Ballots on the Way, Drop Off Ballot Boxes Open Today.

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Sonoma County officially launched into the 2020 election season this week as hundreds of thousands of vote by mail ballots were sent out by the county elections office.

There is lots that is new for voters this year. State law now requires that all voters receive a vote-by-mail ballot. This change was pushed through by state lawmakers last June in response to the coronavirus emergency. Those ballots must be postmarked by Election Day, and do not require return postage. Or they can be dropped off at drop boxes located throughout the county.

Although it is still possible to vote in person, that process has also changed. Instead of your usual polling place, the county has set up 30 locations where any Sonoma County voter can cast their vote in person over a period of four days, beginning on October 31st right through Election Day.

The locations of the in person voting facilities and the hours of operation can be found via this link:

https://sonomacounty.ca.gov/where-to-vote

In addition, the county has increased the number of drop off ballot box locations. There are now 20 places where voters can drop off their ballots without having to return them by mail. Like the polling places, these locations were chosen based upon their convenience for voters and are spread geographically across the county. To find the ballot drop box nearest you, visit the link provided above.

Sonoma County Registrar of Voters Deva Marie Proto told News of the North Bay that the selection of in-person polling places was designed to keep voters safe and allow proper social distancing. She also says Sonoma County election officials are taking extra steps this year to insure ballot security and safe voting.