Vote By Mail

Frequently Asked Questions

Why did I receive a Vote by Mail ballot?

With the passage of the California Voter’s Choice Act (VCA), and approval by the Board of Supervisors, every registered voter in Sacramento County, starting with the June 2018 election, will automatically be mailed a Vote by Mail ballot, beginning 29 days before an election. This allows voters to decide how, when, and where they vote.

When should I expect my Vote by Mail ballot to arrive?

Ballots are mailed beginning 29 days before an election. If you have not received your ballot two weeks before an election, please call our office at (916) 875-6155.

Can I still vote in person or do I have to vote by mail?

You may vote in person at any Vote Center in Sacramento County or at our office at 7000 65th Street, Suite A, Sacramento, CA 95823. If you would like to vote in person, it is helpful, though not required, to bring your Vote by Mail ballot to surrender to an election official.

I am temporarily out of the county or state. Can I get my ballot mailed to a different address?

Yes, please call our office at (916) 875-6155, and we will mail your ballot to your temporary address.

How do I get a replacement ballot?

Please call our office at (916) 875-6155, and we will mail you a replacement ballot.

You may also pick up a replacement ballot from any Vote Center located in Sacramento County, or at our office at 7000 65th Street, Suite A, Sacramento, CA 95823.

Do I need postage to mail my ballot?

If you use your pink mail ballot envelope, you do not need any postage .

If you are dropping your ballot in a Sacramento County Ballot Drop Box or at a Vote Center, you do not need postage.

How can I find the status of my Vote by Mail ballot?

The status of your Vote by Mail ballot will be available beginning 29 days before each election.

You may check the status of your Vote by Mail ballot.

I am a U.S. citizen living temporarily (military service, employment or study program) outside the United States. Am I eligible to vote?

Yes, as long as you meet the voting requirements and complete a Federal Post Card Application (FPCA) and return it to our office. You may obtain an application at any of the options listed below:

Elections Office
Voting Assistance office of any military base
American Embassy or Consulate
The following link: https://www.fvap.gov/uploads/FVAP/Forms/fpca2013.pdf
You must notify our office of any changes to your mailing address

When are overseas ballots mailed?

Overseas ballots can start to be mailed as early as 60 days prior to the date of the election. As an overseas voter, you may receive your ballot one of three ways:

An email link
By mail
By fax

If you are an overseas voter and have not received your ballot four (4) weeks before the election, please contact our office for a replacement. You may contact us by:

Phone (916) 875-6155 or (800) 762-8019
Fax (916) 854-9796
Email militaryandoverseas@saccounty.gov

When is the last day to return my Vote by Mail ballot?

Voted ballots sent through the mail must be postmarked on or before Election Day and received by our office within seven (7) days after Election Day.

Drop your ballot off at any Sacramento County Ballot Drop Box or Vote Center, or at our office at 7000 65th Street, Suite A, Sacramento, CA 95823, no later than 8:00 PM on Election Day.

My son/daughter is away at school. Can I pick up their Vote by Mail ballot?

A ballot will automatically be mailed to their mailing address. If you need to pick up a replacement ballot for them, you may do so with a signed request from your son or daughter authorizing you to do so.

They may call our office at (916) 875-6155, and we will mail a ballot to their address.

I lost the envelope for my Vote by Mail ballot, how can I send in my ballot?

You may pick up a new Vote by Mail envelope at any Vote Center in Sacramento County, or at our office at 7000 65th Street, Suite A, Sacramento, CA 95823.

You may use a replacement ballot envelope at any Ballot Drop Box in Sacramento County. Please fill in the requested information and sign where indicated. Every Ballot Drop Box location will have extra envelopes
Use a plain envelope and include the following on the outside:

Your name
Residence address
Signature
Write the following statement, “I declare under penalty of perjury that: I am a resident of the precinct in Sacramento County, California, from which I am voting; I am the person whose name appears on this envelope; I have not applied for and do not intend to apply for a Vote by Mail ballot from any other jurisdiction for this election.”
Place and seal your voted ballot in the envelope with the information above
Insert the voted ballot envelope into a separate outgoing envelope and mail to: Voter Registration and Elections, Attn: Vote by Mail Division, 7000 65th Street, Suite A, Sacramento, CA 95823