AND FOR PERSONS WITH DISABILITIES

Information regarding voter registration and elections is available from the Santa Cruz County Elections Department. The office is located at 701 Ocean St, Room 210, Santa Cruz CA 95060. Citizens can contact the office for information by calling 831-454-2060 or online at www.votescount.com. The office is open 8 a.m. to 5 p.m., Monday through Friday, except for holidays.

A telecommunications device (TDD) is available to take calls from any person who has a hearing impairment. The TDD number is 831- 454-2123.

Registration Services

Registration Requirements

If you have moved, changed your name, or wish to change your political party affiliation you must re-register at least 15 days before the next election to be eligible to vote in that election. Voters are, however, encouraged to register to vote by 29 days before the next election in order for election materials such as the Sample Ballot and Voter’s Information Pamphlet to be mailed to the voter. Persons who register after the 29^th day before the election may not receive such materials, and may have to vote provisionally. Late registrants will be mailed a postcard advising them where to vote.

You may register by completing a postage paid, registration-by-mail form. Forms are available throughout Santa Cruz County, including most county buildings, city halls, fire stations, libraries, post offices, the state Department of Motor Vehicles as well as many other locations. If you are living in a senior housing facility, forms may be available in your lobby.

You may also request a voter registration form online at www.votescount.com

Registration-by-mail forms may be requested 24 hours a day, seven days a week by telephoning 831-454-2060 or 800-345-VOTE. If you call after regular business hours, please leave a message clearly stating your name, mailing address and telephone number.

California law permits voters to register with one of the seven qualified political parties: American Independent, Democratic, Green, Libertarian, Natural Law, Reform or Republican. You may also register as a nonpartisan voter or with any other unqualified political party. Under a new law, however, voters who are not registered with a qualified political party, may vote a ballot for a political party if that party has adopted rules allowing nonpartisan voters to vote their ballot.

Voting Services

Accessible Polling Place

The international symbol of access is used on the Sample Ballot and Voter's Information Pamphlet to indicate if a polling place is accessible to persons with disabilities.

Any voter who cannot reach the voting area at the polling place because of architectural barriers or physical limitations may request to vote "curbside" (outside of the poll location). A poll worker will bring a ballot to the voter, assist the voter if necessary, and place the voter’s ballot in the ballot box.

Designated wheelchair accessible voting booths are available at every County poll location.

Audio cassette tapes of the State Pamphlet are available by calling the Santa Cruz County Elections Department. In addition, each polling place in the County displays voting instructions in large type.

Under California law, any voter who needs help in casting a ballot is entitled to request assistance. A poll worker can provide assistance or the voter may select a person of his or her choice. Voters may also call our office at 831-454-2060 29 days prior to the election to request assistance.

Any registered voter may apply for a vote-by-mail ballot. The county's Sample Ballot and Voter's Information Pamphlet mailed to every voter approximately 29 days before the election contains a vote-by-mail application on the back cover. You may also obtain an application from the Santa Cruz County Elections Department, 701 Ocean St., Room 210, Santa Cruz CA 95060 or online at www.votescount.com

Permanent Vote-by-Mail Voting

Any voter may apply for permanent absentee voter status. For further information regarding this program, please call 831-454-2060, or write to the Santa Cruz County Elections Department.

Elections Can Come to You

The Santa Cruz County Elections Department staff in cooperation with volunteers from the community, including the League of Women Voters, will visit residential care facilities, convalescent homes, hospitals, senior housing facilities, mobile home parks and other locations to provide personal assistance with registering to vote or with completing a vote-by-mail ballot. Call us to schedule an appointment for an on-site visit.

The staff at the Santa Cruz County Elections Department will gladly answer questions about registration and voting procedures. For more information, please call