The last day to register to vote for a new San Diego mayor is Monday, Nov. 4. The Special Municipal Election is being held to fill a vacancy after the elected mayor resigned.
You will need to register if you:
- are not currently registered
- recently moved
- recently changed your name
If you’re not sure about your registration, check it online at sdvote.com. If you’re not registered or need to change your registration, you’ll find that form there too. If your signature is confirmed through Department of Motor Vehicles records, it will automatically be sent to the Registrar of Voters (ROV) office. If the signature is not confirmed, you can print the form, sign it and mail it to the Registrar.
For voters without access to a computer, registration forms are also available at the Registrar’s office at 5201 Ruffin Road, Suite I, in Kearny Mesa, US Post Offices, public libraries, City Clerk offices and Department of Motor Vehicles offices. For voters who need language assistance, election materials are also available in Spanish, Filipino, Vietnamese and Chinese.
Registration forms must be postmarked or delivered to the Registrar by midnight on Nov. 4. Voters can also register online until midnight.
Early voting is already underway at the Registrar’s office. Voters can cast their ballots there from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday through Friday until Election Day when the voting hours will change to 7 a.m. to 8 p.m. to reflect the hours at the polls. The ROV will be setting up 572 polling places throughout the City of San Diego. Voters can check for the location of their neighborhood poll at sdvote.com or on the back cover of the sample ballot pamphlet.
There is still time to apply for a mail ballot if that is more convenient. Registrar Michael Vu expects more ballots will be cast by mail than by individuals going to the polls. Applications for mail ballots can be submitted to the Registrar’s office until Nov. 12.
“If you vote by mail, I strongly recommend you fill it out and put it back in the mail as soon as possible.” said Registrar Vu.
The quick return of mail ballots speeds up the counting process because they can be prepared and scanned before Election Day. They’re counted immediately after the polls close and those results usually come in shortly after 8 p.m. on election night.
For additional information on voter registration, polling places or mail ballots, call (858) 565-5800 or visit sdvote.com.
