Voters in CFD No. 2 (Lompico Water) have until next Tuesday to return their ballot for the special election.

Only 260 of the 737 registered in Community Facilities District No. 2 of Santa Cruz County (Lompico Water) have returned their vote-by-mail ballots.

Election Day is next Tuesday, February 24. The election is being conducted by all mail ballot and voters are required to return their ballot by Election Day.

Voters have several options to return their ballot:

1. In person – Voters may deliver their ballot in person to either the Santa Cruz County Clerk/Elections Department, 701 Ocean Street in Santa Cruz, or Scotts Valley City Clerk’s Office, 1 Civic Center Drive in Scotts Valley, on weekdays during normal business hours.

2. Drop Box – There is also a white drop box in front of the County Government Center available 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, for voters to drop off their ballots no later than 8 p.m. on Election Day, Tuesday, February 24.

3. Deliver on Election Day – On Election Day, February 24, there will be two locations set up from 7 a.m. to 8 p.m. for voters to return their ballot, get assistance, or obtain a second ballot if they have lost or damaged their first ballot:

· Santa Cruz County Elections: 701 Ocean St., Room 210. Ph: 831-454-2060.

· Zayante Fire Station: 7700 East Zayante Rd., Felton. Ph: 831-335-5100.

4. By Mail – Voters may return their ballots by mail in the postage-paid green envelope mailed to each voter with their ballot. Under a new California law, ballots returned by mail must be postmarked no later than Election Day, and received by the county elections official no later than 5 p.m. on the Friday after the election. Voters are encouraged to mail their ballots early in order to ensure their ballot is received on time.

5. Call for assistance – Voters who needs assistance with voting or returning their ballots may call the Elections Office at 831-454-2060 and an elections official will set up a time to come to your home to provide assistance or pick up your voted ballot.

Voters should be aware of the strict laws governing return of their voted mail ballot. The law prohibits ballots to be returned by any paid or volunteer worker of any campaign. Any unauthorized person who receives a voted ballot is punishable by a fine and/or imprisonment.

The law does, however, allow a voter, who because of illness or other disability, to authorize certain relatives or a household member to return their ballot for them.

Santa Cruz County election officials remind voters who are returning their vote-by-mail ballots that they must sign the declaration on the outside of the envelope. Unfortunately, if there is no signature or if the signature on the vote-by-mail ballot return envelope does not compare to the voter’s signature on his or her voter’s registration card, election officials cannot count the ballot.

For more information, please contact the Santa Cruz County Elections Office at 831-454-2060 or info@votescount.com

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