ISLA VISTA, CA – The pandemic has dramatically affected normal life for everybody and it will re-shape this year’s voter experience. Election Day is tomorrow and people have been accustomed to heading to the polls to place their votes, however, this year voting will look a little different.
Mail-in ballots were sent out to all registered California voters in order to help prevent the
spread of coronavirus cases by safely voting from home. In California, if you registered to vote by October 19, you should have received a vote-by-mail ballot. It is now too late to mail your ballot, however, you can drop it off in any Official Drop Box.
The local Official Drop Box is located in front of the Isla Vista Foot Patrol Sheriff. There are also three located in Goleta: Goleta City Hall, Goleta Valley Community Center, and Southcoast Church. You can safely return your ballot to any Official Drop Box until 8 pm November 3. Voters are encouraged to vote remotely in order to avoid large crowds in voting centers. However, if you did not receive a ballot there will be two local polling centers accessible.
The two available voting centers in Isla Vista will be located in the Santa Catalina (South Tower) Linda Vista Room and the Isla Vista Community Center. The voting centers have opened today, Monday November 2, from 9am – 6pm and will be open tomorrow, November 3 (Election Day), from 7am – 8pm. In order to ensure a safe voting environment, a face mask and a pen are required to vote in any of these centers.
With this hyper-political year, there are worries that people want to silence your vote or use voter suppression tactics. It is important to know your rights before casting your ballot.
Voter Rights
You have the right to vote if you are a registered voter.
You are eligible to vote if you are:
U.S. citizen living in California
Registered where you currently live
At least 18 years old
Not currently in state or federal prison or on parole for the conviction of a felony
Not currently found mentally incompetent to vote by court
You have the right to vote if you are a registered voter even if your name is not on the list.
You may vote using a provisional ballot
Your vote will be counted if elections officials determine that you are eligible to vote
You have the right to vote if you are still in line when the polls close and the right to cast a secret ballot without anyone bothering you or telling you how to vote.
If you have not already cast your ballot, you can get a new ballot if you have made a mistake.
Simply ask an election official at a polling place for a new ballot or exchange your vote by mail ballot for a new one at an elections office or at your polling place or vote using a provisional ballot
You have the right to get help casting your ballot from anyone you choose except from your employer or union representative.
If you are voting by mail you can drop off your completed vote-by-mail ballot at any polling place in CA.
You have the right to get election materials in a language other than english.
You have the right to ask questions to election officials about election procedures and watch the election process.
You have the right to report any illegal or fraudulent election activity to an elections official.
The 2020 election will be one of the most important elections we will experience in our lifetime, so it is crucial to cast your vote by 8 pm on November 3.
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