It’s never been easier to register and vote. Your vote is your voice.
“We cannot rest until all people have equal opportunity to achieve their dreams regardless of their identity or background; until everyone has a guarantee of dignity, happiness and human rights regardless of their circumstances, including but not limited to access to food, education, healthcare, shelter and labor protections; and until our human community is living sustainably. “ – Democratic Club of Santa Maria Valley Read: “Our Democratic Values”
If you are eligible to vote, you may cast a ballot at your polling place on Election Day regardless of any other action you may have taken, or have missed the deadline. It will be a provisional ballot and will be counted last and only IF you have not voted elsewhere in this election. Call the Elections Office for more information at 1-800-722-8683, Ext. 7 to speak to a person, Mon – Fri, 8 am-5 pm, closed noon – 1 pm.
Also, check out helpful information on voting for a Presidential candidate in the California Primary: https://www.sos.ca.gov/elections/voting-info/how-vote-president/?#*
In this section, you can:
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Check to see if you are already registered, and if your information is up to date. ***** and Important information regarding “No Party Preference” voters.********
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Register to vote in California. If you are 16 or 17 years old, you can use this online registration application to pre-register to vote.
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Apply to Vote by Mail (recommended) if you are not already signed up for that feature.
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Contact the Santa Barbara County Elections Office.
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California voting news and information.
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Santa Maria City residents search for voting District by address.
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2020 Calendar for March Primary and November General elections.
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Call our office and make an appointment to come in and register to vote.
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Identify and Contact our Representatives.
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Order a free “Proud Democrat” sticker.
1. Am I already registered? Check here https://voterstatus.sos.ca.gov
Is your name (and signature), address, and political party preference up to date? It is a requirement to re-register if any of these things have changed since you last voted. Registration can be done online at any time as long as it is several days (15) prior to an election. Eligible 16 and 17 year olds can register to vote and can vote in an election if they are 18 years old on election day.
As of February 2020, California voters can register, update, make changes, AND cast a ballot in person AFTER THE REGISTRATION DEADLINE up to and including election day. Call the Elections Office for more information on registering or making changes after the deadline at 1-800-722-8683, ext. 7 to speak to a person.
******** IN CALIFORNIA: Are you registered as a “No Party Preference”? If you want to vote for a Presidential candidate in the “ Open Primary” held in March in California, YOU MUST Register with a political party or request a “CROSSOVER BALLOT”, for those parties that allow it, at the Polls or the Elections Office, 511 E. Lakeside Parkway, suite 134, Santa Maria, CA 93455 (closed noon – 1 pm), 1-800-722-8683, Ext 7 to speak to a person. Register with the Democratic Party to vote for a DEMOCRATIC PRESIDENTIAL CANDIDATE). Your ballot will NOT have a presidential candidate listed on it if you remain registered as “No Party Preference”. Click here for more information: “No Party Preference” voters
Voting for a President in the California Primary: https://www.sos.ca.gov/elections/voting-info/how-vote-president/?#*
2. Register to vote in California (multilingual):
CA STATE MULTI-LINGUAL WEBSITE:
CLICK HERE TO REGISTER TO VOTE
3. Apply to Vote by Mail:
You have the option to have your ballot mailed to you several days before an election if registered before the deadline. (You can still register and vote in person up to and including election day at the poll or election office.) As of 2019, NO POSTAGE STAMPS NEEDED TO RETURN YOUR BALLOT BY MAIL. Just fill out the ballot, sign the envelope and hand write your address (no peel off address stickers) and mail, or drop in the convenient 24 hour drop box in the parking lot of the Elections Office at 511 E. Lakeside Parkway, Santa Maria, 93455 (off E. Betteravia Road & Centerpoint Parkway.)
Note: The drop box is ONLY for voting ballots, not for registrations, applications or other materials. Remember to SIGN (in ink) and date the outside of the GREEN ENVELOPE.
If you have already registered, and wish to vote by mail, call 1-800-722-8683 ext 7 for application deadline:
Click here to Print a Vote By Mail application
Mail application to:
Santa Barbara County Elections Office, PO Box 61510, Santa Barbara CA 93160-1510
or Fax to 805-568-2209, or drop off at the local S.M. Elections Office, suite 134
Vote By Mail applications can also be obtained by requesting an application be mailed to you by calling the Elections Office at 1-800-722-8683, ext 7 to speak to a person.
4. Contact the SANTA BARBARA COUNTY ELECTIONS OFFICE (Bilingual):
http://sbcvote.com/Elections/Elections.aspx
SANTA MARIA CONTACT:
511 E. Lakeside Parkway, Suite 134, S.M., CA 93455
Phone 1-800-SBC-VOTE, ext 7.
Note: The Santa Maria Elections Office may not be open, or have limited hours, during some off election months. However, the Recorders Office in the same building can accept registration forms and assist with some voter information. The Santa Barbara Elections Office can answer questions all year by phone at 1-800-722-8683, Ext 7.
