'Dónde votar' spikes to top of Google searches on Election Day

In this file photo, a voter fills out a ballot inside a polling station at a Ross Valley fire station on June 5, 2018. In this file photo, a voter fills out a ballot inside a polling station at a Ross Valley fire station on June 5, 2018. Photo: Justin Sullivan/Getty Images Photo: Justin Sullivan/Getty Images Image 1 of / 28 Caption Close 'Dónde votar' spikes to top of Google searches on Election Day 1 / 28 Back to Gallery

There's no shortage of voter guides and polling place locators on the internet for the 2018 Midterm Elections, assuming you are planning on voting in English. But if Google search is any indicator, many Spanish-language voters were still trying to find directions to the local voting booth Tuesday morning.

According to Google Trends, "dónde votar" — or "where to vote" — shot up to the top search term as polls opened across the country, with search frequency jumping 3,350 percent, according to Google.

The company later followed up to note that "three of the top five trending search topics in the US right now are for the #midterms: Polling place: +350%; Voting: +300%; Election day: +300%."

ALSO: Bay Area's political events and watch parties

For California voters still seeking voting information, The Chronicle and SFGATE have compiled voter guides, endorsements from the Editorial Board and information on where to vote.

Those seeking polling place locations in Spanish can find information on the Secretary of State page or their county election website.

Atop the ticket in California, Democratic Lt. Gov. Gavin Newsom is strongly favored over Republican John Cox in a state where the GOP has 3.8 million fewer registered voters.

Cox, 63, a lawyer and investor living in the San Diego area, hammered relentlessly on California's high cost of living, for which he blamed Newsom and the Democrats who control the Legislature and every statewide office. He pledged to cut taxes and roll back environmental laws that he says delay housing construction.

On Tuesday, Cox began his Election Day with a family breakfast and a tweet urging Californians to get to the polls.

Cox, who voted last week, tweeted a picture with his wife Sarah and one of his daughters. The post urged Californians to vote and said: "Change vs. status quo" with the hashtag, #HelpIsOnTheWay.

Later he thanked Republican campaign volunteers in Carlsbad and chatted with voters at a Department of Motor Vehicles office in Clairemont, telling them "we're going to fix this" in reference to long wait times.

Newsom cast his ballot Tuesday at a Masonic lodge in Larksupr as he held his 2-year-old son. He told reporters afterward that while he hopes to win the election, it wouldn't mean as much if Democrats don't take back the U.S. House.

"So much is at stake," he said. "I don't think it's a gross exaggeration to say that Trump's declared war on California ... It's so important that folks get out and vote all across the state."

For the past eight years Newsom has been lieutenant governor, a position with almost no power. Before that, as San Francisco mayor, he rocketed into the national spotlight when he ordered the issuing of marriage licenses to same-sex couples when it wasn't legal.

Newsom promised similarly bold moves involving the priorities of his party's liberal base. He spent much of the campaign raising money and holding rallies for Democrats running for seats in Congress and the Legislature, building goodwill with lawmakers with whom he'll be working if he wins.

The next governor will likely find a Democratic Legislature antsy to boost spending for the social safety net and higher education after eight years of Brown holding the line on such spending. He'll also inherit strong state finances with billions in budget reserves and a surplus along with the ever-present threat that an economic downturn will once again force cuts in the state that disproportionately relies on income taxes paid by the wealthy.

The Associated Press contributed to this report.