Palo Alto voters urged to use ballot drop boxes

Palo Alto voters who have not returned their mail ballots should use an official drop box or vote center in the final days before the Nov. 3 election, Santa Clara County’s registrar of voters recommends.

Registrar Matt Moreles said the U.S. Postal Service does not guarantee same-day postmarking, according to the county’s Oct. 26 announcement.

His office recommends mailing ballots at least one week before Election Day. That recommended date was Oct. 27.

“If the ballot didn’t get postmarked until after Nov. 3, under the law, we would not be able to accept and count that ballot,” Moreles said.

Oct. 27 was not the legal mailing deadline. Mailed ballots must be postmarked by Nov. 3 and received by Nov. 10, according to the California secretary of state’s election calendar.

The county recommends using one of its 111 official ballot drop boxes or a vote center during the final week to avoid mail delays. Drop boxes are accessible around the clock until 8 p.m. Tuesday, Nov. 3, according to the county.

County employees retrieve ballots daily using procedures that track their custody, Moreles said.

More vote centers open Saturday

The county’s first 23 vote centers opened Oct. 24. Another 87 are scheduled to open Saturday, Oct. 31, bringing the total to 110.

Centers offer in-person voting, mail ballot returns, replacement ballots, language assistance, curbside voting and accessible voting equipment.

Hours are 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. daily through Nov. 2 and 7 a.m. to 8 p.m. on Election Day. Voters may use any open center in Santa Clara County.

Eligible voters who missed the registration deadline can still register and cast a conditional ballot at a vote center through Election Day.

Security at voting locations

Assistant Sheriff Rich Urena said deputies will increase patrols, maintain rapid-response teams and coordinate with other agencies while avoiding a heavy presence at voting locations that could intimidate voters.

The county said authorities will investigate interference with voting or ballot counting, damage to drop boxes, fake drop boxes and threats intended to influence voters.