Sample Ballot Pamphlets Begin Mailing For November 3 Election
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
September 24, 2015
Contact: Philip Chantri
Media Officer
1-408-282-3008
SANTA CLARA COUNTY, CALIF. -- The Registrar of Voters’ Office began mailing Sample Ballot and Voter Information Pamphlets today to Santa Clara County voters for the November 3, 2015 Consolidated Election. Sample Ballot Pamphlets include information on a contest for a seat on the Board of the Orchard School District, a parcel tax measure for Union School District and a bond measure for the City of Los Altos.
The sample ballot pamphlet is mailed to every registered voter beginning 40 days before each election. It contains important information that will help voters cast their ballots, including voting instructions, a sample of the ballot and information about local candidates.
Mailing will continue through the week as the pamphlets are printed. Approximately 49,000 pamphlets will be produced this election to send to voters and to have available at polling places on Election Day. Pamphlets are printed in five different languages required by federal and state law: English, Chinese, Spanish, Tagalog and Vietnamese.
Beginning with this election, the Registrar of Voters will include a postage-paid return envelope with every Vote by Mail ballot. In previous elections, voters had to pay the cost of return postage, which frequently exceeded a single first-class stamp.
Notably, Santa Clara is only the second county in the state to feature prepaid postage for Vote by Mail ballots. Registrar of Voters Shannon Bushey stated, “There is no more important action in a democracy than voting. The Registrar of Voters’ Office is passionate about increasing voter turnout and we hope that we will make it easier to vote by providing prepaid postage for all Vote by Mail ballots.”
The sample ballot pamphlets include a Vote by Mail application that can be removed from the back cover. Voters can request a Vote by Mail ballot for this election only, or they can sign up to be a Permanent Vote by Mail voter and automatically receive a mailed ballot in every election. Vote by Mail applications can also be found online at Vote by Mail Application. Vote by Mail ballots for this election will be mailed beginning on Monday, October 5.
Voters are encouraged to review the pamphlets carefully, whether they vote by mail or at the polls. Marking their choice on the sample ballot first and then using it as a guide to complete the official ballot will help voters avoid making mistakes. The pamphlet includes candidate and measure statements, which can help voters make an informed decision. Voters who go to the polls are encouraged to take their sample ballot pamphlets with them to help speed up the process on Election Day. Each voter’s assigned polling place location is printed on the back cover of the pamphlet.
The last day to register to vote in the election is Monday, October 19 and can be done online at Register to Vote. Voters who want to check their registration status may do so on the website at Check Your Registration Status.
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 imprisoned or on parole for a felony.
Online registrations will be accepted as long as they are completed before midnight on October 19, paper registration forms that are postmarked prior to or on October 19 will also be accepted. Paper registration forms are available at post offices, public libraries, fire stations, city halls and most local government offices.
Additionally, voters who want to find out if they live within the Orchard School District, the Union School District or the City of Los Altos can use the convenient online tool Look Up Your Districts.
Orchard School District consists of 4,293 registered voters. Union School District consists of 21,952 registered voters and the City of Los Altos consists of 17,734 registered voters.
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.vote.santaclaracounty.gov.