Vote by Mail

• Vote by Mail Voters
• Permanent Vote by Mail Voters
• “Mailed Ballot Only” Voters
• Voters in the Military
• Voters Living Overseas
• Voting and Returning Vote by Mail Ballots
• Vote by Mail Application

Vote by Mail Voters

If you are not able to vote at your polling place on Election Day, or simply prefer the convenience of voting by mail, you may apply for a Vote by Mail ballot.

California law allows official ballots to be mailed to Vote by Mail voters beginning 29 days before an election.

Returning Vote by Mail Ballots

Vote by Mail ballots may be returned:

• To the Registrar of Voters Office by mail or in person.
• In person to any polling place in Sonoma County on Election Day.

Deadline for Receiving Vote by Mail Ballots

Vote by Mail ballots must be received by 8:00 p.m. on Election Day, either:

• At the Registrar of Voters Office.
• Returned to any polling place in Sonoma County.

Postmarked ballots will not be accepted.

Refer to Voting & Returning Vote by Mail Ballots for more information.

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Permanent Vote by Mail Voters

California law permits you to choose to become a Permanent Vote by Mail voter when you complete your Vote by Mail application or re-register to vote.

When You Request Permanent Vote by Mail Status

You will be added to the list of voters who are automatically sent an official ballot for future elections.

Loss of Vote by Mail Voter Status

You will remain on the list of Permanent Vote by Mail voters unless you fail to return your Vote by Mail ballot for 2 consecutive statewide general elections:

• Your Vote by Mail status will be removed from your voter registration.
• You will have to re-apply to become a Vote by Mail voter again.
• Your voter registration will remain active.

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"Mailed Ballot Only" Voters

In any given election, registered voters may reside within a precinct that contains a unique set of districts that are distinct from surrounding precincts. What's more, there may be relatively few registered voters residing in that unique precinct.

If a precinct contains less than 250 registered voters, California law allows the Registrar of Voters Office to provide:

• Vote by Mail ballot to each voter.
• Notice that there will be no polling place for that precinct.

  The notice must inform voters of the 2 nearest polling places, in the event the voter wishes to return the ballot in person on Election Day.

Return postage for "Mailed Ballot Only" voters is paid by the Registrar of Voters Office.

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Voters in the Military

Register To Vote

If you are active military personnel, or an eligible spouse or dependent, you should register to vote with the Federal Post Card Application and select Box 1(a).

Voting While in the Military

In California, military voters are considered permanent Vote by Mail voters.

While you are on active duty, approximately 60 days before an election, you will be sent your:

• Voter Information Pamphlet
• Facsimile of an Official Ballot

The facsimile ballot is your official ballot.

Change of Address Notification

Notify the Registrar of Voters Office of any change of mailing address.

Leaving the Military

If you leave the military: you need to re-register to vote as a civilian using a standard voter registration form.

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Voters Living Overseas

Citizens who reside outside the United States of America (U.S.) may apply to become Vote by Mail voters.

In California, overseas voters are registered as Permanent Vote by Mail voters.

Temporarily Living Overseas

If you live overseas temporarily (for employment purposes for example), you should register to vote with the Federal Post Card Application and select Box 1(b).

When you return to the United States, you need to re-register to vote as a civilian using a standard voter registration form.

Indefinitely Living Overseas

If you reside outside the U.S. indefinitely, you should register to vote with the Federal Post Card Application and select Box 1(c).

Voters who reside overseas indefinitely are eligible to vote in Federal contests only:

• President
• Vice President
• U.S. Senate
• U.S. Representative.

Voting While Overseas

While you are living overseas, approximately 60 days before an election you will be sent:

• Voter Information Pamphlet
• Facsimile of an Official Ballot

The facsimile ballot is your official ballot.

Change of Address Notification

Notify the Registrar of Voters Office when your:

• Mailing Address or Residence has changed.
• Residence resumes in the U.S.

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Voting & Returning Vote by Mail Ballots

• When You Receive Your Vote by Mail Ballot
• After Voting Your Ballot
• Deadline for Receiving Vote by Mail Ballots
• Voting at a Polling Place

Note: Vote by Mail ballot envelopes have been redesigned to protect your signature.

