In California: Is vote-by-mail here to stay? And state nears 1 million COVID-19 cases

It's been a long week in America as we all await presidential election results and keep tabs on our Golden State propositions and local races as vote tallies firm up. If you're feeling strange, the San Francisco Chronicle talked to a neuroscientist who explained what the election has been doing to your brain. I'd urge you to get outside for some fresh air and a walk, but the forecast this weekend is calling for rain and snow. How about retreating to the kitchen? The L.A. Times has 14 recipes for comfort food to soothe your nerves.

Hi, I'm Julie Makinen, California editor for the USA Today Network, helping you wrap up the week that just won't end.

In California brings you top Golden State stories and commentary from across the USA TODAY Network and beyond. Get it free, straight to your inbox.

Could future Golden State elections be all vote-by-mail? Yes, at a cost

Because of the COVID-19 pandemic, all of California's more than 22 million registered voters got a ballot in the mail this year along with a postage-paid envelope to send it back. Most counties offered fewer in-person polling places, and they opened them earlier, at least three days before Election Day. Now, the Associated Press reports, California's leaders are weighing whether to make those changes permanent.

More than 12.7 million people cast ballots before polls opened Tuesday. That meant shorter lines for voters who did vote in person — and more votes counted on election night in a state notorious for its slow returns.

State Senate President Pro Tem Toni Atkins said the election made it "crystal clear" that "providing every voter with the ability to choose whether to vote from home or in person should be California's new normal." Gov. Gavin Newsom called the idea "fabulous" in an interview with Politico. Five other states conduct all elections entirely by mail.

The question is: How to pay for it? It cost $65 million to mail ballots to all of the voters this year who don't normally get one — about 5.6 million people. The state could do that in 2020, in part, because it had millions of dollars in coronavirus aid from the feds. The state budget included $111.6 million for the election, with more than half of coming from Uncle Sam. But such funds may not be available for future elections.

Stockton's progressive young mayor may lose re-election bid, thanks in part to a blog filled with unsupported accusations

Stockton Mayor Michael Tubbs, the city’s first Black mayor who's become a darling in progressive circles and attracted national attention for championing ideas such as universal basic income, may lose his re-election bid. Tubbs is trailing in a reelection bid to an upstart Republican contender, Kevin Lincoln, 52% to 48%.

The upset appears to be driven in part by a local social media page, the 209 Times, whose founder acknowledges he harbors a grudge against Tubbs. The outlet has hounded Tubbs and other local political figures with years of accusations of corruption and misdeeds, the L.A. Times explains.

The outlet, named for the local area code, has about 100,000 followers on Facebook and more Instagram. Noted The L.A. Times: "The 209 Times has run articles, often with no proof, alleging that Tubbs has misappropriated millions of dollars earmarked for city programs, lied about his involvement with an unpopular idea to use the county fairgrounds as part of a state-funded site for homeless people, and put personal interests ahead of his elected role."

Motecuzoma Patrick Sanchez, the 209 Times founder, makes no apologies. “We are not journalists. I looked at it like we were a guerrilla group up against the mainstream army,” Sanchez told the newspaper. “We are not asking their side of it. We are telling you what we know. We never tried to hide our bias.”

In other election upsets: Los Angeles County District Attorney Jackie Lacey conceded defeat to challenger George Gascon, AP reported. The race created an unusual dynamic in which Gascon, a former beat cop and police chief, was fiercely opposed by law enforcement unions, and Lacey, the first woman and Black person to run the office, was criticized by Black Lives Matter activists. Gascon vowed to bring sweeping changes to the office such as jailing only dangerous criminals and holding police officers accountable for unjustified killings.

Prop 22 passed: What's next for Uber and Lyft drivers?

Proposition 22 — the hugely expensive ballot measure bankrolled by Uber and Lyft to ensure their drivers remain classified as contractors rather than employees — passed on Tuesday. While drivers are still divided on the initiative, many are just waiting to see if anything changes for the better now.

While seen as a huge win for the ride-share companies' bottom lines, the initiative is supposed to ensure drivers will have an earnings guarantee of 120% of the minimum wage, a health care contribution toward a Covered California plan beginning at 15 hours of work a week, and accident insurance. Lyft said this week its drivers can take advantage of the law's new benefits once the election results are certified by the Secretary of State — which should happen in December.

That includes covering 50% of the employer contribution for health care under the Affordable Care Act, about $184 a month, for drivers who work an average of at least 15 hours a week. The company will cover 100% of the employee contribution for drivers who work an average of 25 hours or more per week.

• Speaking of health care: Covered California open enrollment began Nov. 1 and continues through Jan. 31. Check out the website for your options.

COVID-19 cases are climbing again in California; state may be first to break 1 million

California reported 6,518 new coronavirus cases on Friday, the highest one-day total in more than two months. The state also added 51 virus-related deaths Friday, bringing the Golden State's COVID-19 numbers to a total of 951,094 cases and 17,866 virus-related deaths.

Friday's increase marked the largest one-day increase in the state since Aug. 22, which saw a 6,777 increase in COVID-19 cases, according to the state dashboard.

At this rate, California is likely to surpass 1 million COVID-19 cases by mid-November. The state, the most populous in the country, has about 40 million people. Still, things are not getting as bad as quickly as they are in other parts of the country. Some states like Massachusetts are considering curfews to slow the spread.

That's it for this week. We'll be back Monday with more news from the Golden State — and maybe even word on who will be president.

In California is a roundup of news from across USA TODAY Network newsrooms. Also contributing: L.A. Times, Associated Press, San Francisco Chronicle, NBC Bay Area.

This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Is vote-by-mail here to stay in California? COVID-19 cases near 1 million