Jana M. Lean, Chief of the Elections Division of the Office of Secretary of State Alex Padilla, issued a memorandum on Oct. 11 warning that the use of unauthorized, non-official vote by mail ballot drop boxes does not comply with state law governing ballot collection activities after reports of unauthorized vote by mail ballot drop boxes had surfaced in Los Angeles, Orange and Fresno Counties. The full content of the memo may be found here:
https://elections.cdn.sos.ca.gov/ccrov/pdf/2020/october/20240jl.pdf
The L.A. County Registrar-Recorder/County Clerk is responsible for authorizing the placement of all Vote by Mail Drop Box locations within L.A. County. There are 403 official L.A. County Drop Box locations which can be found at https://locator.lavote.net/locations/. Information about the official Drop Boxes can be found at https://lavote.net/docs/rrcc/election-info/VBM-Drop-Box-Flyer.pdf .
If you have questions about Vote by Mail Drop Boxes or are aware of any unofficial boxes, please call 800-815-2666, then choose option 2. You can also email vbmdropoff@rrcc.lacounty.gov or go to LAvote.net to use the locator tool to find Drop Boxes throughout L.A. County. This information is also printed on the Vote by Mail Drop Boxes.
The City of Palmdale’s City Clerk’s Office is reminding voters of the changes in the election process for the upcoming General Election on Tuesday, November 3.
Due to COVID-19, all registered voters will be mailed a Vote by Mail ballot to ensure a safe and accessible voting option during the COVID-19 pandemic. Mailing of Vote by Mail ballots to registered voters has already begun.
Voters may return their ballots either my mail (no postage is necessary), in person at any Vote by Mail drop box location, or at any Vote Center in L.A. County. A list of all Vote Centers and Vote By Mail drop box locations is available at LAvote.net. Ballots must be postmarked no later than Nov. 3 to be counted.
Voters are encouraged to track their ballot online at www.california.ballottrax.net/voter. This is a free service to all registered voters to give you updated information on when your ballot has been mailed, received, and counted.
For those who wish to vote in person, Voting Centers provide a safe option to cast your vote. You may vote at any Vote Center in L.A. County. A list of vote centers is available at LAvote.net.
City of Palmdale staff are in discussions with the L.A. County Registrar-Recorder/County Clerk’s office seeking additional Vote Centers and Vote by Mail Drop Box locations on the City’s west side. Once approved, the additional sites will be identified on the Vote Center and Vote By Mail Drop Box locations maps at LAvote.net.
“We will also send a subsequent press release and City of Palmdale map once all sites have been finalized,” said Palmdale City Manager J.J. Murphy. As we work with the County during this COVID-19 pandemic, all agencies are trying to collaborate to make voting safe and convenient. I would encourage everyone to follow the message of Susan B. Anthony when she said, ‘Someone struggled for your right to vote. Use it.’”
For more information about voting in general or the City’s municipal election, please call the City Clerk’s office at 267-5151 or visit www.cityofpalmdale.org/Elections.