San Rafael, CA – Key dates are coming up in preparation for the September 14 California Gubernatorial Recall Election. Ballots will automatically be mailed to all registered voters, and voters will be assigned to a polling place should they decide to vote in person or need in-person services on Election Day.
Vote-by-mail participants must remember to sign the postage-paid ballot envelope before mailing it back.The polling place location is printed on the back cover of the Voter Information Guide that will be mailed to each registered voter by the Marin County Elections Department during the week of August 9. A voter may check the online Voter Information Portal to find the polling place or call the Elections Department at (415) 473-6456.
Voters will be deciding yes or no on recalling Governor Gavin Newsom and can vote for a candidate to succeed him as Governor if he is recalled. Voters are not required to vote on both parts — they may vote on one or both parts.
Registrar of Voters Lynda Roberts said voters will notice something new when they receive the ballot packet. The ballot will be securely folded inside an information sheet, and a message printed at the top of the sheet will alert voters that their ballot is inside.
“We decided to use this new information sheet for the first time because it has more space to give voters important information and allows us to use a larger size for the printed words,” Roberts said.
Voters will receive a postage-paid envelope along with their ballot and must remember to sign the envelope before mailing it back. Also, the ballot envelope must be postmarked on or before Election Day or it won’t count.
Those planning to participate in the election should be aware of the following dates:
- August 16: 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.
- August 30: The last day to register to vote in this election.
- August 31: Starting on this day and until 8 p.m. Election Day, eligible residents who are not registered may come to the Elections Department to register and vote.
- September 7: The last day the Elections Department can mail a ballot. After this day, voters wishing to vote must get a ballot in person at the Elections Department or visit their polling place on Election Day.
- September 14: Assigned polling places are open from 7 a.m. to 8 p.m. for voters wanting or needing in-person services. Ballot return envelope must be signed and postmarked on or before this day or dropped in a drop box by 8 p.m. Voters may receive a replacement mail ballot in the Elections Department from 7 a.m. until 8 p.m. on Election Day. Check www.marinvotes.org for drop box locations.
For more information, call (415) 473-6456, or go to www.marinvotes.org. Follow the Elections Department on Facebook.