Voters are encouraged to register to vote or re-register to vote to update your name or address by Monday, Oct. 19, to be on the voter rolls for the Nov. 3 Presidential General Election.
To be eligible to register and vote, you must be a U.S. citizen, at least 18 years old on or before Nov. 3, and not be in prison or on parole for a felony conviction.
“Signing up to vote by Oct. 19 will allow us to mail a ballot to you and will ensure you are on the voter rolls if you go to vote in person,” County Clerk Gail Pellerin said. “However, if you miss the deadline, you can still register and vote in person up until Election Day, Nov. 3.”
Voters who don’t register to vote by Oct. 19 may find themselves having to wait in lines, and there is paperwork that must be completed before they can vote, Pellerin advised.
To register to vote or update your registration, go online to www.registertovote.ca.gov.
Voters who do not have access to the internet may complete a voter registration card available at the County Clerk/Elections Department located at 701 Ocean St., Room 310; city clerk offices in Capitola, Santa Cruz and Watsonville; local libraries; post offices; the Department of Motor Vehicles; social service agencies; military recruitment offices; and fire stations during regular office hours.
Voters may deliver the completed card to the County Clerk/Elections Department, or any of the drop boxes in the county used for returning voted ballots until midnight Oct. 19, or have it postmarked no later than Oct. 19.
Ballot drop boxes are located at:
- Aptos – Public Library parking lot, 7695 Soquel Dr.
- Aptos – Polo Grounds, 2255 Huntington Dr.
- Aptos – Cabrillo College parking lot by football stadium, 3732 Cabrillo College Dr.
- Ben Lomond – Highlands Park, 8500 Highway 9
- Boulder Creek – Library, 13390 W. Park Ave.: walk up
- Capitola – City Hall parking lot, 420 Capitola Ave.
- Capitola – Shopping Mall parking lot on the Capitola Road side near Bank of America, 1855 41st Ave.
- Felton – Covered Bridge Park parking lot, Mt. Hermon/Graham Hill Rd.
- Santa Cruz – County Government Center parking lot in front of the County Building, 701 Ocean St.
- Santa Cruz – Parking lot 16 next to the Public Library, 212 Church St.
- Santa Cruz – UC Santa Cruz Quarry Plaza: walk up
- Scotts Valley – City Hall parking lot, 1 Civic Center Dr.
- Watsonville – Parking Lot 14, 316 Rodriguez St.
- Watsonville – County Health Center parking lot, 1430 Freedom Blvd.
- Watsonville – Corralitos Community Center parking lot, 35 Browns Valley Rd.
Inside drop boxes are located at:
- County Elections: 701 Ocean St., Room 310, Santa Cruz
- Santa Cruz City Clerk: 809 Center St., Santa Cruz
- Simpkins Swim Center: 979 17th Ave., Santa Cruz
- Capitola City Clerk: 420 Capitola Ave., Capitola
- Watsonville City Clerk: 275 Main St., 4th Floor, Watsonville
- Watsonville Public Library: 275 Main St., 1st Floor, Watsonville
Voters must complete a voter registration affidavit form that includes, among other things, their name, address where they live, address where they get their mail, driver’s license number or last four digits of their social security card, and signature.
•••
For more information, contact the Santa Cruz County Clerk/Elections Department at 831-454-2060, [email protected] or go online to www.votescount.us.