An important Voter Protection update from our Voter Protection Director, Brandon Peters:
- Voters who are concerned about voting at the polls can pick up a vote-by-mail ballot at their county Supervisor of Elections (SOE) office.
- A voter can also designate someone to pick up their ballot by completing Form DS-DE 37 (English PDF/ Español PDF) before Election Day or DS-DE 136 (English PDF/ Español PDF) on Election Day.
- If it is an Election Day request, the voter must affirm that an emergency exists that keeps that voter from being able to vote at his or her assigned polling place.
- There is no definition of an “emergency” as it relates to this requirement.
- Therefore, a fact-specific determination must be made by the SOE under the unique circumstances of each case.
- A designee is limited to picking up vote-by-mail ballots for two other voters per election (not including their own ballot and the ballots for immediate family members) and must provide photo ID.
- The voted ballot must be received by the SOE office no later than 7 p.m. on Election Day.
- State law imposes no limits on the number of ballots that a person may return to the SOE.
- Some counties may have restrictions, however.
- Voters can check with their county SOE to determine if their county has limits on the number of ballots that a person may return to the SOE.
If you have any additional questions, we are here to help! Save our Voter Protection Hotline and visit our website here. 