Registrar of Voters

As the COVID-19 pandemic poses unprecedented challenges, the Orange County Registrar of Voters (OCROV) has been committed to administering secure, transparent elections while successfully maintaining public health guidelines from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, and state and local officials.

Since the March 3, 2020, Presidential Primary Election, OCROV also conducted the April 7, 2020, City of Westminster Special Recall Election and May 19, 2020, City of Santa Ana Special Recall Election without a major incident. OCROV quickly streamlined its operations, including cancellation of in-person voting, public closure of the office, social distancing and public notices to inform voters of the changes. Registrar of Voters Neal Kelley monitors the recount process for the City of Beyond that, OCROV was able to continue implementing Westminster Special Recall Election. public health measures during the recount of the City of Westminster Special Recall Election and risk-limiting audits in May and June of 2020.

As OCROV prepares to conduct the November 3, 2020, Presidential General Election, several measures have been implemented to protect the safety of voters, candidates and staff, such as:

Sourcing hundreds of thousands of pieces of personal protective equipment such as gloves and facemasks well in advance of the fall election; Complying with social distancing through public access requirements, making appointments available for assistance and remote opportunities to file candidate paperwork and complete training; Creating barriers on an individual contact level with face shields and Plexiglas construction at the public counter and at Vote Centers; Developing signage and other public notices in all federally mandated languages and Elections Code Section 14201 languages when applicable; and Building a Vote Center Lab.

OCROV is committed to prioritizing the protection of the health and safety of voters and staff while providing access to voting in a fair and transparent manner with integrity.

Signage posted on the front door of Vote Center sites for the City of Santa Ana Special Recall Election indicate the closure of in-person voting due to COVID-19 and how to access more information on voting options.