Santa Clara County began mailing vote-by-mail ballots to registered voters Monday for the Nov. 3 general election, and in-person early voting opened the same day at the county Registrar of Voters office in San Jose.
Every registered voter in California automatically receives a ballot by mail. Voters who do not see theirs in the coming days can check their registration status through the California Secretary of State or the county registrar's website, and a replacement can be requested from the county if a ballot is lost.
Three drop boxes in town
The registrar lists three official ballot drop sites in Saratoga:
- Saratoga City Hall, 13777 Fruitvale Ave. (outside drop box)
- Saratoga Library, 13650 Saratoga Ave. (outside drop box)
- West Valley College, at the Fox Center, 14000 Fruitvale Ave.
The county's 24-hour drop boxes opened Oct. 2 and accept ballots until 8 p.m. on Election Day. Through Oct. 16, registrar staff will collect ballots from the boxes on Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays, then every day from Oct. 19 through Nov. 3. A drop box is also available nearby at Monte Sereno City Hall, 18041 Saratoga-Los Gatos Road.
Mail and in-person options
Mailed ballots must be postmarked on or before Nov. 3 to count. The Secretary of State advises mailing a ballot at least a week before Election Day, and county elections spokesperson Steve Goltiao told the Mercury News the county is urging everyone to vote early to avoid delays.