On Oct. 26, 11 Vote Center locations opened throughout the county and will remain open from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. daily until Nov. 5. These include Arroyo Vista Recreation Center in Moorpark, Ronald Reagan Presidential Library in Simi Valley and Best Western Plus Thousand Oaks Inn.
With election day less than a week away, residents of Ventura County are being encouraged to get out and vote. Whether it be their email inbox or social media feed – it’s hard to forget that the election is just around the corner.
Starting on Saturday, Nov. 2, 41 additional Vote Centers will open and remain accessible until Election Day. These centers will continue with the same hours, and on Nov. 5 they will be open from 7 a.m. to 8 p.m.
For those who prefer voting from home or want to avoid long lines at polling centers, there’s good news: as of Sept. 28, 2021, California requires all counties to send out vote-by-mail ballots to registered voters. On the County Clerk-Recorder’s website, Michelle Asencion provides detailed information about the various options available for casting your vote.
“Voters may return their voted ballot by mail (no postage necessary) or at any Ballot Drop Box. Ballot Drop Boxes will be open 24/7 and available no less than 29 days before Election Day. Voters may also drop off their voted ballot at any Vote Center location.”
There are a total of 38 ballot drop box locations throughout the county including one at Moorpark College, conveniently located near the bus stop behind the Communications & Media Arts Building.
A recent article by the VC Star warns voters of the potential that their mail-in ballot may not be accepted if they don’t meet certain criteria.
“In previous elections, county officials rejected hundreds of vote-by-mail ballots because they had an invalid postmark or arrived too late. This time, ballots returned by mail must be postmarked by Nov. 5 and received at the elections office by Nov. 12.”
For your vote to be counted and your voice to be heard, make sure you consider whether or not your ballot will be arriving on time and if you’re not sure, drop it off yourself at a ballot box.
This year’s election will not only include candidates at the state and national levels, but positions throughout Ventura County will be on the ballot as well. These include seats on the Ventura County Board of Education and Community College District, the many Unified School Districts within the county and its City Councils.
Most notably, they will be holding elections for Simi Valley Mayor with candidates Fred D. Thomas, the city’s current Mayor running for re-election, Mike Shaw, Robert Clarizio and Wayne Hampton Holland III.
This year, there are ten statewide ballot propositions addressing key issues. Notably, Proposition 3 seeks to reaffirm the right of same-sex marriage, Proposition 35 aims to provide permanent funding for Medi-Cal through a dedicated tax on California residents and Proposition 2 proposes authorizing bonds for the improvement of K-12 public schools and community college facilities.
For more information on candidates, propositions and state-level issues, visit the official California Voter Information Guide provided by Secretary of State Shirley Weber.
In an open letter to California voters, Weber emphasizes the importance of participating in the electoral process.
“Voting is about having a say in the decisions made about how we live our lives and how our communities operate. Taking the time to learn about the issues and candidates and voting means your voice will be heard and you have a say in the future.”
With 52 Vote Centers, 38 ballot drop box locations and extended hours on Election Day, Ventura County residents have ample opportunities to make their voices heard. For a comprehensive list of voting places, visit the Ventura County Clerk-Recorder’s website, where you can also find a comprehensive Voter Information Guide.
