Registrar of voters shares checklist tips for next election

Election Day is March 5, but the voting period has already started. It began Monday when ballots were mailed to all active registered voters. As the Marin County registrar of voters, I urge everyone to help the process run smoothly by preparing to vote.

The first step is to review the Marin County Voter Information Guide. This booklet includes information such as where to find a vote center or ballot drop box, what to do if you are registered as “no party preference” and who is on your ballot for local races.

If you are registered with a political party, you will receive that party's ballot with their primary candidates for president. However, if you are registered as “no party preference,” you will receive a nonpartisan ballot without presidential primary candidates unless you take action.

Three parties — American Independent

Party, Democratic Party and Libertarian Party — allow those registered as “no party preference” to request that party's ballot without reregistering. Use the application on the back of your voter information guide to request one of these ballots or call our office at 415-473-6456.

Those wishing to vote on a ballot for the Green Party, Peace and Freedom Party or Republican Party must re-register and select one of those parties. Remember: If you are registered with a party, you will get that party's ballot.

All ballots will include candidates for the U.S. Senate, U.S. House of Representatives, member of the California Assembly and Proposition 1. Some ballots will include local races and measures depending on where you live.

Make sure you have a plan to register or re-register to vote. Online registration is available at registertovote.ca.gov. The deadline is Feb. 20 — after that, you will have to register or reregister in person at a vote center in order to fill out a ballot.

Do you typically vote by mail? If so, remember to sign your ballot envelope. We cannot process a ballot if the signature is missing or does not compare with the signature on file. We will send a letter if this happens, but this delays processing ballots. Voters may stop by the Marin County Elections Department to check their signature or may re-register to update their signature. Your driver's license signature will be used if you registered to vote while renewing a license at the DMV.

Would you like to know when we receive your ballot? Sign up for free ballot tracking service at california.ballottrax.net/voter to receive email, text or voice call notifications about your ballot status.

Did you know that a top reason why we can't count a ballot is because of a late postmark? Ballot envelopes must be postmarked no later than March 5 (Election Day) and received by March 12, or dropped at a vote center or official ballot drop box by 8 p.m. on Election Day. The list of vote centers and drop boxes is printed in the voter information guide. Voters may allow someone they know and trust to return the ballot by completing the form on the back of the return envelope.

Do you prefer to vote in person? The list of vote centers with days and hours of operation is printed in the voter information guide. You can go to any vote center location in Marin County.

We will include mail ballots received by Feb. 28 in election night results. Remaining voteby-mail ballots will be processed and counted in the days following the election. All ballots filled out at vote centers will be counted by election night.

You may call our office if your ballot packet does not arrive by Feb. 14 or you may visit the Marin County Elections Department to receive in-person voting services or vote on an accessible ballot marking device.

The Marin County Elections Department is located at 3501 Civic Center Drive, Suite 121, in San Rafael. Regular business hours are weekdays from 8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. and on Election Day from 7 a.m. to 8 p.m.

Check your registration at voterstatus.sos.ca.gov or give us a call.

If you are registered as `no party preference,' you will receive a nonpartisan ballot without presidential primary candidates unless you take action.