Vote-by-Mail Ballots on the Way

Vote-by-mail ballots for the Nov. 2 general election were mailed Monday and should arrive in no more than a week.

If you registered to vote by mail and don't get one by Oct. 13, call the Contra Costa County Registrar of Voters to request one.

The deadline for receipt of mail-in ballots is the time the polls close, 8 p.m. Nov. 2. Even if a ballot is postmarked earlier than Election Day, it won't count unless it arrives at the elections office by that time, according to Candy Lopez, spokeswoman for the registrar's office.

For those who haven't registered, the deadline to do so is less than two weeks away. Oct. 18 is the last day those eligible can register. New voters, or those who have moved, changed their name or political party must register.

Forms are available at San Ramon City Hall, the San Ramon Valley Fire Protection District headquarters, San Ramon libraries,  the local post office, the registrar of voters and nearly any public agency in the region.

Completed forms must be postmarked or delivered to the county elections office at 555 Escobar St. in Martinez no later than 7 p.m. Oct. 18.

To be eligible to vote, a person must be a U.S. citizen and at least 18 years old by Nov. 2. No parolees or inmates convicted of a felony can vote.

Citizens naturalized after Oct. 18 may register and vote between Oct. 19-26 if they bring their Certificate of U.S. Naturalization and prove they have an established home in the county.

For more information, call the county elections office at 335-7800.

For the rundown on local elections, including information on each candidate, visit our San Ramon Patch Virtual Ballot.