Placer County gears up for March 26 special primary election, voter information guides distributed

Published February 22, 2019 

In preparation of the March 26 special primary election, the Placer County Elections Office has distributed voter information guides to registered voters in California’s 1st Senate District.

Senate District 1 is one of 40 California State Senate districts and includes the majority of Placer County. The seat is currently vacant due to the resignation of Ted Gaines, who was sworn in as an elected member of the California State Board of Equalization earlier this year.

The voter information guide provides State Senate District 1 race information and voter-assigned polling place locations. The majority of polling places have changed due to the special election. Voters are encouraged to check and confirm their polling place locations.

“It is important to look at your polling place location as it will have likely changed,” said Ryan Ronco, Placer County clerk-recorder-registrar of voters. “The guide will also inform residents if they are a permanent vote-by-mail voter or living in a mail-ballot-only precinct area.”

The Elections Office encourages voters to participate early and avoid the lines. This is a special election with up to six times as many voters per polling place location.

Individuals who are not permanent vote-by-mail voters, or do not reside in a mail ballot precinct, can use the back cover of the guide to apply for a vote-by-mail ballot or download a request form from the elections office website at www.placerelections.com.

“Residents can simply sign the form and return it to our elections office in North Auburn,” said Ronco. “Permanent vote-by-mail voters do not need to request a vote-by-mail ballot as they’ll automatically receive a ballot in the mail.”

Important dates:

●      Feb. 25: Vote-by-mail ballots will be mailed to registered voters of SD1 in Placer County
●      Feb 25: Voters of SD1 may come to the Elections Office and vote early
●      March 11: Last day to register to vote for the special primary election
●      March 19: Last day for the Elections Office to mail a requested vote-by-mail ballot
●      March 26: Election Day

Placer County residents who do not receive their information guides by Feb. 27 or misplace their guide can view it on www.placerelections.com  and/or request a duplicate guide by contacting the elections office at 530-886-5650.

Voter registration forms may be picked up at all post offices, libraries and California Department of Motor Vehicles offices in Placer County, or completed online at sos.ca.gov.

Registered voters who’ve recently interacted with the DMV are urged to confirm their voter status; political party preference, vote by mail status, address and all other pertinent information. Voter status information is available at www.voterstatus.sos.ca.gov.