When You Receive Your Vote by Mail Ballot

1. Remove all contents of the envelope and read the instructions carefully.
2. Mark your ballot with a #2 pencil.

   If you accidentally mark in pen: you do not need to spoil your ballot and request a new one; go over pen marks with a #2 pencil.

3. Carefully read your ballot, as it will tell you how many votes you may cast for each contest. You are not required to vote on every contest on your ballot.
4. Do not sign your ballot card(s).

   According to California law, any ballot that is "marked or signed by the voter so that it can be identified by others shall be rejected."

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After Voting Your Ballot

1. Insert the voted ballot card(s) into the Secrecy Envelope.
2. Enclose the Secrecy Envelope in the Identification Envelope.
3. Sign the Oath on the Identification Envelope.

   All signatures on Vote by Mail ballots are verified; your ballot will not be counted if you do not sign the Oath on the Identification Envelope.

4. Insert the sealed & signed Identification Envelope into the Mailing Envelope.
5. Mail it back (or return in person) to the Registrar of Voters Office.

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Deadline for Receiving Vote by Mail Ballots

Vote by Mail ballots must be received by 8:00 p.m. on Election Day, either:

• At the Registrar of Voters Office.
• Returned to any polling place in Sonoma County.

Postmarked ballots will not be accepted.

Returning Your Vote by Mail Ballot In Person

If you do not think the ballot will reach the Registrar of Voters Office by mail before the deadline, you may deliver it in person to the Registrar of Voters Office or any polling place in Sonoma County before 8:00 p.m. on Election Day.

Using an Eligible Representative to Deliver Your Vote by Mail Ballot

If you are unable to personally return your Vote by Mail ballot, you may choose one of the following eligible representatives to return your ballot for you:

• Spouse
• Child
• Parent
• Grandparent
• Grandchild
• Sibling
• Person residing in your same household

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Voting at a Polling Place

Vote by Mail voters may vote at polling places on Election Day.

A poll worker will ask you to surrender the ballot you received in the mail (turn it in to the poll worker) before issuing you a ballot at the polling place.

If you are unable to surrender your Vote by Mail ballot, you will be issued a provisional ballot.

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Vote by Mail Application

To Become a Vote By Mail Voter do one of the following:

• Print the County of Sonoma Application Form (PDF: 94 kB).
  1. Carefully read and complete an application form.
  2. Return the completed application to the Registrar of Voters Office.
• Remove the application printed on the back cover of the Sample Ballot and Voter Information Pamphlet that is mailed to you.
  1. Carefully read and complete an application form.
  2. Return the completed application to the Registrar of Voters Office.
• Write a Letter and include the following information:
  1. The Election for which you are requesting a ballot
  2. Your Name
  3. Residence Address
  4. Mailing Address (if different)
  5. Your Signature

  Mail or fax the letter to the Registrar of Voters Office.

• Apply In Person at the Registrar of Voters Office

  You may obtain and complete an application form at the Registrar of Voters Office.

  You will receive your ballot before you leave.

  Once you receive your ballot, you may:

  • Vote your ballot at the Registrar of Voters Office.
  • Take it with you & return it by mail.
• Send Someone on Your Behalf to the Registrar of Voters Office

  If you are unable to personally deliver your Vote by Mail application, you may choose to send an eligible representative (must be 16 years of age or older) to deliver your completed application form for you:

  • Spouse
  • Child
  • Parent
  • Grandparent
  • Grandchild
  • Sibling
  • Person residing in your same household

  The representative will be given your Vote by Mail ballot to deliver back to you.

  Note: An eligible representative may also return the ballot for you, if you do not return it by mail.

• Visit the California Secretary of State: Apply to Vote By Mail page to print an application.
  • Carefully read and complete an application form.
  • Return the completed application to the Registrar of Voters Office.

Deadline for Requesting a Vote by Mail Ballot

The last day to request a Vote by Mail ballot by mail is 7 days prior to an election, after which Vote by Mail ballots are available only by applying in person at the Registrar of Voters Office.

There are limited exceptions to this requirement. After the 7-day deadline, contact the Registrar of Voters Office if you are unable to go to the polls because of unanticipated illness, disability, or other condition that results in your absence from the precinct.

Additional Information

To obtain more information about voting by mail, you may:

• Send an email to rov-absentee@sonoma-county.org
• Contact the Registrar of Voters Office
• Federal Post Card Application

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