As the June 2 deadline approaches, Santa Barbara County officials are urging voters to return their ballots promptly. Recent statistics from the Santa Barbara County Elections Office indicate that only about 19% of registered voters have submitted their ballots, with approximately 48,000 ballots returned out of the total voter registration.

Multiple Options for Ballot Submission

Voters have several convenient options to ensure their ballots are counted. They can use the white ballot drop-off boxes located throughout the county, which have become increasingly popular. There are 18 drop-off boxes available, and elections staff regularly collect the ballots, securing the boxes with a special seal once closed. These boxes will be locked at 8 p.m. on June 2, coinciding with the closing of the polls.

Alternatively, voters can hand-deliver their ballots to the elections office or any polling place in the county on Election Day, starting at 7 a.m. To ensure timely delivery, voters who choose to mail their ballots are advised to obtain a manual postmark from a postal employee at their local United States Post Office.

Tracking Ballots and Ensuring Accuracy

To provide peace of mind, the California Secretary of State offers a “Where’s My Ballot?” service, allowing voters to track their ballots. This service provides automatic updates when the ballot is mailed, received, and counted. Voters can also check for any issues with their ballots through this system. As of now, 5.4 million Californians have signed up for this tracking service.

For those unsure of their voter registration status, information is readily available online at voterstatus.sos.ca.gov. Additionally, details about “Same Day” or “conditional” voter registration can be found on the same platform.

Santa Barbara County voters are encouraged to act promptly to ensure their voices are heard in this election. Results will be available after 8 p.m. on June 2, once all ballots received or postmarked by the deadline are counted.

Original reporting: KEYT (Ventura/Santa Barbara) — read the source article.