feels fulfilling, I feel like I'm just doing my civic duty, doing my part, being a part of this country, it's a right that not a lot of people get to experience so I'm glad to be able to do it myself," Encarnacion said.

Mina Bressler voted early by mailing her ballot in weeks ago.

"I got a little text that said my vote was received and counted," she said.

Still, she wanted her two daughters to be a part of the process.

So they hand-delivered donuts to poll workers, carrying on a bit of a family tradition.

"Growing up, my mom took me to the polls every year, in the garages of our neighbors in Los Angeles and I grew up with the understanding that it's important to participate in any way we can and voting is the most important way," Bressler said. "You know, we didn't have the vote forever, the women, and I want to show my girls that their voices count and they matter."

Alicia Lima was proud to cast her ballot too.

"Great! I was last minute but I did it!" Lima said.

A right, she doesn't take lightly after her family immigrated here from El Savador back in the 1980's.

"We need to vote to make changes, especially with immigrants, we are citizens here, we're not born here but please vote so we can make difference," she said.

Across the state, polls close at 8 p.m.

If you're voting in-person, just make sure you are in line by 8 p.m.

The San Mateo County Registrar of Voters is expected to release their first batch of results by 8:10 p.m.

Vice President Harris' lifelong friends from the Bay Area have known her since grade school and are doing everything they can to help her win on election night.

Vice President Kamala Harris' lifelong friends from the Bay Area Stacey Johnson-Batiste and Carole Porter believe Harris could win big election night - but they aren't taking any chances and doing everything they can to make it happen.

Johnson-Batiste and Porter have known the Vice President since grade school.

They've been in Harris' corner for every election of her life, including the biggest one. They are doing everything they can to get out the vote.

"We've all been so supportive. I've been door-knocking, I've been phone banking, I was door-knocking in Atlanta just a couple weeks ago," Johnson-Batiste said. "It's such a testament to who she is that so many people - friends, family, colleagues have galvanized around her and this movement."

They've been traveling to swing states - Nevada, Pennsylvania, and Georgia - to convince voters that their lifelong friend should be the next president of the United States.

"This country that seems so divided right now and feels so challenged is the same country that is giving her the opportunity to break this glass ceiling in a way that's never been done before," Porter said. "So that has to say something about where we're from and the fabric of America."

In 2020, Carole gave ABC7 News a tour of the block that Vice President Harris grew up on - Browning and Bancroft in Berkeley.

Vice President Kamala Harris will be watching the results roll in election night at her alma mater Howard University in Washington, D.C.

ABC7 News Anchor Julian Glover will be there providing live election night coverage from the watch party.

Howard University students who are from the Bay Area tell Glover that they're excited, optimistic, and proud. Read more here.

Across the state of California, polls are now open at 7 a.m. and close at 8 p.m. If you're voting in-person, just make sure you are in line by 8 p.m.

If you haven't mailed your ballot yet, make sure it's postmarked by today. You can also drop it off at a polling place or drop box.