Election day is November 3, 2020. With one week to go before election day, you’re probably thinking about voting. Below you’ll find information about the election and about voting in Contra Costa County, along with links to additional information.
Learn More About Voting by Mail
Do you have questions about voting by mail? With rumors swirling around about voting by mail, it is important to make sure you have the correct information. Click here to get the facts about how voting by mail works.
Ballot Drop Boxes
Many of you may planning to vote by mail. When you vote by mail, you can place your completed ballot in the mail and mail it to the county’s election office. When you vote by mail however, you can also drop your ballot into one of Contra Costa County’s official ballot drop boxes. The county has placed a number of ballot drop boxes at different locations around the county. Before you place your ballot in a ballot drop box, it is important to check to make sure that you are placing your ballot in an official drop box because this will ensure that your vote is counted. Click here to learn more about the official ballot drop boxes.
Below is a list of official drop boxes where you can safely drop off your ballot.
List updated as of 9/22/2020
Finding Your Personal Voter Information
Contra Costa County has a My Voting Information website where you can look up your voter registration status, your voter district, your elected officials, and your polling place. You can also use this website to find your voter information guide and your vote by mail status for the upcoming election. Click here to get to the My Voting Information website. While it safe and easy to case your vote by mail, if you wish to vote in person, you should confirm where your polling place is before election day to ensure that you go to the right location to vote.
Key Election Dates
Click here to find important election-related dates and deadline. This link will also give you information on the results of the election, a list of candidates and measures, polling places, and other election information.
If you are voting by mail, it is important to make sure that you return your ballot on time. The last day to return or mail a vote by mail ballot is November 3. It is always better to return your ballot early than to wait until the last minute.
Voting Before Election Day
You don’t have to wait until election day to vote. You may vote before election day if you vote by mail or if you participate in early voting. Contra Costa County has Regional Early Voting sites that provide you with flexibility in casting your ballot. These Regional Early Voting sites are open the Friday, Saturday, and Monday before election day. Click here to learn more about voting before election day.
Voting on Election Day
If you plan to vote on election day, you should educate yourself about what to expect when you go to vote. Click here for to learn about what to expect when you go to vote on election day, voting assistance, and provisional voting.
Conditional Voter Registration
California’s deadline to register to vote was October 19. If you missed this deadline to register to vote however, don’t despair. You may still be able to cast a ballot. If you missed the voter registration deadline, you can still register to vote and vote in person using a Conditional Voter Registration. This is a one-stop opportunity to register and cast your ballot. Conditional Voter Registration is available at the Contra Costa County Elections Office at 555 Escobar St. Martinez, CA 94553, at Regional Early Voting sites, and at all polling places on Election Day. Click here to learn more about Conditional Voter Registration.
Voting for New Citizens
If you became a US citizen after October 19, 2020 and would like to vote, you can vote at the Contra Costa County Elections Office at 555 Escobar St. Martinez, CA 94553. To do this, you must present your Certificate of Naturalization, complete a voter registration form, and be prepared to vote at the office during your visit. You can call (925) 335-7800 for more information. Click here to learn more.
Ex-Offender Voter Registration
Having a felony conviction does not necessarily permanently bar you from voting. Persons with a criminal history may be able to vote. Click here to learn more about ex-offender voter registration.
Speak a Language Other than English?
The California Secretary of State’s office provides voter information in different languages, including Spanish, Chinese, Hindi, Japanese, Khmer, Korean, Tagalog, Thai, and Vietnamese. Click here to learn more.