Registrar Offers Early Voting and Ballot Drop-off Options in Final Weekend Before June 23 Special Run-off Election

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASECONTACT: Philip Chantri

June 19, 2015Media Officer

1-408-282-3008

REGISTRAR OFFERS EARLY VOTING AND BALLOT

DROP-OFF OPTIONS IN FINAL WEEKEND BEFORE JUNE 23 SPECIAL RUN-OFF ELECTION

Nearly 23,000 Vote by Mail Ballots Outstanding

SANTA CLARA COUNTY, CALIF. – The Santa Clara County Registrar of Voters will be operating a drive-thru ballot drop-off site this Saturday, June 20, from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. at the Hostetter Light Rail Station at Capitol Avenue and Camino Del Rey. The Registrar hopes this drive-thru site will make it easier for voters in San Jose City Council District 4 to cast their ballots in the June 23 Special Run-off Election.

"It is important for voters to participate in these local special elections because one vote can make a world of difference," said Registrar of Voters Shannon Bushey.

Voter turnout for the April 7 Special Election was about 25 percent. In an effort to bolster returns for this special run-off election, the Registrar of Voters is working to accommodate the voters in District 4 who want to vote early.

"We are encouraging Vote by Mail voters to visit the county drive-thru ballot drop-off site, return their ballot at one of the ballot drop-off locations or come to our office this Saturday from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m.to vote or drop off their ballots," said Bushey.

Voters who choose to vote on Election Day may visit one of the district’s 26 polling places, where they may either cast their ballot or drop off their Vote by Mail ballot. Vote by Mail ballots that are returned by mail must be postmarked on or before Election Day.

"We’ve never had more options available for voters in our county to vote. We really hope to see an increased turnout for this special run-off election," said Registrar Bushey.

Returning Vote by Mail Ballots

Vote by Mail voters account for approximately 70% of the 40,786 voters in San Jose City Council District 4 and were previously mailed ballots on May 26.

Vote by Mail ballots that are returned in-person must be received by 8 p.m. on Election Day, June 23. Vote by Mail ballots that are returned by mail must be postmarked on or before Election Day and must be received by Friday, June 26 (three days after the election). Voters are encouraged to mail their ballots as soon as possible. Voters must sign their return envelope themselves so that their signature can be compared to their voter registration form to confirm their identity.

Vote by Mail ballots can be returned in-person at the Registrar’s office, any Santa Clara County polling place on Election Day, or at a designated ballot drop-off site. A complete list of ballot drop-off locations and hours was included in the Vote by Mail ballot packet and may be found online at June 23 Special Run-off Election Ballot Drop-Off Sites. Voters can track the status of their ballots online at www.sccvote.org or by using the free SCCVOTE mobile app, which is available for download on Android and Apple devices.

Additionally, staff from the Registrar’s Office will operate the drive-thru ballot drop-off site at the Hostetter Light Rail Station at Capitol Avenue and Camino Del Rey this Saturday, June 20, from 10:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m.

Early Voting is open to all registered voters in Santa Clara County. Any voter can vote early at the Registrar of Voters' Office, 1555 Berger Drive, Building 2, San Jose, CA 95112.

Day(s)	Date(s)	Hours
Monday – Friday	May 26 – June 22	8 a.m. to 5 p.m.
Saturday June 13 9 a.m. to 3 p.m.	Saturday June 20 9 a.m. to 3 p.m.	Tuesday June 23 (Election Day) 7 a.m. to 8 p.m.

Ballot Drop-Off Sites: Effective May 26, 2015 through Election Day, Vote by Mail voters have the option of dropping off their ballots at the following locations:

Open during normal business hours

Santa Clara County Government Center – 1st Floor, 70 W. Hedding Street, San Jose, CA 95110

San Jose City Hall – City Clerk’s Office, 200 E. Santa Clara Street, Wing 2, San Jose, CA 95113

Santa Clara County Registrar of Voters – 1555 Berger Drive, Building 2, San Jose, CA 95112

Open 24 hours a day until 8 p.m. on Election Day

Alviso Branch Library - Near Front Entrance, 5050 N. 1st Street, San Jose, CA 95002

Berryessa Branch Library - Parking Lot, Near 5-Minute Parking, 3355 Noble Avenue, San Jose, CA 95132

Berryessa Community Center - Near Front Entrance, 3050 Berryessa Road, San Jose, CA 95132

Registrar of Voters – Parking Lot Near Flagpole, 1555 Berger Drive, Building 2, San Jose, CA 95112

Drive-Thru Ballot Drop-Off Site: Open Saturday, June 20, from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. Vote by Mail voters will have the option of dropping off their ballots without getting out of their vehicles at a convenient drive-thru ballot drop-off site. The site will be located at the Hostetter Light Rail Station, Capitol Avenue at Camino del Rey, San Jose, CA 95132.

June 23, 2015 Special Run-off Election

The June 23 Special Run-off Election includes a single contest to decide who will fill a vacancy on the San Jose City Council for District 4. Only registered voters who live in San Jose City Council District 4 are eligible to participate in the election. Voters who want to find out if they live within the District can look up their districts using the online tool Look Up Your Districts.

San Jose City Council District 4 consists of 40,786 registered voters. The Registrar of Voters has issued 29,382 Vote by Mail ballots; of those, 6,862 have been returned.

The last day to register to vote in the election was June 8 and could be done online at Register to Vote. Voters can check their registration status on the website at the Check Your Registration Status link.

A voter should complete a new registration form if he or she has moved, changed a name(s), or would like to change his or her political party preference. To register to vote in Santa Clara County, a voter must be a U.S. citizen, at least 18 years old on or before Election Day, a Santa Clara County resident, and not in prison or on parole for a felony.

Online registrations were accepted as long as they were completed before midnight on June 8. Paper registration forms that were postmarked on that date were also accepted. Paper registration forms are available at post offices, public libraries, fire stations, city halls, and most local government offices.

For more information, contact the Registrar of Voters’ Office at 1-408-299-VOTE (8683) or toll-free at 1-866-430-VOTE (8683), or visit www.sccvote.org.