San Francisco Chronicle - (Sunday)
Haven’t voted yet? How to cast ballot on or before Election Day
The 2022 midterm Election Day is Tuesday, and while balloting has been under way for several weeks, a large majority of Californians have yet to cast their votes.
Only 15.8% of the 22.2 million vote-by-mail ballots sent to registered voters had been returned for counting as of Nov. 2, according to the California Secretary of State’s Office.
But with many key statewide and local races and measures in the balance, including district attorney contests in San Francisco and Alameda County and mayoral races in Oakland and San Jose, you still have time to weigh in.
Here’s what you need to know about how and where to vote in the Bay Area on or before Tuesday, Election Day.
Where is my ballot?
The deadline for ballots to be mailed to registered voters was Oct. 10. If you haven’t received your ballot or if you lost it, you can request a replacement in person at a county elections office (call the Secretary of State’s voter hot line at 800-345-8683).
How do I cast my ballot?
You can cast your vote either by mail or in person.
To vote by mail: If you plan to send your ballot by mail, it must be postmarked on or before Election Day. You can also return the ballot at an official drop box or an early voting center in your area. To find voting centers and drop-off locations, go here.
You can authorize someone to return the ballot on your behalf, as long as they are not paid on a per-ballot basis. To ensure your vote is counted, you must fill out the authorization section on the outside of your ballot envelope.
To vote in person: You can cast your vote-by-mail ballot in-person at a secure ballot drop box, a voting location, or your county elections office.
Many Election Day polling locations allow early in-person voting and ballot drop-offs the month before Election Day. Voting centers will be open on Election Day for in-person voting and ballot drop-off from 7 a.m. to 8 p.m.
If you prefer to fill out your ballot in person, you can do so at voting centers. Take your mail-in ballot with you, and ask to vote in person instead — your mail-in ballot will be exchanged for a polling-place ballot. If you don’t bring your mail-in ballot, you will be given a provisional ballot, which will be counted after your county elections official confirms you are registered and did not vote
more than once in this election.
How do I know my vote was received and counted?
You can track the status of your ballot by visiting the state’s Where’s My Ballot website.
What if I haven’t registered to vote yet?
The deadline to register for the Nov. 8 election was Oct. 24.
However, you can still register conditionally and vote with a provisional ballot through Election Day. Your vote will be subject to your county elections office verifying your registration, but once it does, your vote will be counted.