Also known as "Absentee Voting"

• Any registered voter may vote a "Vote-by-Mail ballot".
• You can chose to Vote-by-Mail for this election only, or
• You can chose Permanent Vote-by-Mail status and you will be mailed your ballot every election.

To apply for a Vote-by-Mail ballot for a single election, use one of the methods below.

COMPLETE and SEND an Electronic Vote by Mail Application

COMPLETE and SIGN a Vote by Mail Application (PDF)*

Apply in writing to:

You MUST include the name and date of the election you are applying for (e.g. June 5, 2018 Primary Election), your printed name and signature, your residence address, the address you would like the ballot mailed to and a telephone number where you can be reached during normal business hours.

FAX your written request to:

The Registrar of Voters at (209) 468-9534.

Use your Sample Ballot application:

Use the application you receive in the Sample Ballot which is sent to each registered voter approximately 20 days prior to the election.

Apply in person at:

• The first day a Vote-by-Mail ballot can be issued or mailed is 29 days before an election.
• The last day our office may accept applications by mail is 7 days before an election.
• A voter may receive a ballot in our office, in person, up to and including Election Day.
• If you know you are going to Vote-by-Mail, it is in your best interest to apply as early as possible. We accept applications at any time, however, by law 29 days prior to an election is the earliest a ballot can be issued.

Once you have submitted your application for a Vote-by-Mail ballot, if you do not receive it within 7 days, please contact the San Joaquin County Election/Voters Registration Office at (209) 468-2885.

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• Use a blue or black pen, or No.2 Lead Pencil ONLY.
• Never make any identifying marks on your ballot.
• Your ballot is no longer considered secret if there are any identifiable marks such as your initials, name or signature on the ballot card. This does not include "write-in candidates".

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In Person -

Voted ballot return deadline - Your ballot must be received by 8:00pm on Election Day.

• Polling Place - You may drop off your ballot to any polling place location in San Joaquin County. Polls are Open 7:00am to 8:00pm on Election Day.
• ROV Office - You may drop off your ballot to our office located at 44 N. San Joaquin Street, Suite 350, Stockton CA 95202.
  
• Official Drop Box Available 24/7 - You may also drop off your ballot using our Drop Box located outside the County Administration Building (44 N. San Joaquin Street, Stockton CA 95202) next to the entrance (on Weber Street) labeled “San Joaquin County, Registrar of Voters, Drop Box, Vote-by-Mail Ballots.” You may use our Drop Box any time before 8:00 p.m. on Election Day.
• Other Drop Box Locations - All of San Joaquin County's City Clerk's Offices will have an Official Ballot Drop Box. Visit our Drop Box Information page for Locations and Hours of operation
• Drive Up Democracy! Ballot Drop Off Locations and Times
  

By Mail -

Voted ballot return deadline - Your ballot must be postmarked on or before Election Day and received no later than three business days following the Election.

It is important that the voter read and completely fill out the return envelope of a Vote-by-Mail ballot. In order for your ballot to count you MUST sign the envelope your ballot is returned in and indicate your residence address (not mailing address).

• In general, Vote-by-Mail ballots are counted in the same manner as regular ballots cast at a polling place. Once it is determined that the signature on the Vote-by-Mail ballot return envelope matches that of the voter on his or her affidavit of registration form, the ballot and the envelopes are separated. The ballot is then intermingled anonymously with other ballots in order to preserve the voter's right to secrecy.
• Vote-by-Mail envelopes received prior to Election Day can be "processed" by checking the signature on the envelopes to qualify the ballot as early as 29 days prior to Election Day. The ballots may be removed from their envelopes as early as 14 days prior to Election Day. These ballots are ready to be tallied and reported after the polls close on Election Day.
  
• The first ballot counts you are likely to hear on election night reflect the ballots cast by Vote-by-Mail voters which explains how we can show preliminary results before any polling place precincts have reported. The Vote-by-Mail totals reported on Election Day reflect only those ballots returned prior to Election Day.
  
• A substantial number of Vote-by-Mail ballots are returned on Election Day at the polls. These require extra handling to ensure the voter did not also vote at the polls. These ballots are counted are not likely to be reported in the vote totals for several days after the election.