The California Secretary of State’s office is issuing a final reminder to voters that Tuesday, June 2nd, is the last day to cast a ballot in the California Primary Election.
Officials are urging residents to finalize their voting plans and highlighting a crucial warning regarding mail-in ballots to ensure every vote counts.
While all active registered voters in California were sent a ballot with a prepaid postage return envelope, state election officials are drawing special attention to the United States Postal Service’s processing times.
To be counted, a mailed ballot must be postmarked on or before Election Day (June 2nd) and received by your county elections office by June 9th. However, state officials warn that depending on the location, mail may not actually be postmarked by the USPS until the following day. Additionally, some local postal facilities do not transport mail on the exact day it is dropped off.
Because a late postmark will cause a ballot to be disqualified, the Secretary of State recommends that if you choose to mail your ballot, you should do so well in advance of June 2nd. If you must mail it close to or on Election Day, officials strongly advise taking the ballot inside your local U.S. Post Office and requesting a manual postmark from a postal employee at the counter.
For those who prefer to avoid the mail system entirely, ballots can be dropped off securely at any official drop box, polling location, vote center, or the county elections office by 8:00p.m. on Election Day. Local drop-off and early voting options can be found online at caearlyvoting.sos.ca.gov.
If you plan to vote in person on Tuesday, you can find your designated polling place at sos.ca.gov/elections/polling-place.
Lost or Missing Ballots
Lassen County residents who did not receive their ballot, or those whose ballots were lost or damaged, can request a replacement. Voters can contact or visit the Lassen County Elections Office to get a new ballot.
To verify your current registration status, visit voterstatus.sos.ca.gov.
5 Steps to Ensure Your Vote Counts
Election officials have outlined five easy steps to successfully exercise your right to vote:
- Complete your ballot: Carefully mark your choices on the ballot.
- Seal your ballot: Secure the ballot inside the official prepaid return envelope provided by the county.
- Sign your ballot: You must sign the outside of the return envelope. Make sure your signature matches the one on your California driver’s license, state ID, or voter registration form. County election officials will compare these signatures before your ballot is counted.
- Return your ballot: Drop it off at a secure drop box or polling place by 8:00 p.m. on June 2nd, vote in person, or mail it early with a clear postmark.
- Track your ballot: Voters can sign up for automatic updates at wheresmyballot.sos.ca.gov to track their ballot’s progress via text, email, or voice call.
For any questions or assistance regarding the upcoming primary election, voters can call the state’s toll-free English voter hotline at 1.800.345.8683.
