Absentee Voting

Absentee Ballot Applications

The Office of the City Clerk will begin to provide and process applications for absentee ballots on July 1st.  We are unable to process applications that are not on the form approved by the Clerk.

Beginning on July 1, citizens can contact our office to request an application.  The application process is required prior to the Clerk issuing an absentee ballot.  There is no longer an auto-list from which we can send applications. Any voter wishing to vote absentee in the October election must apply for their absentee ballot.

The only third parties authorized to provide Applications are candidates on the ballot, registered Measure Finance Committees and their campaign representatives.

Please check back for specific instructions on requesting your application for absentee ballot.

Voting by Absentee Ballot for the October 8th Election

The Office of the City Clerk follows the absentee voting procedures outlined by state and local law.  If you are interested in absentee voting, here's the information you'll need:

• The voter must contact the Office of the City Clerk and request an application for an absentee ballot. The auto voter list is no longer available. All individuals wishing to vote absentee MUST request an application for absentee ballot;
• The Office of the City Clerk will process the requests for applications for absentee ballots and begin to mail the applications on July 1st.
• Once the voter receives the application for absentee ballot, the voter must complete the application and return it to the Office of the City Clerk on or before October 4, 2013 at 5:00 p.m..  Pursuant to law, the City Clerk will reject any application that does not include the voter's full date of birth.
• Applicant voters can return their applications by mail (you can place your application in an envelope if you are concerned about exposed information) or hand deliver it.
• The Office of the City Clerk will process the received applications and begin to mail absentee ballots to eligible voters on September 3rd.  Please do not expect your absentee ballot to arrive until after September 3rd.

Absentee Ballot Deadline

The City Clerk must receive absentee ballots from voters by 7 p.m. on October 8th.

The Clerk accepts absentee ballots by mail or hand delivery in the Office of the City Clerk. If ballots are hand delivered, it must be received directly from the voter, the voter's caregiver or a member of the voter's immediate family.

The City Clerk encourages all absentee voters to allow plenty of time for the absentee process. The sooner you return your application, the faster we can get you your ballot.

Timely mailing or return of your absentee ballot will ensure we receive it prior to the deadline.  Absentee voters are encouraged to hand deliver any ballot that is not mailed by October 4th.

All absentee ballots require the voter's signature in acknowledgement of the Voter's Oath on the outer mailing envelope.  The Clerk is prohibited by law from counting ballots that arrive in the Office unsigned and from contacting voters who do not sign their oath.