October 11, 2018 - SACRAMENTO – California voters who choose to vote by mail can expect to see their ballots begin arriving in the coming days.

“Voting by mail offers California voters a convenient, hassle-free way to participate in our elections,” Secretary of State Alex Padilla said. “As ballots begin to arrive, Californians should make a plan for how they will cast their ballot. Voting by mail allows California voters to complete their ballots in the comfort of their own homes and saves a trip to the polls on Election Day.” 

In the June 5, 2018 Statewide Primary Election, 67.7% of votes were cast on vote-by-mail ballots. Click here to view historical California vote-by-mail statistics.

Tips for Vote-by-Mail Voters:

• If you’re not sure of your registration status, visit the Secretary of State’s My Voter Status tool at: https://voterstatus.sos.ca.gov/
• If you’ve registered to vote by mail, but believe you have not received your ballot, contact your county elections office. Find contact information for your county elections office here: http://www.sos.ca.gov/elections/voting-resources/county-elections-offices/
• Before returning your ballot, you must remember to sign the return envelope provided with your vote-by-mail ballot.
• Voters can drop off their vote-by-mail ballots at any polling place, vote center, or ballot dropbox in their county through Election Day.
• Ballots that are returned by mail must be postmarked on or before Election Day, and received by county elections officials no later than three days after the election.

County elections officials began mailing ballots to military and overseas voters on September 7, 2018.

NOTE: The Secretary of State’s office does not issue, receive, or count ballots. Election officials in each of California’s 58 counties print, process, and count ballots.

Election changes in Madera, Napa, Nevada, Sacramento, and San Mateo Counties.

Every registered voter in Madera, Napa, Nevada, Sacramento, and San Mateo counties will automatically receive a vote-by-mail ballot. This is part of the Voter’s Choice Act, which has been adopted by these five counties. Voters in these counties will be able to return their ballot via mail or at any ballot drop box located in their county. Voters in these counties will also have the option to vote in person at any vote center. Vote centers will be open for 11 days up to and including Election Day. Voters who lose their ballots or make a mistake while marking their ballot can receive a new replacement ballot at any vote center in their county.

Click here for more information on the Voter’s Choice Act.
Source: CA. SOS