Tuolumne County residents will anticipate their ballots in their mails shortly as the March 5 presidential primary election approaches.
County Clerk and Auditor-Controller Debi Bautista, the county’s senior election official, acknowledged the mailing of votes on Monday.
This comes as early voting begins in California after the state switched to an all-mail voting system in 2020 due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
Tuolumne County led the way in shifting to all-mail elections ahead of the rest of the state at the March 2020 primary election under the California Voter Choice Act.
Convenient Voting Options Are Available
In addition to mailed ballots, Tuolumne County residents have various easy voting choices. All drop-off boxes in the county are now open and ready to accept ballots.
Furthermore, the county Elections Office, located at 2 S. Green St. in downtown Sonora, serves as an early voting site on weekdays from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m.
The office will also stay open on the weekends of February 24-25 and March 2-3, from 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Furthermore, a voting facility at the Tuolumne Community Resilience facility will be open from February 24 to March 4, from 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.
Additional locations in Jamestown, Groveland, and Twain Harte will be open during the same hours from March 2 to March 4. On election day, all polling centers will be open from 7 a.m. until the polls shut at 8 p.m.
Multiple Ways to Cast Your Ballot
Tuolumne County residents can vote by mail, drop off at designated places, or in person at a voting center until election day.
However, if they choose to submit their ballots, they must postmark them by March 5 to be considered genuine.
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Notable Races on Ballots
This year’s ballots include several competitive races that will be of interest to Tuolumne County voters.
Three Tuolumne County Board of Supervisors districts 1, 4, and 5 seats are up for grabs, as well as a contested Sonora City Council race.
Voters will also be able to vote in state and federal races, including for California’s next U.S. senator and the presidential nominee for their respective parties.
Contact Tuolumne County Elections Office at (209) 533-5570 during business hours Monday – Friday if you have questions about the #2021CARecall. Your voice matters and we are in this together! pic.twitter.com/ppDFaTTQu6
— TuolumneCoElections (@TuolumneCoElect) July 25, 2021
Ensuring That Every Voter is Heard
Bautista underlined the necessity of ensuring that all voters receive their ballots. Anyone who has not received their ballot by the end of the following week can contact the county Elections Office at (209) 533-5570 to seek a new ballot.
With the election quickly coming, Tuolumne County is preparing to ensure that every voice is heard and every vote counts.
The following are the locations for all ten secure ballot drop-off boxes placed around the county, which are picked up on a regular basis and taken directly to the county Elections Office.
• Tuolumne County Elections Office: 2 South Green Street, Sonora
• Sonora Library (480 Greenley Road, Sonora)
• The Junction Shopping Center: 13775 Mono Way, East Sonora.
• Mi-Wuk Library (MAHA 24411): Sierra Park Road, Mi-Wuk Village.
• Columbia Elementary School (22540 Parrotts Ferry Road, Columbia)
• Groveland Community Resilience Center (18986 Ferretti Road, Groveland)
• Twain Harte Market (18711 Tiffeni Drive, Twain Harte)
• Willow Springs Clubhouse at 20522 Willow Springs Drive, Soulsbyville.
• Rocca Park: Jamestown, 18218 Main Street.
• Tuolumne Community Resilience Center at 18241 Bay Ave., Tuolumne.
Email Alex MacLean at amaclean@uniondemocrat.com or call (209) 588-4541.
