Noozhawk developed an interactive map as a resource for Santa Barbara County voters ahead of the Nov. 3 election, with all the locations of Santa Barbara County Elections Offices, ballot drop boxes, and polling places. 

Clicking on each color-coded pin provides information about the voting service available at that location, including hours and address. 

The interactive map is available online at https://www.noozhawk.com/election/election_map and on the Noozhawk Election 2020 section.

The three County Elections Offices will be open every weekday, starting Monday, with staff members available for voter registration, requesting a replacement ballot, and other services.

The ballot drop boxes are available 24 hours a day, and elections staff will collect ballots from them every day. 

A limited number of polling places will be open for four days leading up to election day (Oct. 31 through Nov. 3). 

All vote-by-mail ballots can be returned by mail (and do not require postage), dropped off at a U.S. Postal Service office or collection box, or dropped off at a County Elections Office location or ballot drop box.  

Voter Resources 

The voter registration deadline is Oct. 19, but conditional voter registration is available through election day (Tuesday, Nov. 3). For more information: Important Dates and Deadlines Ahead of Santa Barbara County’s Nov. 3 Election.

Ballots are being mailed out to Santa Barbara County voters this week and can be returned as soon as they are completed. Be sure to fill out the ballot correctly, and then seal and sign the envelope. For more information: Fill Out Your Ballot Correctly, Make Sure Your Vote Counts.

The ballot can be returned by mail, in a ballot drop box, at one of the county elections offices in Santa Maria, Lompoc or Santa Barbara, or at a polling place once they open on Saturday, Oct. 31.

Ballots have to be postmarked by Nov. 3 to be counted, and elections officials have encouraged people to vote early and return ballots early. 

Ballot drop boxes that look like this are placed all over the county and will be available through election day, Nov. 3. Ballots can also be returned to the County Elections Office by mail, or by dropping them off at one of the office locations or a polling place, once they open.  (Giana Magnoli / Noozhawk photo)

Track your ballot here: https://california.ballottrax.net/voter/.

The Santa Barbara County Elections Office website includes voter information guides and sample ballots, available by zip code, online here.

The California Secretary of State website has a voter guide available in multiple languages, including English (click here) and Spanish (click here). 

According to the state voter guide, voters are encouraged to cast their ballots early and, if voting in person, follow these steps to protect the health of themselves, other voters and poll workers:

» Wear a face covering while at the polling place.

» Stay at least 6 feet away from other people, about the length of two arms.

» Wash hands before and after entering the voting location.

» Use hand sanitizer after touching doors and voting equipment.

» Bring a ballpoint pen to avoid touching high-contact surfaces.

For early voting information, including ballot drop boxes, in California outside Santa Barbara County, use the state locator at CAEarlyVoting.sos.ca.gov.

Click here for Noozhawk’s Election 2020 section. 

— Noozhawk managing editor Giana Magnoli can be reached at gmagnoli@noozhawk.com. Follow Noozhawk on Twitter: @noozhawk, @NoozhawkNews and @NoozhawkBiz. Connect with Noozhawk on Facebook.