Voting begins in October and culminates November 4 on a statewide special election about congressional redistricting, and the Marin County Elections Department is preparing, along with all other California county elections officials.
Proposition 50 is a ballot initiative to redraw congressional district maps. The State Legislature called for the special election on August 21.
“Whether you’re a seasoned voter, a first-time voter, or somewhere in between, we encourage all eligible voters to make sure you’re registered,” says Natalie Adona, Marin County Registrar of Voters. “Now is the perfect time to make a plan to vote.”
October 20 is the last day to register and still receive a ballot delivered by mail. Eligible voters may register until 8 PM on Election Day, but it must be in-person at one of the nine vote centers.
The statewide redistricting measure will join three other local measures – a recall election in the Town of Fairfax; a measure in the City of Sausalito; and another measure for voters in unincorporated areas of West Marin that are part of the Petaluma Joint Union High School District. Details about those measures are on the Elections Department website.
Ballots will be mailed starting October 6, and voting in person starts the same day at the Elections Department at the Marin County Civic Center (Suite 121, 3501 Civic Center Drive, San Rafael). Arguments supporting and opposing Proposition 50 are posted on the California Secretary of State website and will be included in the printed state voter information guide, which is due to be mailed to registered voters beginning September 25. The same state website includes a page with an election calendar that includes key dates and deadlines. an election calendar that includes key dates and deadlines.
Marin County will have nine in-person vote centers opening on staggered schedules beginning Saturday, October 25. On Tuesday, November 4, the polls will open at 7 AM and close at 8 PM. Voters may return their ballot by mail, drop it off at any one of the official drop box locations or a vote center, or vote in person.
Registering to vote is easy. Voters may register online by visiting the California Secretary of State’s website or calling the Elections Department at (415) 473-6456 during regular business hours to get a paper form. Voters can check the status of their registration online or contact the Marin County Elections staff.
For more details, visit www.marinvotes.org and go to “Current Elections.”