This post was updated on Friday, Oct. 30 at 10:10 am. Leer en español
In these last days of the 2020 election, are you wondering where to vote early in person this election? Or where to drop off your completed mail-in ballot in the Bay Area? Read on.
Skip straight to:
- How to find your early voting site or ballot drop-off location
- See if your county permits you to vote at any voting location
Dropping Off Your Mail-In Ballot
This year, because of the COVID-19 pandemic, every registered voter in California received a mail-in ballot without requesting it, in an attempt to avoid crowding at the polls.
If you haven't submitted your ballot yet, at this stage it's recommended you submit it by hand at a drop box specifically for vote-by-mail ballots. You can do that up to and including Election Day at 8 p.m. Find your nearest drop box.
You could still mail your completed ballot via the United States Postal Service at any collection box — the envelope doesn't require a stamp, and it'll be counted as long as it's postmarked by Election Day. But because the United States Post Office is recommending mailing your ballot no less than one week before Election Day, and that date has now passed, using a drop box is now the best way to really ensure your ballot reaches your county elections office in time to be counted.
You can also still sign up to track your ballot's progress, and be reassured that it's on its way.
When Is Early Voting Available in the Bay Area?
Now! As of October 5, in-person voting became available at every county registrar's office in the Bay Area. More early voting locations will open across the Bay Area starting October 31 (or October 30 in Contra Costa County). Find where to vote early in your county.
Remember: Bring the ballot you were mailed along with you when you go to vote in person. (Why? People who opt to vote-by-mail always have to bring their ballot with them if they decide to vote in person, as proof they didn't already mail it and aren't therefore voting twice — and this year, because all registered voters in California got a ballot in the mail , they all became mail-in voters by default.)
If you forget your ballot, or didn't receive one, you can still vote in person, but you may be required to vote provisionally (a vote that's subject to extra checks, i.e., that you're actually registered to vote in California, or that you didn't already complete and mail your ballot.) This extra layer of confirmation takes time, and therefore means your vote might not be counted on Election Day itself — although it'll eventually be counted.
The deadline to register to vote online was October 19. If you missed that deadline, don't worry: you can still register afterwards at one of these early voting locations via what's called Same Day Voter Registration (also known as Conditional Voter Registration.) You can then fill out and submit your ballot there and then.
In addition to voter registration, many voting locations also offer replacement ballots, accessible voting machines and language assistance for voters.
