Vote-by-mail ballots will begin going out Monday to Santa Barbara County’s active registered voters ahead of California’s June 2 primary election.
Santa Barbara County expects to mail out approximately 250,000 ballots beginning May 4, according to Martin Cobos, chief deputy registrar of voters.
Eighteen ballot drop boxes also will open throughout the county that day, giving voters several weeks to return ballots before polls close at 8 p.m. Tuesday, June 2.
Cobos said county elections officials are urging voters to return ballots early, especially because this year’s primary ballot includes 61 candidates for governor and 16 candidates for lieutenant governor. He said voters should take time to find their preferred candidate and remember they can vote for only one candidate for governor.
How Can I Return My Ballot?
Starting next week, ballots can be returned by mail or placed in one of 18 ballot drop boxes throughout Santa Barbara County.
A list and interactive map of drop boxes can be found here.
Ballots can also be returned in person to county elections offices in Santa Barbara or Santa Maria during office hours, or to any polling place until 8 p.m. June 2.
The Santa Barbara elections office is located at 4440-A Calle Real. The Santa Maria elections office is located at 511 Lakeside Parkway, Suite 134.
Mailed ballots must be postmarked on or before June 2 and received by county elections officials by June 9 to be counted.
Cobos said voters who wait until a few days before the election, or June 2 itself, should take their ballot into a post office and ask a clerk to postmark it.
Where Can I Vote In Person?
Santa Barbara County will have 61 polling places open on June 2, not including county elections offices in Santa Barbara and Santa Maria. Polling places will be open that Tuesday from 7 a.m. to 8 p.m.
Polling place locations are available in English and en Español.
What If I Don’t Receive My Ballot?
Voters who have not received their ballot by Monday, May 11, should contact the Santa Barbara County Elections Division or visit SantaBarbaraVote.gov to request a replacement ballot.
What Is the Registration Deadline?
The last day to register to vote for the June 2 primary election is Monday, May 18.
Voters can register, re-register or check their registration status at registertovote.ca.gov.
Eligible voters who miss that deadline can still register or update their information in person from May 19 through June 2 using California’s same-day voter registration process.
Can I Track My Ballot?
California voters can use BallotTrax at california.ballottrax.net/voter to receive updates on the status of their vote-by-mail ballot.
When Will We Know Results?
Initial results are expected shortly after polls close on the evening of June 2.
The results from vote-by-mail ballots that have already been tabulated are scheduled for release at approximately 8:15 p.m., according to the county.
First results from polling places are expected around 9 p.m. and will be posted at countyofsb.org/164/Elections.
Noozhawk will have live updates on local races throughout election night.
