PLACER COUNTY, Calif. — California's getting closer and closer to its Primary Election.
The incoming storm in the Sierra is getting the attention of election officials, especially El Dorado and Placer counties. They are preparing for a wide range of weather expected in their diverse terrain and elevation.
The Placer County Elections Office said voters can use their vote-by-mail ballots and return them by mail as long as they're postmarked by March 5.
For voters who want to cast their ballots in person, the county has several "inclement weather procedures" in place to ensure voter access during the voting period.
Those measures include private snow removal and ensuring roads and walkways are clear.
In the November 2022 election, voters had to face dicey road conditions. At the time, election officials told us Caltrans and the sheriff's office were even escorting and plowing the way to ensure ballots arrived safely to be counted.
The Placer County Elections Office said in a statement they are "always ready with contingency plans, especially when it comes to navigating extreme weather conditions."
Similar conditions are expected in El Dorado County.
"We're in the Sierra Nevada and we have a storm coming in. That might inhibit some people being able to get to the vote centers. So if they have their ballot, their vote-by-mail ballot in their hand, if they think they might have a problem getting to the vote centers, they might want to get that into either the mailbox back to us or one of our drop boxes," said Linda Webster, assistant Registrar of Voters for El Dorado County.
They said they're also working with the local sheriff's office to ensure they can get ballots through.
Conditional voter registration is also happening now for voters who missed the Feb. 20 deadline to register to vote. Three vote centers are open in El Dorado County with 10 more opening this weekend.
The Primary Election is March 5.
