City of Simi Valley, CA
08/28/2025 | Press release | Distributed by Public on 08/28/2025 17:27
Ventura County Elections Office Gears Up for November 4, 2025 Statewide Special Election
On August 21, 2025, the California legislature and Governor Newsom passed Senate Bill 280, which called for a statewide special election to be held on Tuesday, November 4, 2025, to vote on Proposition 50.
"It's relatively short notice, but we are hitting the ground running," said Michelle Ascencion, Ventura County Clerk-Recorder and Registrar of Voters, who oversees county elections. "We've been here before - the Gubernatorial Recall in 2021 was called with only 75 days' notice, and when I was the elected City Clerk in Oxnard, we had just under 100 days to prepare for the City Council recall election in 2018. Elections are more complicated than people realize, and it takes several months to implement all the logistics for a full Primary or General election. In comparison, this election has a very compressed timeline."
The Statewide Special Election will have a smaller, simpler ballot than regular elections. Special elections also require fewer vote centers meaning fewer locations need to be inspected and contracted and about half as many election workers need to be recruited.
"We are working to fast-track everything we can," added Ascencion. "Confirming the locations, recruiting, printing, translating, mailing… all the things we have to mobilize to conduct an election. Regardless, the team is dedicated to getting the job done with the same level of excellence Ventura County voters have come to expect," she said.
In the meantime, voters are encouraged to review their existing voter registration as soon as possible at the Registrar of Voters website, Vote.VenturaCounty.gov to make sure their information is up to date. New voters can also visit the website for information on registering to vote.
Election postcard reminders will be mailed to all active registered voters in September and October. Voters will also receive voter information guides from both the state and the county in September, with helpful information on key dates, ballot drop box and vote center locations and hours, and more. Voters will receive their vote by mail ballot in early October.
Ascencion noted there will be some changes with the Nov. 4 election.
"Most people use their vote by mail ballot to vote at home and then return their ballot by mail or drop box, or deliver their vote by mail ballot to a vote center. That process hasn't changed," Ascencion said. "However, for people who want to vote in person, they should pay close attention to the vote center locations and schedule for this election, as they may be different. Voters will find all the information they need in their voter guide, on our website, or by calling our office."
Mail ballots will begin arriving Oct. 6, when official ballot drop boxes will be available 24/7 until 8 pm on Election Day, Nov. 4. Voters who choose to use their mail ballot to cast their vote have three options to return their ballot: in an official ballot drop box, in the U.S. Postal mail (postage free), or at a vote center. Voters must remember to sign the ballot return envelope in order for their vote to count. If mailed, it must be postmarked by Nov. 4 and received by Nov. 12. Voters can track their ballot on WheresMyBallot.sos.ca.gov.
For voters who want to vote in person instead, the County Elections Office at the Ventura County Government Center will be available for early in-person voting during regular business hours beginning Oct. 6. Countywide vote centers will open beginning Oct. 25, with additional vote centers opening on Nov. 1. Information on vote center locations and hours will be available at Vote.VenturaCounty.gov by Oct. 1.
Up-to-date election information is also available on the County Clerk-Recorder and Registrar of Voters' social media channel, @vcclerkrecorder, on Facebook, Instagram or X/Twitter.
The Ventura County Clerk-Recorder & Registrar of Voters is committed to "Preserving history and protecting democracy for the people of Ventura County, past, present, and future." More information about the agency's services is available 24/7 at ClerkRecorder.venturacounty.gov.
"It's relatively short notice, but we are hitting the ground running," said Michelle Ascencion, Ventura County Clerk-Recorder and Registrar of Voters, who oversees county elections. "We've been here before - the Gubernatorial Recall in 2021 was called with only 75 days' notice, and when I was the elected City Clerk in Oxnard, we had just under 100 days to prepare for the City Council recall election in 2018. Elections are more complicated than people realize, and it takes several months to implement all the logistics for a full Primary or General election. In comparison, this election has a very compressed timeline."
The Statewide Special Election will have a smaller, simpler ballot than regular elections. Special elections also require fewer vote centers meaning fewer locations need to be inspected and contracted and about half as many election workers need to be recruited.
"We are working to fast-track everything we can," added Ascencion. "Confirming the locations, recruiting, printing, translating, mailing… all the things we have to mobilize to conduct an election. Regardless, the team is dedicated to getting the job done with the same level of excellence Ventura County voters have come to expect," she said.
In the meantime, voters are encouraged to review their existing voter registration as soon as possible at the Registrar of Voters website, Vote.VenturaCounty.gov to make sure their information is up to date. New voters can also visit the website for information on registering to vote.
Election postcard reminders will be mailed to all active registered voters in September and October. Voters will also receive voter information guides from both the state and the county in September, with helpful information on key dates, ballot drop box and vote center locations and hours, and more. Voters will receive their vote by mail ballot in early October.
Ascencion noted there will be some changes with the Nov. 4 election.
"Most people use their vote by mail ballot to vote at home and then return their ballot by mail or drop box, or deliver their vote by mail ballot to a vote center. That process hasn't changed," Ascencion said. "However, for people who want to vote in person, they should pay close attention to the vote center locations and schedule for this election, as they may be different. Voters will find all the information they need in their voter guide, on our website, or by calling our office."
Mail ballots will begin arriving Oct. 6, when official ballot drop boxes will be available 24/7 until 8 pm on Election Day, Nov. 4. Voters who choose to use their mail ballot to cast their vote have three options to return their ballot: in an official ballot drop box, in the U.S. Postal mail (postage free), or at a vote center. Voters must remember to sign the ballot return envelope in order for their vote to count. If mailed, it must be postmarked by Nov. 4 and received by Nov. 12. Voters can track their ballot on WheresMyBallot.sos.ca.gov.
For voters who want to vote in person instead, the County Elections Office at the Ventura County Government Center will be available for early in-person voting during regular business hours beginning Oct. 6. Countywide vote centers will open beginning Oct. 25, with additional vote centers opening on Nov. 1. Information on vote center locations and hours will be available at Vote.VenturaCounty.gov by Oct. 1.
Up-to-date election information is also available on the County Clerk-Recorder and Registrar of Voters' social media channel, @vcclerkrecorder, on Facebook, Instagram or X/Twitter.
The Ventura County Clerk-Recorder & Registrar of Voters is committed to "Preserving history and protecting democracy for the people of Ventura County, past, present, and future." More information about the agency's services is available 24/7 at ClerkRecorder.venturacounty.gov.
City of Simi Valley, CA published this content on August 28, 2025, and is solely responsible for the information contained herein. Distributed via Public Technologies (PUBT), unedited and unaltered, on August 28, 2025 at 23:27 UTC. If you believe the information included in the content is inaccurate or outdated and requires editing or removal, please contact us at [email protected]