Record 168,000+ Voters Already Registered • Oct. 19 is Last Day To Register
Voters will have begun to find election materials for the Nov. 3 Presidential General Election in their mailboxes this week.
Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, ballots have been mailed to all voters in Santa Cruz County to promote safe voting from home. The ballot is in a 9.5 by 6-inch envelope with a big XO on the flap.
“I wanted something easy to spot in the piles of mail we all get,” County Clerk Gail Pellerin said. “So, I am mailing every voter a hug and a kiss with their ballot.”
Inside voters will find their ballot and instructions on how to mark their choices and how to return the ballot. Voters may drop off their ballot in one of the 15 ballot drop boxes installed throughout the county, or walk it in to one of our staffed drop box locations, or mail it in the postage paid envelope.
Ballots mailed on or before Nov. 3 and received by the 17th day after the election will be considered received on time under a new California state law.
Every voter has also been mailed a County Voter Information Guide and Sample Ballot booklet. The guide is printed on white paper with the County Clerk seal at the top. The guide includes important information about voting as well as information on local measures and candidates running for local office. In the center of the book, voters will find a copy of their ballot they can use to get ready to vote.
Ballot box drop off at the Aptos Library
The State Voter Information Guide is being mailed by the Secretary of State to all households where there is a registered voter. The State is currently in the process of mailing this guide and has until Oct. 13 to mail to all households in the state.
Both the state and county voter guides are also available online at www.votescount.us along with candidate statements and information on the local measures. Voters can also go online to find the locations of the ballot drop boxes.
While ballots are being mailed to all voters, there will also be in-person voter services at several locations and days. Voters may go to one of these locations to get a replacement ballot, turn in their voted ballot, vote an accessible or Spanish ballot on the tablet, or obtain any other voter service.
On Monday, Oct. 5, voting began at the Santa Cruz County Clerk/Elections Department at 701 Ocean St., Room 310, in Santa Cruz, and the Watsonville City Clerk’s Office at 275 Main St., 4th Floor (6th floor of the parking garage) in Watsonville.
Starting Oct. 31, an additional 16 voting locations will be open in the county until 8 p.m. Tuesday, Nov. 3. Locations and hours are printed in the Voter Information Guide and inserted with voter’s ballot.
Since the printing, there has been one change. The Soquel Adventist Conference Grounds voting location has moved to Soquel High School.
The county now has more than 168,000 registered voters ━ a record number!
The last day to register to vote in the Nov. 3 election is Monday, Oct. 19. Voters can register online at www.registertovote.ca.gov or pick up a card at any post office, library, city hall or county elections office. Voters can ask for a card to be mailed to them by calling 831-454-2060.
For more information, contact the County Clerk/Elections Department at 831-454-2060 or visit us online at www.votescount.us.