San Rafael, CA – Ballots for the June 7 Statewide Direct Primary Election will be mailed to all registered voters on May 9, the same day in-person services for the election will be available at the Marin County Elections Department in San Rafael.
The Marin County Elections Department is preparing for the June 7 Statewide Direct Primary Election.Registrar of Voters Lynda Roberts said voters will notice something new in the mailed packet: a two-card ballot. “For the first time, we were unable to fit everything onto one card, front and back, due to the number of candidates and races on the ballot,” she said.
Ballot cards will be clearly labeled Card A and Card B with a message at the bottom instructing voters to vote and return both cards. “If voters return only one card, we will count it, but they will be unable to submit the second card later,” Roberts added.
The second change for this election is that fewer, multi-day regional vote centers will replace Election Day polling places. It is a result of the Board of Supervisors’ action in May 2021 to implement the Voter’s Choice Act model of voting, which also includes mailing a ballot to all registered voters.
Voters may visit any vote center for in-person services, and, if necessary, may receive a replacement mail ballot. Locations and hours of operation for vote centers and official ballot drop boxes are listed on the department’s website and will be printed in the Voter Information Guide that is mailed to all registered voters at the end of April.
Voters will continue to receive a postage-paid envelope along with their two ballot cards and must remember to sign the envelope before mailing it back. Also, the ballot envelope must be postmarked on or before Election Day and received within seven days or it won’t count.
Those planning to participate in the election should be aware of the following dates:
- May 9: Ballots will be mailed to all registered voters in the county. This is also the first day to receive voter services in the Elections Department between 8 a.m. and 4:30 p.m. in Suite 121 at the Civic Center, 3501 Civic Center Drive, San Rafael.
- May 23: The last day to register to vote in this election.
- May 24: Starting on this day and until 8 p.m. Election Day, eligible residents who are not registered must go to a vote center to register and vote. Check online for locations and dates and hours of operation.
- May 28: Four vote centers will be open. Check online for locations and hours of operation. Additional vote centers open June 4.
- May 31: The last day the Elections Department can mail a ballot. After this day, voters wishing to vote must get a ballot in person at any vote center.
- June 4: All 20 vote centers will be open through Election Day. Check online for locations and hours of operation.
- June 7: Election Day. All vote centers will be open from 7 a.m. to 8 p.m. Ballot return envelope must be signed and postmarked on or before this day or dropped in an official ballot drop box or at any vote center by 8 p.m. Check marinvotes.org for locations.
For more information, call 415-473-6456, or go to www.marinvotes.org. Follow the Elections Department on Facebook.