Vote by Mail (VBM)
Be sure to sign the return envelope. Your signature must appear similar to the original signature on your voter registration form. A Vote-by-Mail ballot without your signature will not be counted. Your Vote-by-Mail ballot can be returned by mail, dropped off at any polling place, or deposited in a ballot drop off box. Click here for more on VBM.
Ballot Drop Off Box (24 hours)
Return your Vote-by-Mail ballot at a ballot drop off box at any time. Click here for a list of ballot drop box locations.
Vote In Person
No form of ID is needed to vote in person. The list of polling places is available, and will be included in all mailed ballot packets. Polling locations are only open on Voting Day. You are not required to bring your Vote-by-Mail ballot to your polling location if you prefer to cast your ballot in person, but it is strongly encouraged. Click here for a list of polling places.
Accessible Voting
The Registrar of Voters office provides the Voter Information Guide in an accessible format on the Voter Profile page. The official ballot for the September 14, 2021, Special Recall Election will be available through the Remote Accessible Vote-by-Mail portal beginning Monday, August 16. For accessibility questions, call 707-234-6819 or visit https://sites.omniballot.us/06045/app/home
IN-PERSON VOTING
Every registered voter will have the option to vote in-person at their designated polling place on Voting Day. Voters are not required to bring their Vote-by-Mail ballot to vote in-person, but it is strongly encouraged. If a voter would like to vote in-person, but has not received their mailed ballot, they can visit their polling location to cast a provisional ballot.
VOTE BY MAIL FOR EVERYONE
Every registered voter was mailed a Vote-by-Mail ballot by August 16.
Provisional Voting
There are two circumstances in which you have a right to cast a provisional ballot in an election in California. First, if you believe you are registered to vote, but your name does not appear on the voter list at a polling location, you can vote provisionally. Second, if you voted by mail, but the county does not have a record of receiving your vote-by-mail ballot, you can vote provisionally. Any eligible voter, including those displaced by wildfires, can cast a provisional ballot at any polling location in the county, and that ballot will be placed in a special provisional envelope before being put in the ballot box. Only the races you are eligible to vote in will be counted. A provisional ballot will be counted after county election officials confirm that you are registered to vote and have not already cast a ballot in this election. Any voter who votes provisionally has a right to know whether their provisional ballot was counted. Click here to find the status of your provisional ballot.
Recall Ballot
Your recall ballot will have two parts.
- Shall GAVIN NEWSOM be recalled from the office of Governor?
- Candidates to succeed GAVIN NEWSOM as Governor if he is recalled.
A vote of yes on the first question would be in favor of removing Newsom from office, a vote of no would be in favor of keeping Newsom in office until the end of his term in 2023. The second question will be followed by a list of 46 candidates, excluding Newsom, who are running to replace him if he is recalled. Ballots that only include a response to the first question will be counted. The recall requires a simple majority to pass. If more than 50% of voters respond yes to the first question, Newsom will be recalled and replaced with the candidate who earns the most votes on the second question, even if they don’t receive a majority of votes. If more than 50% of voters respond no to the first question, Newsom will remain in office. Visit your county website to view your sample ballot.
County Website: https://www.mendocinocounty.org/government/assessor-county-clerk-recorder-elections/elections
Check Your Registration: https://couragecaliforniainstitute.org/voter-tools/
Track Your Ballot: https://couragecaliforniainstitute.org/#track