Officials will be in nine cities on weekends and weeknights to collect vote-by-mail ballots, provide voter information
The Contra Costa County Elections Office is going on a road trip this spring.
In an effort to make voting more convenient for the county’s registered voters during our upcoming special elections in May, elections officials will be offering a variety of mobile drop-off locations.
The first mobile drop-off will be 4:00 to 8:00 pm April 23 during the Thursday night Farmers Market at Concord’s Todos Santos Plaza.
“We want to try and make voting as easy as possible,” said Joe Canciamilla, the County’s Registrar of Voters. “If people are planning on going to the Farmers Market, out shopping, or out on their lunch break, they can take their ballot with them. It also reminds people that an election is coming up.”
Elections officials will also be available at the mobile sites to register voters on the spot, accept poll worker applications, request an absentee ballot and help people identify where they will vote on Election Day. “I Voted” stickers will be available for those who drop-off their mail-in ballot.
“It gives the office visibility and lets people know that we are here to help,” Canciamilla said
Here is the schedule and locations for the mobile drop-offs:
- Thursday, April 23: Concord Farmers Market at Todos Santos Plaza. 4:00 to 8:00 pm
- Saturday, April 25: Orinda Farmers Market. 9:00 am to 1:00 pm
- Thursday, April 29: San Ramon Farmers Market at Bishop Ranch 3. 10:00 am to 2:00 pm
- Saturday, May 2: Danville Farmers Market. 9:00 am to 1:00 pm
- Wednesday, May 6: Walnut Creek Broadway Plaza. 4:00 to 8:00 pm
- Saturday, May 9: Pittsburg High School at Youth Summit. 8:00 am to 4:00 pm
- Wednesday, May 13: Walnut Creek Broadway Plaza. 4:00 to 8:00 pm
- Thursday, May 14: San Ramon Farmers Market at Bishop Ranch 3. 10:00 am to 2:00 pm
- Saturday, May 16: Brentwood Farmers Market. 8:00 am to Noon
“Contra Costa Certified Farmers Markets is proud to support the efforts of the County Elections Division to make voting easily accessible to the public,” said Jessie Neu, the market’s executive director. “As a community gathering place, we look forward to their participation at our Orinda market.”
They join the Pacific Coast Farmers Market Association, San Ramon Farmers Market, Broadway Plaza management, and Supervisor Federal Glover’s office as early participants in the exciting new effort.
“People will often tell me they feel disconnected from the voting process. We want to change that and make voters feel comfortable,” Canciamilla said. “Having a presence at these popular events gives us a chance to help voters access useful voting information in an informal and relaxed setting.”
For more information, call (925) 335-7805 or visit www.cocovote.us.
