For November 5 election, vote by mail, drop box, or at vote centers

A mailed ballot is being sent to all registered voters, so you can vote by dropping your postage-paid return envelope at any mailbox, ballot drop box, or vote center - where you can also replace a lost or damaged ballot.

Published: Last Updated:

Voters can send their ballots for the November 5 election by U.S. mail or bring them to any vote center or drop box in Alameda County by 8pm on election night.

U.S. citizens at least 16-years-old have until October 21 to register to vote and receive a ballot by mail. Voters 18 and older who miss the deadline can visit any vote center in their county to register and vote between October 26 and November 5.

For the first time, Berkeley youth 16- and 17-years-old can register and vote for school board members as part of the November 5 election. They cannot use the vote centers to register or get a replacement ballot, so registering by October 21 is the simplest path.

Register to vote by October 21 and then use the U.S. mail, drop boxes, or vote centers to deliver your ballot.

Return your ballot by 8:00 pm on November 5

Registered voters will receive ballots by mail to fill out at home.

You can use different tools to find official information about candidates and measures:

• For Berkeley candidates and measures, use berkeleyca.gov/elections.
• For regional and statewide issues, use the nonpartisan vote411.org.
• For the official Alameda County Voter Guide, log in to the Registrar of Voters site using your personal information.

Submit your completed ballot by mail, at an official Registrar of Voters drop box, or, between October 26-November 5, in person at a vote center.

The return envelope is postage paid, so you do not need to add postage to mail your return envelope. Postmark it by November 5. Remember to sign the back of your return envelope, otherwise, your vote will not be counted.

Voters must use a drop box or vote center in the county in which they are registered to vote.

Ballot drop boxes

There are seven official, secure drop boxes in Berkeley and 60 more throughout Alameda County:

• Berkeley Civic Center Building, 2180 Milvia Street (two boxes)
• University of California, Berkeley, between Sather Gate and Architects & Engineers Building
• Frances Albrier Recreation Center, 2800 Park Street
• Claremont Branch Library, 2940 Benvenue Avenue
• North Branch Library, 1170 The Alameda
• West Branch Library, 1125 University Avenue

The Registrar of Voters picks up ballots from the drop boxes daily, with the last pick up at 8:00 pm on Tuesday, November 5.

Once you've submitted your ballot, get notified when it's been received and counted by signing up for Alameda County's Track My Ballot online notification system, which is available in nine languages.

Vote centers

Starting October 26, voters 18 and older can visit a vote center to:

• Drop ballots off in person
• Register to vote if you missed the October 21 deadline
• Get a replacement ballot

Visit any of the 100 vote centers across Alameda County, with at least eight located in Berkeley. One Berkeley vote center opens October 26, and is open daily until November 5:

• YWCA Berkeley/Oakland, 2600 Bancroft Way

All other vote centers in Berkeley open November 2, and are also open daily until November 5:

• Epworth United Methodist Church, 1953 Hopkins Street
• Berkeley Arts Magnet School, 2015 Virginia Street
• UC Berkeley Public Service Center, 2465 Bancroft Way #218
• West Campus Oxford Gym, 2112 Browning Street
• Rosa Parks Elementary School, 920 Allston Way
• Willard Middle School, 2425 Stuart Street
• Ed Roberts Campus, 3075 Adeline Street

Hours and dates for the vote centers are:

• October 26 - November 4, 9:00 am to 5:00 pm (YWCA vote center only)
• November 2 - November 4, 9:00 am to 5:00 pm (All vote centers)
• November 5 (Election Day), 7:00 am to 8:00 pm (All vote centers)

Youth voters 16-17-years-old cannot use the vote centers to register after October 21 or to get a replacement ballot, and instead should visit the Registrar of Voters office:

Results

Election results will be published on the Alameda County Registrar of Voters website starting on November 5 after polls close. Keep in mind that it will take some time for all ballots to be counted, possibly changing outcomes from election night until a final tally is determined.

Postmark your ballot by November 5 or deliver to a drop box or vote center by 8:00 pm that night.

Links

• Ballot Drop Box locations (Alameda County Registrar of Voters)
• Vote Center locations (Alameda County Registrar of Voters)
• Track my ballot (Alameda County Registrar of Voters)
• Berkeley election information (City of Berkeley)
• Vote 411 (non-partisan statewide information)
• Register by October 21 to vote in the November 5 election (City of Berkeley)
• With Nov. 5 election approaching, use official information on candidates, measures (City of Berkeley)
• Youth Voting Information (Berkeley Unified School District)