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If you live in Sacramento County, you may have received your ballot for the primary election in the mail already. Now that you have it, how can you make sure your voice is heard?
This election year, it's up to you on how you want to vote, but there are some changes worth noting for voters in Sacramento County.
"Sacramento County moved to what's called a vote-center-model elections," said Alice Jarboe, the Interim Registrar of Voters for Sacramento County. "We are one of five counties in California that have moved to this new model of voting."
That means there are no more polling centers and you are not assigned to a specific area anymore to go vote. Instead, voting centers will open May 26.
"Perhaps they want to vote by mail, no problem. All the drop boxes are open," Jarboe said.
There are 53 drop boxes all over the county that are open right now. You don't have to wait for a voting center to open.
To find the nearest drop box near you, all you need is your phone and your ballot. You can download the SacVote app for free and look up a drop box or a voting center near you.
If you want to mail your ballot, make sure to stamp it twice and mail in what you fill out. If there are empty pages, you don't have to return them.
"In California, vote on what you want to vote. You don't have to fill out everything," Jarboe said.
Some people may be wondering, "Why am I getting my ballot so early? The election isn't until November, right?" Well, yes, but these ballots are for the primary election.
"It's a primary — lots of candidates to pick from, and in California, remember, all the counties, it's the top two primary," Jarboe said. "They pick one candidate, [and] the top two vote-getters in those state races move on to the general in November."
Don't forget! Voting centers open May 26. You have 11 days to visit a voting center to make sure your voice is heard. Primary Election Day is June 5.
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