The Santa Clara County Registrar of Voters began mailing
absentee ballots on Monday, Oct. 4, for the Nov. 2 presidential
general election.
The Santa Clara County Registrar of Voters began mailing absentee ballots on Monday, Oct. 4, for the Nov. 2 presidential general election.
Absentee ballots can be requested by mail until 5pm on Tuesday, Oct. 26. Requests by mail must be received by the deadline. Postmarks are not accepted.
Applications for absentee ballots are available on the back cover of the sample ballots, on www.sccvote.org, the Registrar of Voters website or in person at the Registrar of Voters Office, 1555 Berger Drive, Building 2, San Jose, through Nov. 2.
Absentee voting in Santa Clara County is conducted by optical scan ballot. Voters mark their choices on the paper ballot using a blue or black pen. Once the ballot has been completed, the voter seals it in the blue return envelope provided and signs the envelope.
Voters who enjoy the convenience of absentee voting and would like to automatically have an absentee ballot mailed to them every election can sign-up for permanent absentee voting.
Voters may also cast their ballots early at the Registrar’s office during normal business hours (weekdays 8am-5pm).
Filling out a sample ballot before taking it to the voting place will allow voters to find answers to questions before having to make a final decision. Issues are often complicated and are not explained thoroughly on the ballot. Supporting information is included in the voter’s packet, from the media and online.
Sample ballots should be in the mail soon and contain information about local candidates and measures, including Impartial Analyses, Arguments In Favor and Arguments Against plus the location of the voter’s polling place on the back cover.
Voters who register between Oct. 5-18 will not receive a sample ballot, but will still be eligible to vote in the November election. These voters will be mailed a letter with their polling place location.
Also, the Registrar is looking for volunteers to serve as election officers for the election. Election Officers earn a stipend of $95 or more.
Election officers are needed to staff polling places throughout the county. They must be registered to vote in California. They are also required attend a scheduled training class before Election Day.
For more information about serving as an election officer, contact the Registrar of Voters at (408) 299-POLL (7655), (408) 282-3080 (Spanish), (408) 282-3097 (Vietnamese), or (408) 282-3086 (Chinese).
