What you need to know about voting in the recall election in Contra Costa
CONTRA COSTA COUNTY, CA — Debi Cooper, County Clerk-Recorder & Registrar of Voters, has announced that all registered voters in Contra Costa County should have already received their Voter Information Guides and will soon receive their Official Ballots for the upcoming September 14, 2021, California Gubernatorial Recall Election. Ballots will be mailed to voters on August 13. If you do not receive your ballot by August 30, call 925-335-7800.
Here’s what you need to know about voting in the upcoming election:
The Contra Costa Health Department and Elections Division will be issuing a joint message promoting vote by mail as the safest way to vote for this election. Recent Health Order restrictions require all staff, volunteers and voters to wear masks while inside all in-person voting locations.
Register to Vote
To ensure you receive a ballot in the mail, confirm that you are registered to vote and that your address is correct at https://voterstatus.sos.ca.gov/. After August 30th, registration must be in person at one of the County’s early voting sites, the Elections Division in Martinez, or at a polling place on Election Day. Details can be found here: https://www.cocovote.us/election/california-gubernatorial-recall-election/#Election.
Voting by Mail
No stamp is required to return your ballot. Great news. Your return envelope is postage paid. Just put your completed ballot in the envelope, seal it, sign it, and mail it to us. Voted ballots returned by mail must be postmarked on or before Election Day and received within seven (7) days after the election to be considered timely.
You can drop your ballot at one of the County’s 36 official drop boxes. Official drop boxes will be open for service when ballots are mailed out to voters. Dropping your ballot at an official drop box is just like dropping it at the Elections Office and saves taxpayer dollars by reducing the cost of return postage.
Voters can find a list of convenient drop-box locations at https://www.cocovote.us/election/california-gubernatorial-recall-election/#Election. Ballots must be dropped off no later than 8:00 p.m. on Election Day.
Avoid long lines and be sure your vote is included in the Election Night count – Vote early and mail or drop off your ballot so the Elections Division receives it by Friday, September 10.
Voting in Person
Eight regional early voting sites will be open across the County on Friday, Saturday and Monday leading up to Election Day. On Election Day, 153 polling locations will be open. Voters will be assigned to a polling place, which will be listed in their Voter Information Guides. For those who wish to vote in person, please minimize the time spent waiting, by reviewing your ballot options ahead of time and arriving ready to vote.
“November’s election was one of the smoothest elections I’ve experienced in 30 years. Over 90% of County voters voted by mail in the November Presidential election,” said Registrar of Voters, Debi Cooper. “Voters listened to our recommendations and returned their ballots early. This kept voters safe and allowed us to process more ballots for the Election Night count.”
You can track your ballot. Ballot tracking is a Secretary of State service that will send you notices about your ballot, including when it’s mailed, received, and counted. Know where your ballot is every step of the way! Sign up at https://WheresMyBallot.sos.ca.gov.
More information and locations of each voting option are located at the Contra Costa Recall Page, or call 925-335-7800.