The Elections Division is responsible for voter registration, the administration of all public elections within the county, and the maintenance of all related official records. Typical responsibilities include: the candidate nomination process; initiative and referendum petitions; arguments and rebuttals for ballot measures; candidate’s campaign statements and financial disclosure statements; voter registration and vote by mail ballots; management of polling places and the computation and certification of voting results.
5. California voting news and information:
As of February 2020, California voters can register, update, make changes, AND cast a ballot in person AFTER THE REGISTRATION DEADLINE up to and including election day. Call the Elections Office for more information on registering or making changes after the deadline at 1-800-722-8683, ext. 7 to speak to a person.
IMPORTANT UPDATE: As of Saturday, October 10th, 2015 former Governor, Jerry Brown, signed into law measures which will make voter registration automatic for ALL California citizens who get or renew a California drivers license. The bill was a priority of newly elected Secretary of State Alex Padilla.
ALL voters registered in California are eligible to vote in ALL statewide and national elections. NO photo ID is required. There are general elections every two years, and sometimes in off years. THIS DATE IS SET BY LAW AS THE 1st TUESDAY AFTER THE FIRST MONDAY IN THE MONTH OF NOVEMBER. IT MAY NOT BE CHANGED. Polls in California open at 7 AM and close at 8 PM on election day. Presidential years will also hold a “Primary Election” in the month of March every four years.
And remember, even if you DON’T check all of the boxes on your ballot, any box that you do check will still be counted. You DO NOT sign your ballots, but if you Vote by Mail, you MUST sign (in ink) and date the GREEN ENVELOPE before returning your enclosed ballot.
More information about Vote-By-Mail ballots and voting:
IF when you registered to vote, you initialed the “Vote By Mail” option on your registration form, you will receive your ballot approximately 29 days prior to the election. To Vote, follow the instructions on the ballot. If you would like to submit an application, print the Vote- By- Mail application and mail to the Elections Office: CA Vote By Mail Application
IF you have not received your ballot by 20 days before the election contact your County Election’s office at 1-800-722-8683, Ext 7, (Bilingual) and explain the problem.
IF you prefer to vote at your polling place and you have received a “Vote by Mail” ballot, then take that ballot to the Polling place and request a new ballot.
In any event you may cast a ballot at your polling place on Election Day regardless of any other action you may have taken. It will be a provisional ballot and will be counted last and only IF you have not voted elsewhere in this election.
Voting for a President in the California Primary: https://www.sos.ca.gov/elections/voting-info/how-vote-president/?#*
6. Search for your City of Santa Maria voting District by address:
NOTICE – IF YOU LIVE IN THE CITY OF SANTA MARIA
The City of Santa Maria has been divided into four voting districts as of 2017. Each district will have a representative on the City Council that resides in that district. Only the SM City Council member from your district will appear on your ballot. All of the City Council Members represent and are available to the entire city of Santa Maria regardless of their designated district. The City Council candidates appear on the ballot for the General Election in November. The Mayor, District 1 , and District 2 have open seats in 2020.
- Northwest quadrant is District 1
- Northeast quadrant is District 2
- Southwest quadrant is District 3
- Southeast quadrant is District 4
Look up your voting District by address link: Santa Maria Voting District by address
Or call the City of Santa Maria at 805-925-0951 Ext. 2306.
My Santa Maria City Council members and Mayor link: Santa Maria City Council
7. Calendar for elections in 2020:
CALIFORNIA ELECTION CALENDAR FOR 2020:
PRIMARY ELECTION:
* “Voter Information Guides” mailed Jan 23 – Feb 11, 2020
– First Day Vote-By-Mail Ballots will be mailed
Monday, February 3, 2020
Monday, February 3, 2020
– Close of Registration *
– EXTENDED TO FEBRUARY 18, 2020.
– EXTENDED TO FEBRUARY 18, 2020.
– ELECTION DAY for Primary – Tuesday, March 3, 2020
GENERAL ELECTION:
– First Day Vote-By-Mail Ballots will be mailed
Monday, October 5, 2020
– Close of Registration *
Monday, October 19, 2020
– ELECTION DAY for General – Tuesday, November 3, 2020
* You can “Conditionally” register and vote at the county elections office after the deadline.
For additional voting information:
8. Make and appointment with our local office to register to vote or receive other local election information, including candidate literature:
Office location and contact information:
Democratic Club of Santa Maria Valley
Open Monday – Friday 11 am – 2 pm
327 E. Plaza Drive, Suite 2
Santa Maria, CA 93454
(Drop slot in the door)
Telephone: 1 (805) 349-2708
After hours, please leave a message and return phone number. We will return your call.
Click here for Directions
9. Our Representatives: Click here for Representatives
Our Representatives want to hear from us.
Know who our Representatives are, how they vote, and how to contact them.
10. Order a free “Proud Democrat” sticker.
Get your FREE “Proud Democrat” sticker mailed to you from the DCCC:
