Two weeks until election day and officials are encouraging a
record numbers of registered voters to cast their ballots now.
Gilroy
Although the Santa Clara County Registrar of Voters did not have the final tally of registered county voters as of Tuesday afternoon, officials signed up hundreds of last minute registrees Monday right up until the 7 p.m. deadline, said Elma Rosas, spokeswoman for the registrar. Officials expect to have more concrete numbers by the end of the week after registrations postmarked by the deadline make their way in.
While some voters just registered, about 72,000 others have already signed, sealed and delivered their ballots, Rosas said. Now that the deadline to register has passed, the registrar’s next big effort is to urge the county’s 528,694 absentee or “permanent vote-by-mail” voters to cast their vote.
“Vote-by-mail has become more popular and the numbers have increased tremendously,” Rosas said.
As of Tuesday afternoon, of the county’s 771,062 registered voters, 68.5 percent are permanent vote-by-mail voters. Nationwide, election officials predict that one third of voters will cast their ballot via mail.
“It’s a very high number,” Rosas said. “Our vote-by-mail campaign became more active just over a year ago.”
County officials encourage voters to vote by mail for several reasons: to avoid long lines at the polls, to have extra time to research the issues with ballot in hand and, frankly, to make it easier on election officials so they don’t have to scramble at the last minute. Precincts countywide will have about 30,000 additional ballots total in case designated vote-by-mail voters decide to cast their ballots in person. The registrar is planning for 800,000 voters, Rosas said.
She also encouraged voters to vote early or drop off completed ballots before election day. Voters can drop off their ballots or vote early during regular business hours at the registrar’s office at 1555 Berger Drive, Building 2, in San Jose or during extended election hours between 9 a.m. and 3 p.m. Saturday, Nov. 1 and Nov. 2. South County vote-by-mail voters may also drop off their ballots at the Gilroy City Hall, 7351 Rosanna St. during regular business hours or at the Nob Hill on First Street Nov. 1 and Nov. 2. Election day is Nov. 4.
“Get those ballots back to us,” Rosas said.
