The upcoming election is taking place on Tuesday, November 3, 2020. There will be over 30 secure Ballot Drop Boxes located throughout the County to safely return your ballot directly to the Registrar of Voters. Drop boxes will be available 24 hours a day from October 5 through 8:00 pm on Election Day, November 3. there are three locations in Goleta:

• • Goleta City Hall (130 Cremona Drive)
  • Goleta Valley Community Center (5679 Hollister Avenue)
  • Southcoast Church (5814 Cathedral Oaks Road)

Deborah Lopez, City Clerk for the City of Goleta said, “We are encouraging all voters to vote by mail to avoid any lines and ensure that voters can exercise their right to vote in a safe, secure and accessible manner.”

Locally, City of Goleta residents will be voting for a Mayor, two City Council seats, and Measure O2020 asking “Shall the term of office of the mayor be changed from two years to four years?” Information on candidates, the measure, and general election information is available at www.cityofgoleta.org/elections.

Make sure you are registered to vote! You can check the status of your voter registration here. If you are not already registered, October 19, 2020, is the last day to register to vote and you can register online at registertovote.ca.gov. Paper applications may be available at most U.S. Post Offices, Santa Barbara County Registrar of Voters Offices or the Department of Motor Vehicles.  To verify voter registration status or update registration information, such as an address or party affiliation, go to www.sbcvote.com.

In light of the COVID-19 pandemic, every registered voter in California will receive a ballot in the mail for the upcoming election. If you are not already registered to vote by mail you DO NOT need to complete an application to receive your ballot by mail, it will automatically be sent. Ballots were mailed out to registered voters last week. If you do not receive your ballot by October 12, contact the Santa Barbara County Registrar of Voters office at (805) 568-2200.

Voters may mail their ballot with no postage required, postmarked by Election Day, November 3. The Postal Service advises voters to mail their ballots no later than October 27 to reach the elections office in time to be counted.

In-person voting will still be available, but on a limited basis. Santa Barbara County Elections is staffing approximately 35 in-person voting sites over four days for those who would like additional services including language assistance or a replacement ballot. These sites will be open October 31 through Election Day, Tuesday, November 3. Facial coverings will be required and voters should expect a socially distanced waiting line. Voters have been assigned to polling place locations that will be listed on the back cover of the voter’s County Voter Information Guide. Beginning October 5, voters can also use the Sample Ballot and Polling Place Look-Up tool at SBCVote.com.

For information about becoming a poll worker at one of these sites, please call
(805) 568-2200 or click here. Take advantage of early in-person voting:

• At the Registrar’s office (4440-A Calle Real, Santa Barbara, CA 93110) beginning October 5, Monday through Friday from 8:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. and Saturday, October 31 to Sunday, November 1 from 8:00 a.m. – 5:00 p.m.
• At your assigned polling place Saturday, October 31 through Sunday, November 1, 9:00 a.m. – 5:00 p.m., and Monday, November 2, 9:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m.
• All will again be open on Election Day, November 3, when the voting hours change to 7:00 a.m. to 8:00 p.m.

More information is available on the Santa Barbara County Elections Division webpage. You can also learn more about voting on the Santa Barbara County Registrar of Voters Vote Safely, Santa Barbara County webpage.

Due to COVID-19, we are encouraging all voters to vote by mail avoiding lines and to ensure that voters can exercise their right to vote in a safe, secure and accessible manner.

The Santa Barbara County Registrar of Voters Office wants to help make the voting process as easy as possible. For questions or assistance, please call (805) 568-2200.