RIVERSIDE — As of  today, Oct. 9, an estimated 685,000 vote-by-mail ballots are now on their way to voters for the consolidated general election on Nov. 6.

Completed ballots must be received at the Registrar of Voters office or any polling place within the state of California 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 to be counted.

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.  A 24-hour drop box is available outside the main entrance of the registrar’s office at 2724 Gateway Drive in Riverside.  Vote-by-mail ballots also may be dropped off at any polling place within the State of California before 8 p.m. on Election Day.

Voters have until Oct. 30 to request a vote-by-mail ballot by completing the request form on the back of their county voter information guide, or by using the application form on the Registrar of Voters website at www.voteinfo.net.  The request forms may be returned by mail or by facsimile to (951) 486-7272.

Early voting at the Registrar of Voters office has begun 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 Saturday, Oct. 27 and Saturday, Nov. 3.  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 Oct. 26-28 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, so there are plenty of options to return your ballots.

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

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 Oct. 22. You can register online here or request a paper application by calling (951) 486-7200.

Image Sources

  • Vote-by-Mail: Shutterstock