Vote-by-mail ballots were scheduled to mail from the Registrar of Voters office between Feb. 3 – 5 for the March 3, 2020 Presidential Primary Election. A county vendor did not follow the authorized shipping schedule, however, and the vote-by-mail ballots were delivered to the U.S. Postal Service on Feb. 1, instead of Feb. 5 as intended, the Riverside County Registrar of Voters confirmed.

A special 28th State Senate District election will be held in conjunction with the primary.

The Riverside County Registrar of Voters schedules the mailing of voter information guides prior to the mailing of vote-by-mail ballots by design. This is to ensure that voters have a chance to review candidate statements and measure material before they receive their official ballot.

This early mailing of the vote-by-mail ballots has caused some voters to receive their vote-by-mail ballot before their voter information guide. All voters should receive both their vote-by-mail ballot and County Voter Information Guide by the end of this week. If a voter receives their vote-by-mail ballot and has not yet received their voter information guide, they can view all candidate statements and measure material on our website at www.voteinfo.net.

To be counted, completed ballots must be received at the Registrar of Voters office, or any polling place within Riverside County, no later than the close of polls on Election Day, or be postmarked on or before Election Day and received no later than three days after Election Day.

Vote-by-mail ballots can be returned through the postal service or deposited in vote-by-mail drop-off boxes at participating city clerks’ offices. City clerk drop-off locations and hours of operation can be found on the registrar’s website by clicking here. A 24-hour drop box is available outside the main entrance of the registrar’s office at 2720 Gateway Drive in Riverside. Vote-by-mail ballots also may be dropped off at any polling place within Riverside County before 8 p.m. on Election Day.

Voters have until Feb. 25 to request a vote-by-mail ballot by completing the request form on the back of their voter information guide, or by using the application form on the Registrar of Voters website by clicking here.  The request forms may be returned by mail or by facsimile to (951) 486-7272.

Early voting at the Registrar of Voters office began on Feb. 3 and continues Monday through Friday (excluding county holidays), from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m.  The hours will be 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. on Feb. 22 and Feb. 29.  The registrar’s office will be open to voters on Election Day from 7 a.m. to 8 p.m. Early voting also will be offered Feb. 21 – 23 from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. at the Galleria at Tyler, 1299 Galleria at Tyler in Riverside; at Westfield Palm Desert, 72-840 Highway 111 in Palm Desert; and the Promenade in Temecula, 40820 Winchester Road.

If you have any questions about your eligibility to vote, please contact the registrar’s office at (951) 486-7200.

Important information regarding the presidential primary election:

Your voting right in the presidential primary depends on the political party in which you are registered. If you are registered with a political party, you can only vote for a candidate running for president in that party.  A “No Party Preference” voter will automatically receive a non-partisan ballot, which will have no presidential candidates listed. However, upon request, a “No Party Preference” voter can instead receive a ballot to vote the presidential ballot of the following parties:

  • American Independent Party
  • Democratic Party
  • Libertarian Party

If you want to register, update your address or change your political party preference, you must complete a voter registration application and submit it by Feb. 18. You can register online by clicking here or request a paper application by calling (951) 486-7200.

 

 

 

Image Sources

  • Vote-by-Mail: Shutterstock