Kern County's October Elections News

Kern County, California sent this bulletin at 10/21/2024 09:13 AM PDT

Borel Fire

If you or someone you know has been displaced due to the Borel Fire and are a Kern County voter, there are options for ensuring you can still participate in the upcoming election. If you plan to return to your residence and mail delivery has been disrupted, you can continue using your registered permanent address to vote or re-register to update your temporary mailing address. Ballots can be sent to a family member or friend's house, a post office box, or your place of work. If you do not want to register with a new mailing address, you may request a Remote Accessible Vote-By-Mail Ballot (RAVBM).

The RAVBM system delivers ballots to voters electronically. RAVBM is not internet voting. RAVBM allows voters with barriers the option to read and mark their ballot with privacy and independence. Voters may access and mark a ballot in a screen-readable format from any computer with internet access. The marked ballots must be printed by the voter and returned by the deadline, along with the voter's signature declaration. To ensure the privacy of each voter's selections, the RAVBM system does not store or transmit the voter's choices over the Internet. The voter must print and return their ballot by mail, drop box, or in person to the Kern County Elections Division. To request an RAVBM ballot, complete the form found here.

Mailing of Vote-by-Mail and Sample Ballots

Vote-by-mail ballots have been delivered, so you should have received yours by now. If your ballot hasn't arrived yet, don't worry—you can download a form on our website to request a reissue. Once you have your ballot, you can return it by mail, drop it in any official county drop box, bring it to your poll site on Election Day, or deliver it directly to the Kern County Elections Division. Sample ballots for the upcoming election have also been mailed out to voters and are available online. Voters can now access their sample ballot through the "My Election Information" tool at kernvote.com, where you can also find your assigned polling place!

Voter Information Guides

You should have received your Voter Information Guide from the Secretary of the State and Kern County. If you have not yet received your Kern County VIG or wish to view the content online, you can find the candidate statements and important information about measures on our website here.

Track Your Ballot

Tracking your ballot has never been easier. BallotTrax is a free service that allows you to track the status of your vote-by-mail ballot every step of the way. By signing up for BallotTrax, you can receive notifications via text, email, or phone when your ballot is sent to you, when it's received by the elections office, and when it has been counted. To use it, simply visit the State of California's BallotTrax website, enter your voter information, and choose how to receive updates. This tool gives you peace of mind, knowing your ballot is being processed securely and on time. To sign up for ballot tracking, click here!

Undeliverable Ballots

While our office continually updates the voter rolls with accurate information received from the Department of Motor Vehicles, the United States Post Office, and monthly deceased lists from Public Health, there are steps that you can take to support election integrity. If you receive a ballot for a person who no longer lives at your address, please write “Does Not Live Here” on the unopened envelope and put it back in the mail for pickup, or if you receive a ballot for a recently deceased voter, write “Deceased” on the unopened envelope and put it back in the mail for pickup!

In Case You Missed It...

The deadline to register to vote for the upcoming general election is today! October 21st, 2024 is the last day to ensure your registration is complete to receive a vote-by-mail ballot.

If you need to register or re-register after this deadline—within 14 days of the election—you can take advantage of the conditional voter registration process. This allows you to register and cast your ballot simultaneously, but it must be done in person at your county elections office or polling location. For detailed information on conditional voter registration, including what to bring and where to go, please visit here.

To check your current voter registration status or update your details, visit here.

Don't Forget!

When completing your vote-by-mail ballot, providing a clear and legible signature is crucial. Your signature must match the one on file with your county elections office, which could be the one on your California driver's license, state ID, or the signature you provided when registering to vote. So, double-check your signature on your ID! County election officials will compare your ballot's signature with this official signature before your vote can be counted. Ensuring your signature matches helps protect the integrity of your vote and prevents any delays or challenges in having your ballot processed.