Registrar encourages turning in vote-by-mail ballots early

October 29, 2012

The Registrar of Voters is encouraging the nearly 122,000 citizens with vote-by-mail ballots in their homes to turn them in early.

Tuesday, Oct. 30, is also the last day to request the Registrar's office mail you a vote-by-mail ballot for the Nov. 6 election.

Vote-by-mail ballots can be returned through the close of the polls at 8 p.m. on Election Day. Vote-by-mail ballots received after Nov. 5 will be counted after the election due to the ballot verification process.

"Voters can weigh their choices and cast their ballot from the comfort of the homes at times convenient to them.  If they turn in their ballots early, they can speed up the reporting of election results on election night," said John Gardner, Deputy Registrar of Voters. 

Voters wanting that feeling of placing their vote in the ballot box can drop off their vote-by-mail ballot at the Registrar of Voter’s office in Fairfield, or at any of the city clerk’s offices in the cities.

Slightly more than half of registered voters in Solano County are registered as permanent vote-by-mail voters.  About 35,000 voters have already returned their ballots.

Voters going to the polls to cast their choices are encouraged to complete their sample ballots in advance to avoid delays at the polls. They should also review the address of the polling place listed on the back of the sample ballot. Some polling locations have changed since June.

For more information about the upcoming election, go to www.solanocounty.com/elections.