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Voting Information
Be an Informed Voter ~ Voting is a right and an important civic responsibility.
To limit the spread of COVID-19, California is automatically sending every registered voter a Vote-By-Mail Ballot.
Here’s what you need to know about voting by mail
✪ Vote safe with your vote-by-mail ballot - Seal It, Sign It, Return it. Track It.
✪ Mail your ballot as soon as possible -- your ballot must be postmarked by November 3, 2020 to be counted. No stamp required!
✪ If you prefer to return your ballot in person, you may take your ballot to any polling location, or to any official dropbox location in Santa Cruz County.
✪ Voters who can vote by mail will help ensure safe physical distancing at voting locations.
✪ You can opt to vote in person instead of using a vote-by-mail ballot. Voting locations will be available in all counties before Election Day. Voting locations will offer voter registration, replacement ballots, accessible voting machines, and language assistance.
Here’s what you need to know about voting by mail
✪ Vote safe with your vote-by-mail ballot - Seal It, Sign It, Return it. Track It.
✪ Mail your ballot as soon as possible -- your ballot must be postmarked by November 3, 2020 to be counted. No stamp required!
✪ If you prefer to return your ballot in person, you may take your ballot to any polling location, or to any official dropbox location in Santa Cruz County.
✪ Voters who can vote by mail will help ensure safe physical distancing at voting locations.
✪ You can opt to vote in person instead of using a vote-by-mail ballot. Voting locations will be available in all counties before Election Day. Voting locations will offer voter registration, replacement ballots, accessible voting machines, and language assistance.
Are You Registered to Vote?
If you aren't sure if you are registered to vote, you can:
✪ Check Online at the California Secretary of State Website
✪ Call the Santa Cruz County Elections Department at 831-454-2060
✪ Check the Santa Cruz County Elections Department Website
If you need to register or re-register to vote:
✪ You can register to vote online
✪ You can get and fill out a voter registration card (available at the library and other government offices)
If you miss the deadline to register to vote, you can still register and then vote at these locations starting on October 5th, 2020:
1. Santa Cruz County Elections Department - 701 Ocean Street, Room 310, Santa Cruz (Monday - Friday: 8am-5pm)
2. Watsonville City Clerk's Office - 275 Main Street, 4th Floor, Watsonville (Monday - Friday: Hours)
3. Any of the additional locations that will be open October 31st - November 3rd, 2020. (See link for hours)
Learn About the Candidates and the Issues
✪ Attend a debate
✪ Talk with other people
✪ Read the newspaper & voter guides
✪ Official Voter Information Guide from the California Secretary of State
✪ Santa Cruz County Elections Information
✪ Voters Edge California (a nonpartisan guide from the League of Women's Voters
✪ Easy Voter Guide (also from the League of Women's Voters) & Easy Voter Guide in Spanish
✪ November 2020 California Election Guide from CalMatters
Vote!
✪ Information about the November 3, 2020 Presidential General Election from the Santa Cruz County Elections Department.
Important Voting Dates & Deadlines for the November 3, 2020 election are:
Monday, October 5th: First day of early voting. Vote at the Santa Cruz County Elections Office or the Watsonville City Clerk's Office during regular office hours.
Monday, October 5th: First day to mail vote-by-mail ballots.
Monday, October 19th: Last day to register to vote via a registration card or online.
Tuesday, October 27th: Last day to request a vote-by-mail ballot. Note: Due to COVID-19 concerns, all registered voters will automatically be sent a vote-by-mail ballot for the November 3rd General Election.
Saturday October 31st - Tuesday, November 3rd- Sixteen additional voting locations open for voting in the county.