The Nov. 8 general election is already under way, as voters throughout California begin receiving ballots in the coming days—and can drop them off, completed and signed, at authorized locations now through Election Day.
Elections officials in Santa Clara County began sending ballots in the mail on Oct. 10. Also on that day, the registrar of voters’ office opened up standalone ballot drop boxes throughout the county where voters can submit their filled-out ballots before Nov. 8.
Voters can also drop off completed ballots at the county registrar’s office (1555 Berger Drive, San Jose) or return them by mail using the postage-paid envelope included with the blank ballot.
Elections officials are reminding voters to add a signature and date on the designated line before mailing in or dropping off their ballots.
In-person voting is also available, as of Oct. 10, at the county elections office, according to the California Secretary of State’s office.
“We’re urging all Californians to vote early this year. You don’t have to wait until Election Day,” Secretary of State Shirley N. Weber said. “Every person who votes early will help keep lines shorter and reduce wait times at in-person voting locations on Election Day.”
Anyone unsure of their registration status can check the Secretary of State’s “My Voter Status” tool at voterstatus.sos.ca.gov.
The deadline to register to vote in the upcoming election is Oct. 24.
Security measures taken by elections officials to ensure the safe completion and return of ballots include specific types of paper and watermarks on the ballot; unique barcodes that election officials can scan from each ballot; and requiring signatures on all submitted ballots, says the press release from the secretary of state’s office.
For early in-person voting, the registrar’s office is open Monday through Friday, 8am-5pm; Saturday and Sunday, 9am-5pm; and on Election Day, 7am-8pm.
The Nov. 8 ballot includes numerous offices for state, national, district and local offices, as well as seven state propositions. Some cities will be voting on local measures as well.
For more details, visit sccvote.org.
