Ballots Expected In The Mail For Next Month’s Mid-Term Primaries
Jarrod Zinn
SANTA MARIA, Calif. (KEYT) – Residents of Santa Barbara County will start to receive mail-in ballots this week.
These ballots are for the statewide direct primary election less than a month away.
Californians are voting this year for some key state positions including the governor, and ballots are now on the way to registered voters’ mailboxes.
2026 is Gavin Newsom’s last year as governor, and local positions are also on the ballots, such as Santa Barbara County’s District 5 Supervisor seat, as Steve Lavagnino is retiring in December.
“This is a statewide election, so there are dozens of candidates for some of those state positions like governor,” says Kelsey Gerckens Buttitta, public information officer for the County Of Santa Barbara.
Official ballot drop boxes will be accessible 24 hours a day starting today and will remain open until 8:00 p.m. on election day, June 2nd.
“The post Office now has those ballots, and they’re going to be making their way over to your house if you are a registered voter,” says Buttitta.
Ballots returned by mail must be postmarked by June 2nd, and the U.S. Postal Service suggests mailing ballots early to ensure timely delivery to the elections office for proper processing and tabulation.
“The sooner the better, but you can mail it all the way to Election Day,” says Buttitta.
Santa Barbara County offers 18 official ballot drop boxes throughout the county, and a complete list of these locations is provided with each mailed ballot.
“It’s really a good time to look at your mail in ballot, be able to fill it out at home, take your time, do your research on your candidates so that you can fill it out in the comfort of your home and know exactly what you’re voting for,” says Buttitta.
Residents should have already received their county voter information guides, which detail polling place locations and hours, and provide instructions on filling out your ballot properly.
“If you do want to go to the polls to vote, just be prepared,” says Buttitta. “Or expect long lines as there are a lot of questions on this June primary ballot.”
Receiving the Voter Information Guide reminds voters to confirm their registration status, and the deadline for any updates to your registration is May 18th.
“If you’re not a registered voter, you can register by May 18th so that you’re all set up for this June primary election,” says Buttitta.
Results of the primary election in June will determine front-runner candidates for November’s mid-term elections.
Local candidates like those for Santa Barbara County’s District 5 Supervisor seat who receive 50% of the votes plus one in next month’s election will automatically win, and will not need to appear on the November ballot.
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