October 2010 Vol. 13 No. 10

Completing California’s Vote-By-Mail Ballot application

Important decisions face us this November, from local elections and school bonds to choosing our next governor and U.S. senator. Voting by mail is easy and convenient, and any registered voter can apply. Once you receive your ballot in the mail, you can send it back, or wait until election day to turn it in at the polls. This election is too important to sit on the sidelines—register and vote!

Download the California Vote-By-Mail Ballot Application [PDF] Here >

Note: Only registered voters may complete this Vote-By-Mail Ballot Application. If you have not registered to vote, go to www.nccrc.org or contact your Local Union. You can also get a Voter Registration Form at: www.sos.ca.gov/elections/elections_vr.htm, or pick one up at your county elections office, library, or U.S. post office. Your completed Voter Registration Form must be submitted to your county elections office at least 15 days before the election, and postmarked no later than October 18, 2010.

To vote by mail, cut out this Vote-By-Mail Ballot Application, follow the directions for filling it out, be sure to sign the application, and mail it to your county elections official at least 7 days before the election (see details on how to submit the application for address details).

How to Fill Out this Application

Item 1. Enter the date of the election in which you wish to vote: November 2, 2010, and the type of election: General.

Item 2. Enter the last day the application must be received by your county elections official: October 26, 2010.

Item 3. Print your first, middle, and last names as they appear on your Voter Registration Form.

Item 4. Print your date of birth in this order: month, day, year.

Item 5. Print the complete street address of your voting residence. A post office box or rural route cannot be accepted.

Item 6. Print the complete address where you want your ballot sent, if it is different than the residence address provided in Item 5.

Item 7. Print your telephone number (optional, not required) to allow the elections office to contact you if more information is needed.

Item 8. Does not apply for this election.

Item 9. Check the Permanent Vote-By-Mail Voter box and initial the line below if you are a registered voter and want to receive a vote-by-mail ballot automatically in all future elections. Any voter can opt out of the permanent vote-by-mail status at any time by contacting their county elections official directly.

Item 10. Sign and date in this order: month, day, year. No witness or notary required.

How to Submit this Application

Your Vote-By-Mail Ballot Application must be returned to your county elections official by October 26, 2010. You can find the address and telephone number of your county elections official on the Secretary of State’s website, or in the telephone book for your area in the government section under “County Clerk” or “Registrar of Voters.”

Note: If you become ill or disabled during the final week before an election, or find that you will be unable to go to your polling place on election day, you may request that a vote-by-mail ballot be delivered to you by submitting a written application or letter to your county elections official. The request must contain your name and residence address, the address to which you want the ballot sent, the name and date of the election in which you would like to vote, your signature and the date. You may authorize another person to receive the ballot from the elections official, and/or return the ballot to an elections official after you have voted it.

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