Did you know that the Orange County Registrar of Voters is planning to make a big change to Voting Centers? California law requires extensive public outreach during the transition to Vote Centers – and a public workshop is in fact coming up here in Santa Ana on July 18, from 6 p.m. to 8 p.m., at the Southwest Senior Center, located at 2201 W. McFadden Ave. Click here to see the Public Meeting Calendar.
A Vote Center is more than a traditional polling place-it’s a full-service voting experience. Cast your ballot at any location, stop by on the weekend, even register to vote.
There are many Voting Center benefits:
- You’ll have the opportunity to vote at one of nearly 200 customer service centers located throughout Orange County – options include the opportunity to vote for 10 days prior to any election day, including Saturdays and Sundays.
- You’ll be greeted and checked in electronically – with all of your voter data at our fingertips we’ll be able to solve any problems quickly.
- Casting a ballot is also quick and easy, plus you can drop off your completed vote-by-mail ballot at any location.
Think of a Vote Center as your one-stop location for all things voting. Unlike traditional in-person options for voting, Vote Centers allow you to not only vote, but to solve voter registration issues, register to vote, get a replacement ballot, and get general assistance for 11 days, not just one. Plus, electronic check-in is more secure and speeds up the process – saving you valuable time.
Vote Centers mean many more options for voters. Elections are no longer a one-day event. Voting begins the month before any election day when every voter will receive a vote-by-mail ballot. Take advantage of the alternatives available to avoid congestion – from voting at home, drive-thru ballot drop-off, in-person options, returning your ballot via the United States Postal Service, or personally deliver your ballot to us – the choice is yours.
Site Selection Considerations:
- Vote center and ballot dropoff location proximity to public transportation.
- Vote center and ballot dropoff location proximity to communities with historically low vote by mail usage.
- Vote center and ballot dropoff location proximity to population centers.
- Vote center and ballot dropoff location proximity to language minority communities.
- Vote center and ballot dropoff location proximity to voters with disabilities.
- Vote center and ballot dropoff location proximity to communities with low rates of household vehicle ownership.
- Vote center and ballot dropoff location proximity to low-income communities.
- Vote center and ballot dropoff location proximity to communities of eligible voters who are not registered to vote and may need access to same day voter registration.
- Vote center and ballot dropoff location proximity to geographically isolated populations, including Native American reservations.
- Access to accessible and free parking at vote centers and ballot dropoff locations.
- The distance and time a voter must travel by car or public transportation to a vote center and ballot dropoff location.
- The need for alternate methods for voters with disabilities for whom vote by mail ballots are not accessible to cast a ballot.
- Traffic patterns near vote centers and ballot dropoff locations.
- The need for mobile vote centers in addition to the number of vote centers established pursuant to this section.
- Room size and location
- Free parking available
- Facility availability for multiple days and extended hours, including weekends
California’s election laws govern how Vote Center elections are conducted. California Senate Bill 450 was passed by the Legislature and signed by the Governor in 2016. The law authorizes counties to conduct any election as an all-mailed ballot election provided the jurisdiction provides ballot dropoff locations, vote centers and conducts outreach.
