The following is a joint message from the registrars in 11 Bay Area counties, including Marin County.
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Your local election officials would like you to know that sending Vote by Mail ballots to all eligible voters is the law in California, and it is safe, secure and convenient.
Official ballots were mailed on May 9th and all registered voters throughout California, including in the Bay Area, should start receiving their ballots soon for the upcoming June 7, 2022 California Statewide Primary Election.
While permanent Vote by Mail has been in place in California since 2002, Assembly Bill 37, passed by the California State Legislature and signed into law by the governor in 2021, requires counties to mail a ballot to every active, registered voter in California. All eligible voters will receive Vote by Mail ballots, and the return envelope is postage paid. Put your completed ballot in the envelope, seal it, sign it, and mail it to your local election office. Voted ballots returned by mail must be postmarked on or before Election Day and received within seven (7) days of the election to be considered timely. A detailed article and Fact Sheet on Vote by Mail, could help answer any additional questions.
Vote by Mail is a highly regulated process. It is nearly impossible to cheat the system due to the number of multiple factors, checkpoints, people, and systems that coordinate to keep your vote safe. “Over the past 20 years, California has steadily applied measures such as pre-paid postage, drop boxes, and a “cure” process for challenged ballots, ensuring Vote by Mail is a robust sound process for voters to cast their ballots,” said Shannon Bushey, County of Santa Clara Registrar of Voters.
Voters can track their ballot to know when they are mailed, received, and processed by the county election office by signing up at the Secretary of State’s office (https://wheresmyballot.sos.ca.gov). It’s a great way for voters to know when to expect their ballots and when the election office receives your voted ballot, thereby providing increased transparency.
For local information, go to the Marin County Elections Department website. More information on this topic can be found on the website, BayAreaVotes.org, or the Facebook page, Bay Area Votes.