Yes, You Can Drop Off Your Ballot There In Santa Clara County

Press release from the City of Palo Alto:

October 28, 2020

With news of unofficial ballot boxes and ballot boxes on fire and a slower than usual postal system, there are understandable reasons to be concerned about getting your vote counted this year. While none of these instances of ballot box concerns have happened in Palo Alto, it’s important to understand your options. Mailing in your ballot may not get it to the Registrar in time at this point, so do one of the following:

1. Drop your sealed ballot off at one of the many Palo Alto based official Santa Clara County ballot boxes. Official ballot boxes are operated by the Registrar of Voters of Santa Clara County and pickups by the Registrar’s staff happen at least once a day. Drop your ballot off in the morning to make sure it gets a daytime pickup.

Palo Alto Ballot Drop Boxes locations are:

Palo Alto City Hall – Kings Plaza 250 Hamilton Avenue, Palo Alto, CA 94301

Palo Alto High School 50 Embarcadero Road, Palo Alto, CA 94301

Mitchell Park Library 3700 Middlefield Road, Palo Alto, CA 94303

Rinconada Branch Library 1213 Newell Road, Palo Alto, CA 94303

2. Drop off your ballot in person during the Early Voting period. The Registrar of Voters confirms that ballots can be dropped off anytime during the Early Voting hours at Vote Sites beginning on October 31st through November 3rd.

Vote Sites in Palo Alto opening this Saturday the 31st are:

Rinconada Library - Embarcadero Room

1213 Newell Rd

Palo Alto, CA 94303

Palo Alto Art Center - Auditorium

1313 Newell Rd

Palo Alto, CA 94303

Mitchell Park Community Center - Adobe Room

3700 Middlefield Rd

Palo Alto, CA 94303

Cubberley Community Center - Gym A

4000 Middlefield Rd

Palo Alto, CA 94303

Ventura Community Center - Activity Center

3990 Ventura Ct

Palo Alto, CA 94306

Tip: Sign up for California’s Where’s My Ballot to receive notifications about the status of your ballot after submission.

From the FAQs on the Santa Clara County Registrar of Voters website:

• What are the advantages of the Voter’s Choice Act?

The Voter’s Choice Act provides for Vote Centers which make voting more convenient. Voters are able to choose how, when and where they vote. All registered voters receive a Vote by Mail ballot in the mail. There are more days to vote, starting 10 days before election day, including weekends and holidays. There are more locations to register to vote, And more locations to vote in person before Election Day. Ballots can be dropped off at any Ballot Drop Box location or Vote Center. There are more locations to get a replacement ballot, more accessible voting machines, and more language assistance at Vote Centers.

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