If you want to vote in the comfort of your own home, you have only a few days left to request a mail ballot for the June 7 Presidential Primary Election.
By state law, applications must be physically received by the Registrar of Voters no later than 5 p.m. on Tuesday, May 31. They cannot be simply postmarked on that date.
There are several ways to apply:
- Complete the application on the back of the sample ballot and voter information pamphlet.
- Download an application from the Registrar of Voters’ website.
- Email, fax or mail a letter to the Registrar of Voters. The request must include your name, residence address, name and date of the election, the address where the ballot is to be mailed, and your signature. If mailing your request, send it immediately.
- Call (858) 565-5800. The Registrar of Voters is now accepting mail ballot requests over the phone. The request can be only for the current election and the registered voter must make the call himself or herself. (Note that the Registrar’s office will be closed Monday, May 30 for Memorial Day.)
Applications and letters can be emailed to rovmail@sdcounty.ca.gov, faxed to (858) 694-2955 or sent to the Registrar of Voters at P.O. Box 85520, San Diego, CA 92186-5520.
When you get your mail ballot, vote it and send it. The quick return of mail ballots speeds up the overall counting process because they can be prepared before Election Day, saving time and taxpayer dollars.
“The returned mail ballots will already be processed so when the clock strikes 8 p.m. on Election Night, we can immediately start counting them,” said Registrar Michael Vu. “Those results will be released just minutes afterward. As with any election, the more ballots processed beforehand, the quicker the election results.”
Those who miss the mail ballot deadline can vote in person at the Registrar of Voters located at 5600 Overland Ave., San Diego, 92123 between 8 a.m. and 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, or between 8 a.m. and 5 p.m. on Saturday, June 4 and Sunday, June 5 for weekend voting. Voters can also cast ballots at their neighborhood polling place on June 7.
Voters who are already permanent vote-by-mail voters do not need to re-apply. Their ballots will be mailed automatically. For voters who need language assistance, election materials are also available in Spanish, Filipino, Vietnamese, and Chinese.
To learn more about voting in the June 7 election, call (858) 565-5800 or visit sdvote.com.
