An official ballot drop box in front of Santa Barbara City Hall on Anacapa Street.
An official ballot drop box in front of Santa Barbara City Hall on Anacapa Street. Credit: Giana Magnoli / Noozhawk photo

About 67,000 voters have already turned in their ballots, as people “seem to be heeding the recommendation to vote early,” the Santa Barbara County Elections Office said Thursday. 

That number represents 26.9% of registered voters in the county, according to Chief Deputy Registrar of Voters Martin Cobos. 

Election Day is Tuesday, and local officials have been advising voters to cast their ballots early to ensure they’re received in time to be counted — and for faster results. 

Because of U.S. Postal Service processing changes, ballots mailed on or right before Election Day may not be postmarked in time to be counted.

About 2,300 late ballots from county voters were rejected in the June primary election for being late. 

Cobos recommends that voters who have not yet voted use one of the 18 secure, official ballot drop boxes located around the county anytime, take it to a polling place on Tuesday, or take it to the Santa Barbara or Santa Maria elections offices. 

Polling places will be open from 7 a.m. to 8 p.m. to vote in person, or drop off a completed ballot, on Tuesday. 

“At this point in time, ballot processing and voter turnout are going very well,” Cobos said. 

There are 248,945 registered voters in Santa Barbara County.

Read the Noozhawk Voter Guide for more information about candidates, ballot measures and voter information for the general election. 

County Elections Office Information

Before returning your ballot, the county advises the following:

  • Complete your ballot by marking your selections.
  • Seal your ballot inside the provided return envelope.
  • Sign the return envelope. Your signature is required and will be compared with the signature on file with your voter registration record to verify your ballot.

County Elections Office Locations:

• Santa Barbara Elections Main Office: 4440-A Calle Real, Santa Barbara. Regular hours are 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday through Friday.

• Santa Maria Elections Branch Office: 511 Lakeside Pkwy., Suite 134, Santa Maria. Regular hours are 8 a.m. to noon and 1 p.m. to 5 p.m. Monday through Friday.

• Both offices also will be open from 8 a.m. to 2 p.m. this Saturday.

Noozhawk executive editor Giana Magnoli can be reached at gmagnoli@noozhawk.com.