Vote by Mail

Check Your Voter Registration and Election Information

• Check if you are registered to vote.
• Check where you are registered to vote.
• Check your political party preference.
• Check your language preference for election materials.
• Check the status of your vote by mail or provisional ballot.

https://voterstatus.sos.ca.gov/

Applying for Vote by Mail

Also known as "Absentee Voting"

• All registered voters are now "Vote by Mail" and will be mailed a ballot.
• You do not need to apply for a Vote by Mail ballot, you will be mailed your ballot every election.
• If you need to apply for a Replacement Ballot you can use one of the methods below or visit the Registrar of Voters Office to get a new ballot.

To apply for a Replacement Ballot use one of the methods below.

Please Note: The first day a Vote by Mail ballot can be issued or mailed is 29 days before an election.

1. Complete and Send an Online Ballot Application
2. Complete and Sign a paper or PDF Ballot Application

Apply in writing

You MUST include the name and date of the election you are applying for (e.g. June 7, 2022 Statewide Primary Election), your printed name and your 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

Registrar of Voters Fax (209) 468-9534.

Use your Voter Information Guide application

Use the application you receive in the Voter Information Guide which is sent to each registered voter approximately 20 days prior to the election.

Apply in person

• 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 Voters Registration Office at (209) 468-2885.

Voting your Vote by Mail Ballot

• Use black ink 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".

Returning your Vote by Mail Ballot

In Person

Voted ballot return deadline - Your ballot must be received by 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 8:00pm 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.
• Polling Place - You may drop off your ballot to any Polling Place location on Election Day.

By Mail

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

It is important that the voter read and completely fill out the return envelope for the 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).

Authorizing Someone Else to Return Your Ballot

In California, voters may authorize anyone they choose to return their voted Vote by Mail ballot. This can be a great help to voters who can’t mail their ballot in time, or get to an Official Ballot Drop Box location, a Voter Service Center, a Polling Place location, or a Drive Up Ballot Drop Off location. If you authorize someone to return your ballot, please be sure that you give your ballot to someone you know and trust. The Registrar of Voters urges you to not entrust your ballot to a stranger.

The person returning the ballot on the voter’s behalf, must sign complete and sign the appropriate sections on the back of the Vote by Mail return envelope.

Counting of Vote-By-Mail Ballots

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 are processed as soon as they are received by the office of the Registrar of Voters. Qualified ballots are scanned and 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.