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AP18:151

For Immediate Release
October 9, 2018
Contact:
SOS Press Office
(916) 653-6575

Secretary of State Alex Padilla Announces Opening of Ballot Dropboxes in Voter’s Choice Act Counties

SACRAMENTO – Ballot dropboxes are opening today in Madera, Napa, Nevada, Sacramento, and San Mateo counties—the five counties that have adopted the Voter’s Choice Act for the November 6, 2018 General Election. In these five counties, every voter will automatically receive a vote-by-mail ballot. Voters will have the option of returning their ballots at a dropbox, by mail, or at any vote center in their county.

“In counties that have implemented the Voter’s Choice Act, ballot dropboxes offer yet another way for California voters to return their vote-by-mail ballot,” said Secretary of State Alex Padilla. “It may be easier for a voter to return their ballot closer to where they work or pick up their kids. Dropboxes provide an opportunity for all voters to return their ballots where it makes most sense for them and at their own convenience.”

Dropboxes are secure locations where California voters can deliver their completed ballots from the time they receive them by mail up to 8:00 p.m. on Election Day. Counties implementing the Voter’s Choice Act must open a minimum of one dropbox location for every 15,000 registered voters. Voters can look-up ballot dropbox and vote center locations using the map lookup tool at VotersChoice.sos.ca.gov.

Click here for more information on the Voter’s Choice Act

Click here to view the Secretary of State’s PSA on the Voter’s Choice Act

Click here for tips on how to vote by mail

Tips for Voters Who Plan to Use Dropboxes:

  • Voters can drop off their completed vote-by-mail ballots at any dropbox in their county starting now all the way up to 8:00 pm on Election Day.
  • Dropboxes will be open during normal business hours for early voting, but will be open from 7:00 am to 8:00 pm on Election Day.
  • Before returning your ballot, you must remember to sign the return envelope provided with your vote-by-mail ballot.
  • Ballots that are returned via dropbox do not require postage.
  • If you’re not sure of your registration status, visit the Secretary of State’s My Voter Status tool at: VoterStatus.sos.ca.gov.
  • You can also use this tool to check the status of your ballot once it has been received by county elections officials.
  • If you do not receive your vote-by-mail ballot, contact your county elections office.

The Voter’s Choice Act (SB 450), a landmark election reform measure, was sponsored by Secretary Padilla and signed into law by Governor Jerry Brown in 2016 and was first implemented in the June 5, 2018 Primary Election.

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