Ballots for the June primary hit mailboxes next week, kicking off a busy election season for Monterey County elections officials as they push key dates and voter information.
“Our slogan is, make it count to make it count,” said Gina Martinez, County of Monterey Registrar of Voters at the county’s weekly news briefing. “Our voters should make a plan to vote—whether it’s by mail, in person, or early—make your plan to make it count.
In recent years, Monterey County has led the charge in making voting more accessible to people across the county. In 2022, the elections department in partnership with Monterey County Free Libraries launched Ballots and Books, an initiative that brings services traditionally provided at the elections office to libraries and other agency partners.
With Books and Ballots, which received a national honor by the United States Elections Assistance Commission in 2024, county voters and candidates can file to run for office, submit data requests, register to vote and vote on dates and times that are convenient for them in familiar neighborhood locations.
Considering the size of the county and the many small communities with areas with unassigned polling places, county elections officials determined the traditional “poll place” model did not work, and incorporated a “modern twist” to provide more opportunities to vote, Martinez said.
“We are working past 5 p.m. because a lot of our voters are getting out of work at 5 p.m. so we want to be there for them after work when they are ready to vote,” Martinez added.
A satellite elections office at Embassy Suites in Seaside during the early vote time period draws voters from all over the county as many commute to the peninsula for work and take the opportunity to vote there.
Important elections dates
Ballots will be mailed out by May 4. If by May 11, voters haven’t received their ballot, they can contact the Monterey County elections office for a replacement, while simultaneously verifying their address.
If you haven’t yet registered to vote, or if you need to check or update your information, you can go online at the Secretary of State website. The last day for regular voter registration is May 18. From May 19 to June 2, same-day voter registration kicks in and voters will be provided with a provisional ballot. The last day to mail your ballot is May 26.
Early in-person voting begins May 4 at the Monterey County elections office. The satellite elections office at Embassy Suites at 1441 Canyon Del Rey Blvd., in Seaside opens May 29. The Books and Ballots program with full voter services begins May 19.
The Monterey County elections office offers full voter services, including in-person voting, continuing each weekday with special weekend hours as the date gets closer to June 2.
Voting locations and ballot return locations are included in each vote-by-mail packet and early vote locations with dates and times are included in the local voter guide. You can also visit Monterey County elections online for more information.
This article originally appeared on Salinas Californian: Monterey County primary ballots arrive next week as early voting opens
Reporting by Roseann Cattani, Salinas Californian / Salinas Californian
USA TODAY Network via Reuters Connect
