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Ventura County Clerk/Recorder Mark Lunn signing up voters and recruiting poll workers at a table outside Santa Clara Valley Bank. |
June 3 Primary: Register by May 19,
Blue Box for mail ballots at City Hall
May 14, 2014
By Peggy Kelly
Santa Paula News
Visitors to the May 2 Cruise Nite could tell it’s that time of the year again-actually, that time of the biennial year-when they spotted Ventura County Clerk/Recorder Mark Lunn Deadline signing up voters and recruiting poll workers at a table outside Santa Clara Valley Bank.
Lunn, who is up for reelection and facing a challenger-first-time candidate Mina Johanna Nichols of Oxnard-in the primary, said the county election team “Placed our booth in the perfect place... directly adjacent to the Clock Tower on Main Street,” to register voters and recruit poll workers at the recent Cruise Nite.
“Full disclosure,” added Lunn, “... we had a great dinner in Santa Paula as well!”
At City Hall, Deputy City Clerk Lucy Blanco said the Blue Ballot Box, a convenient way for those who are registered to vote by mail that also saves the price of a stamp or two, has already been placed in the lobby.
The last day to register to vote in the June 3 Primary Election is May 19, and each election cycle it seems to be easier for people to sign up.
Residents who are 18 years of age or older on Election Day, are California residents and citizens of the United States are eligible to register to vote.
Qualified residents may register online at www.registertovote.ca.gov or by calling the Ventura County Elections office at 654-2664 to request that a registration card be mailed to them.
To register online you will need your California driver license or California identification card number, the last four digits of your social security number and your date of birth.
Registration forms also are readily available throughout Santa Paula and the rest of the county at city halls, post offices, libraries, chambers of commerce and fire stations.
People may also register at the elections office on the bottom floor of the Hall of Administration at the Ventura County Government Center, 800 S. Victoria Ave., Ventura. The office is open from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. weekdays.
If you have moved, you must reregister.
If you use the mail remember that completed voter registration forms must be postmarked by May 19 to meet the deadline for the June election.
Registered Voters as of May 10 were Democrat 163,060; Republican 149,798; Non-Partisan 90,410; and Other 23,392, for a total registration of 426,660 of the 538,863 eligible voters in the county. The number is close to 80 percent; by comparison, the state rate is about 74 percent.
The number of those signing up to vote by mail has also increased and is projected to soon outnumber those who register to vote by going to the polls.
The Blue Ballot Box for use by those registered to vote by mail is in the lobby of City Hall, 970 E. Ventura St.
Remember: for the vote by mail ballot you MUST sign the envelope or your vote won’t be counted. You cannot sign for a family member as signatures are compared to the original registration.
And if you’re going to mail your ballot do it in plenty of time: unlike the by mail registration process, postmarks do not count and ballots must be received by the Ventura County Elections Division by 8 p.m. on the June 3 Primary Election Day.
Visit the elections office website at venturavote.org or call 654-2664 for more information.
