Are you Ready to Vote? Voting Period Starts October 7 for the 2024 General Election

Lynda Roberts, Registrar of Voters for Marin County

Election Day is November 5, 2024, but the voting period starts on October 7 when ballots are mailed to all active registered voters. Ballots will include all candidates for President of the United States, U.S. Senate, U.S. Representative, Member of the State Assembly, and state propositions. Some ballots will include local races and measures depending on where you live. 

 

Help the process run smoothly – prepare to vote! 

• Are you planning to review the County Voter Information Guide? This booklet includes information such as where to find a vote center or ballot drop box and who is on your ballot for local races. 

• Are you registered to vote, or are you planning to re-register? Online registration is available at https://registertovote.ca.gov/. The deadline is October 21—after this date, you will have to register or re-register in person at a vote center. 

• Do you typically vote by mail? Remember to sign your ballot envelope. We cannot process a ballot if the signature is missing or does not compare with the signature on file. We will send a letter if this happens, but this delays processing ballots. Voters may stop by the Elections Department to check their signature or may re-register to update their signature. The driver’s license signature will be used for those who registered to vote online or while renewing a license at the DMV. 

• Would you like to know when we receive your ballot? Sign up for free ballot tracking service at https://california.ballottrax.net/voter/ to receive email, text, or voice call notifications about your ballot status. 

• Did you know that a top reason why we can’t count a ballot is because of a late postmark? Ballot envelopes must be postmarked no later than November 5 (Election Day) and received by November 12, or dropped at a vote center or official ballot drop box by 8 PM on Election Day. The list of vote centers and drop boxes is printed in the voter information guide. Voters may allow someone they know and trust to return the ballot by completing the form on the back of the return envelope.  

• Do you prefer to vote in person? The list of vote centers with days and hours of operation is printed in the voter information guide. You can go to any vote center location in Marin County. 

• When will we count your ballot? We will include mail ballots received by October 28 in election night results. Vote-by-mail ballots received less than seven days prior to Election Day will continue to be processed and counted in the days following the election. All ballots cast at vote centers will be counted by election night. A new law allows a voter to cast their vote-by-mail ballot without an envelope at a vote center as long as they check in with the election workers, who will update their voting history, and sign the roster.   

 

You may call 415-473-6456 if your ballot packet does not arrive by October 16 or you may visit the Marin County Elections Department starting October 7 to receive in-person voting services or vote on an accessible ballot marking device.   

 

Resources: 

Marin County Elections Department, 3501 Civic Center Drive, Suite 121, San Rafael.  

Regular business hours are weekdays, 8 AM to 4:30 PM and on Election Day, 7 AM to 8 PM. 

Check registration at voterstatus.sos.ca.gov, or call 415-473-6456. 

Lynda Roberts has been the Marin County Registrar of Voters since 2014.