Safe ways to cast your vote
Some issues being raised in the national media regarding the November election may be causing concern among some voters. These issues include increased volume of mail ballots, poll site availability, health and safety of voters and poll workers, as well as availability of results on election night. Adding to these concerns is a postcard recently sent out by the U.S. Postal Service that contains generic election information that does not specifically relate to California. I would like to address how these issues are being handled in Kern County.
Most voters in Kern County have voted by mail for many years. In the March primary, 72 percent of total ballots cast were mail ballots. In the past, most mail ballots were dropped off in person, either at the election office or at a poll site on Election Day. While this option will still be available to all voters in November, this year we are offering alternatives to make the process of returning mail ballots as convenient and safe as possible.
The last three Saturdays in October, beginning Oct. 17, we will be offering curbside ballot drop off events from 10 a .m. to 3 p.m. at Kern County Library branches in Arvin, Delano, Frazier Park, Kern River Valley, Ridgecrest, Rosamond, Taft, Tehachapi and Wasco, as well as at Bakersfield College and Cal State Bakersfield.
In addition, we plan to have satellite election offices in various locations throughout Kern County during the two weeks prior to the election. These satellite offices will allow voters who need assistance to get it without having to go to the election office or to a poll site on Election Day, as well as give voters another opportunity to drop off their mail ballots in person. Ballots mailed in must be postmarked by Nov. 3 (no postage needed). Voters can track the status of their ballot by signing up with “Where’s My Ballot?” at vote.ca.gov to receive text, email or voice notifications when the status of their ballot changes, including when the election office receives it and when it is counted.
While some jurisdictions are reducing their number of poll sites, Kern County will have more poll sites on Nov. 3 than we had in March. However, due to COVID-19 restrictions, some of the locations are changing. Voters planning to vote at the polls should check their sample ballot to confirm the location. Since all registered voters are being mailed a ballot, voters should bring their mail ballot to surrender at their poll site in order to vote regularly at the polls. Otherwise, they will have to vote provisionally. Their provisional ballot can be counted once we confirm they did not also vote their mail ballot.
At the poll sites we will be following CDC guidance regarding physical distancing, disinfecting and use of PPE.
While we cannot refuse to allow a voter not wearing a mask their constitutional right to vote, there will be alternatives offered to ensure the safety of poll workers and other voters. Our curbside voting option, which has been available for many years, provides for poll workers to take a ballot to a voter in their car. The voter votes it, puts it in a privacy sleeve and gives it back to the poll workers to deposit in the ballot box. Other procedures will also be in place at poll sites to ensure the safety of voters and poll workers.
Another concern raised is whether results will be known on election night. In 2018, Kern’s election night count included just two-thirds of the voted ballots. The remaining one-third were mail ballots dropped off on Election Day and processed in the weeks following the election. Voters who wish to have their ballot included in the election night count should make sure to surrender their mail ballot if voting at a poll site so they can vote regularly. Voters who are voting their mail ballot should mail it or drop it off prior to election day. We can begin processing these ballots as soon as we receive them. Voters concerned that their signature may have changed since registering can go to KernVote. com/VotebyMail/Forms to update their signature.
There are many options for voting safely in November. Please remember to vote.