Voting can be added to your list of things to do this weekend since the Santa Cruz County Clerk/Elections Department and Watsonville City Clerk’s Office will be open for voting from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. on Saturday and Sunday, February 2, and 3.

The deadline for requesting a vote-by-mail ballot was Tuesday, January 29; however, voters may continue to obtain a ballot in person at the County Clerk/Elections Department, located at 701 Ocean St., Room 210 in Santa Cruz or the Watsonville City Clerk’s Office, located at 275 Main Street, 4th Floor, in Watsonville during regular business hours from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m.

This is a form of vote-by-mail voting for voters who are unable to go to the polls due to illness, disability or absence from their precinct on Tuesday, February 5. Extended voting hours will be offered from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. this weekend and from 7 a.m. to 8 p.m. on Election Day at the Santa Cruz County Clerk/Elections Department and in Watsonville weekend voting, Monday voting, and Election Day voting will be available at 275 Main Street, 4th Floor in Watsonville.

During the six days before the election, if voters are unable to come in and obtain a ballot personally, they may provide a written statement allowing an authorized representative of the voter to obtain the ballot on the voter’s behalf. Applications are available online at www.votescount.com

Voters who have obtained vote-by-mail ballots are reminded that the ballot must be received by the Santa Cruz County Elections Department or any polling place in the county no later than 8 p.m., Tuesday, February 5. Postmark is not acceptable.

Vote-by-mail voters who still have their ballots are encouraged to drop off their voted ballot at either the Santa Cruz County Clerk/Elections Department or Watsonville City Clerk’s Office during weekend voting. A white mailbox is available in front of the county building and a green drop box is available in Watsonville on Union Street by the Police Station for voters to deposit their ballots without having to leave their cars or affix postage on the envelope.