Millbrae Vote Center Opens On October 31st

Press release from the City of Millbrae:

October 30, 2020

In-person voting is available at the Millbrae Vote Center inside the Millbrae Community Center (623 Magnolia Ave.) from October 31st to November 2nd, from 9 am to 5 pm each day. On Election Day (November 3rd), the Vote Center will be open from 7 am to 8 pm.

On October 31st, the City will be co-hosting a drive-in movie and Millbrae Treats. To ensure there is enough parking for people who visit the Millbrae Vote Center, parking will be reserved for this purpose along Library Ave. and Poplar Ave. adjacent to the Millbrae Library. In addition, Vote Center visitors can park in the parking lot across from City Hall on Library Ave until 5:15 pm.

If you choose to vote at a Vote Center, it is recommended that you do so during the Early Voting Period to avoid the long lines that are expected on Election Day. If you vote on Election Day, check the San Mateo County Election’s Office’s wait time widget on www.smcvote.org to find a Vote Center near you with the shortest wait time.

Curbside Ballot Drop Off Available on November 1st

In an effort to make voting accessible to all people, the Millbrae Voting Center will offer curbside voting from November 1st to the 3rd. There is no need to park. You just have to drive-by and drop off your mail-in ballot in the curbside ballot box.

Curbside voting will be available on:

Sunday, November 1st, from 9 am to 5 pm

Monday, November 2nd from 9 am to 5 pm

Tuesday, November 3rd, from 7 am to 8 pm

Important Election Information

Elections Code section 18541 states:

(a) No person shall, with the intent of dissuading another person from voting, within 100 feet of a polling place, do any of the following:

(1) Solicit a vote or speak to a voter on the subject of marking his or her ballot.

(2) Place a sign relating to voters' qualifications or speak to a voter on the subject of his or her qualifications except as provided in Section 14240.

(3) Photograph, videotape, or otherwise record a voter entering or exiting a polling place.

(b) Any violation of this section is punishable by imprisonment in a county jail for not more than 12 months, or in the state prison. Any person who conspires to violate this section is guilty of a felony.

(c) For purposes of this section, 100 feet means a distance of 100 feet from the room or rooms in which voters are signing the roster and casting ballots.

Elections Code section 18370 states:

No person, on Election Day, or at any time that a voter may be casting a ballot, shall, within 100 feet of a polling place or an elections official's office:

(a) Circulate an initiative, referendum, recall, or nomination petition or any other petition.

(b) Solicit a vote or speak to a voter on the subject of marking his or her ballot.

(c)Place a sign relating to voters’ qualifications or speak to a voter on the subject of his or her qualifications except as provided in Section 14240.

(d) Do any electioneering.

As used in this section, “100 feet of a polling place or an elections official's office" means a distance 100 feet from the room or rooms in which voters are signing the roster and casting ballots. Any person who violates any of the provisions of this section is guilty of a misdemeanor.

“Electioneering” is defined in California Elections Code section 319.5 as “the visible display or audible dissemination of information that advocates for or against any candidate or measure on the ballot within 100 feet of a polling place, a vote center, an elections official’s office, or a satellite location under Section 3018.” This effectively means electioneering cannot be conducted within 100 feet of the entrance to the polling place. Prohibited materials and information include, but are not limited to:

• A display of a candidate’s name, likeness, or logo
• A display of a ballot measure’s number, title, subject, or logo
• Buttons, hats, pencils, pens, shirts, signs, or stickers containing information about candidates or issues on the ballot
• Any audible broadcasting of information about candidates or measures on the ballot
• Loitering near or disseminating visible or audible electioneering information near a vote-by-mail drop box

It should be noted that a campaign slogan or a political movement slogan (or the initials representing the campaign or political movement – i.e. BLM, MAGA, etc.) does not constitute electioneering under the legal definition of electioneering as stated above. Accordingly, the display of slogans on clothing, face coverings, and/or buttons is not prohibited.

This press release was produced by the City of Millbrae. The views expressed here are the author’s own.