The following information is from the Santa Cruz Elections Department:
Voters – Check Your Mailbox for your Ballot and Voter Guide
Voters will begin to find election materials for the September 14, 2021, California Gubernatorial Recall Election in their mailboxes this week.
Due to changes in the California Elections Code in response 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 blue XO on the flap.
“We wanted something easy to spot in the piles of mail we all get,” County Clerk Tricia Webber said. “So, we are 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 postmarked on or before Sept. 14 and received by the Sept. 21 will be considered received on time under a new California state law.
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 has mailed to some addresses in Santa Cruz County. The State Voter Information Guide contains the candidate statements for the replacement candidates, and it can be found online as well.
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, Aug. 16 voting begins at the Santa Cruz County Clerk/Elections Department located at 701 Ocean Street, 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. The VoteMobile will also offer voter services at various locations across the county. Check www.votescount.us for the schedule. Locations are added daily.
Starting Sept. 11, an additional 17 voting locations will be open in the county until 8pm on Tuesday, Sept. 14. Locations and hours are inserted with voter’s ballot. Since the printing, there have been some additional locations added. Contact the office or go online to www.votescount.us for an up-to-date list of locations.
The last day to register to vote in the Sept. 14 election is Monday, Aug. 30. 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, please contact the County Clerk/Elections Department at 831-454-2060 or visit us online at www.votescount.us.
