San Rafael, CA – If you’ll be excited on election night about the first returns, the Marin County Elections Department will deliver the numbers for you on its election results webpage. Results of vote-by-mail ballots returned before November 5 will be available shortly after 8 p.m. on election night.
Don't forget to sign your vote-by-mail ballot.The first report from precincts is expected at about 9:30 p.m. election night and will be updated about every 45 minutes thereafter until all ballots are returned from the polls and counted in the Elections Department.
The County recently purchased and installed a new voting system with features that will modernize election administration and make counting ballots more efficient. About 75 percent of local voters choose to vote by mail, often on or just before election day, a rate that is higher than most other counties. Election laws have changed in recent years, allowing people to register and vote on election day, for example, which requires manual verification.
“While we are very excited to have our new central counting system, it is our first time using the system in an election,” said Registrar of Voters Lynda Roberts. “It will still take time for our staff to prepare ballots for counting, but the new equipment should allow staff to count ballots more quickly once prepared and verified. We’ll work hard for an efficient and accurate count as quickly as possible.”
Vote-by-mail ballots dropped off at polling places on election day will be processed in the days following the election. Roberts reminds voters to sign their return envelope so ballots can be processed quickly. But if voters forget, the Elections Department will send a letter with instructions for fixing the problem. Voters will receive a letter if their signature does not compare to the signature on their voter registration card.
Roberts also reminds voters that mail ballots must be postmarked on or before election day.
If you decide not to mail your ballot, you have other return options:
- Return your voted ballot in the signed envelope to the Elections Department on election day from 7 a.m. to 8 p.m.
- Return your voted ballot in the signed envelope to any polling location in Marin before 8 p.m. on election day.
- Use the convenient and secure drop box stationed at the main entrance to the Marin County Civic Center through 8 p.m. election day. The main entrance is on Peter Behr Drive under the Civic Center’s south archway.
You can use the Voter Information Portal (VIP) to check the status of your vote-by-mail ballot.
Updates to the election night results will be posted to the Elections Department website, www.marinvotes.org, every Wednesday and Friday by 5 p.m.
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