Your New Voting Experience is Here
San Benito County Elections Department is modernizing voting and providing voters with greater flexibility and convenience.
What’s changing?
Starting with the June 7, 2022, Statewide Direct Primary Election
- Every registered voter will receive a Vote by Mail ballot starting 29 days before Election Day
- Voters can vote at any of the Vote Centers in San Benito County
- 2 Vote Centers will be open 11 days, including Election Day (open starting on 5/28/22)
- 2 additional Vote Centers will be open for 4 days, including Election Day (open starting on 6/4/22)
- 6 ballot drop boxes will be open for 29 days, including Election Day (5/9/2022 – 6/7/2022)
Compared to the traditional polling place model, there are more locations to get a replacement ballot ( replacement ballot (on-demand), a greater number of accessible voting machines, and more
language assistance for voters.
For information on accessible voting, visit our Accessible Voting for Citizens with Disabilities page and our VAAC page.
For information on language assistance, visit our LAAC page.
Voter’s Choice Act Implementation
The Voters Choice Act is a new law passed by the California State Legislature in 2016. The VCA was implemented successfully in the Counties of Butte, Nevada, El Dorado, Amador, Tuolumne, Mariposa, Madera, Fresno, Napa, Sacramento, San Mateo, Santa Clara, Los Angeles, and Orange.
As of February 2, 2022, San Benito County’s Election Administration Plan (EAP) has been approved and we have be granted the authority to become a VCA county. See the approval letter here: EAP Approval Letter
See the SOS VCA Participating Counties webpage (we are now listed!): https://www.sos.ca.gov/elections/voters-choice-act/vca-counties
To learn more about VCA, see the SOS About VCA page: https://www.sos.ca.gov/elections/voters-choice-act/about-vca
San Benito County Voter’s Choice Act Timeline
| Event Date | Description |
|---|---|
| December 17, 2021 | Publish Amended EAP (14 day Public Comment Begins) |
| December 20, 2021 | Issue Public Hearing #3 Notice |
| December 31, 2021 | Deadline for Public Comment |
| January 6, 2022 | Public Hearing #3 |
| January 7, 2022 | Publish Amended EAP (14 day Public Comment Begins) |
| January 21, 2022 | Deadline for Public Comment |
| January 22, 2022 | Public Hearing #4 resulted in no edits and attendee recommendation to submit to the SoS. |
| January 24, 2022 | San Benito County Election staff submitted the 1/7/2022 version to the SoS for review (Start of 14 day SoS Review) |
| February 7, 2022 | Expected end of SoS review |
San Benito County EAP
A draft of the Election Administration Plan (EAP) was developed and published based on input from public hearings and public comment. The plan outlines how the County will implement the new voting model.
To submit written comments regarding the EAP, please email to: sbcvote@cosb.us.
| Release Date | English | Español |
|---|---|---|
| January 24, 2022 | Final Version | Versión final |
| January 7, 2022 | Draft - 1/7/2022 | Borrador - 7/1/2022 |
| December 17, 2021 | Draft - 12/17/2021 | Borrador - 17/12/2021 |
| December 8, 2022 | Draft - 12/8/2021 | Borrador - 8/12/2021 |
| July 29, 2021 | Draft - 7/29/2021 | No disponible |
Public Hearings
The Public Hearing is primarily intended to obtain public testimony on implementation of the VCA voting model. This provides interested parties with the opportunity to expand on the written EAP draft and to discuss concerns with election officials in a public forum. Any organization or person can attend a hearing, either to speak to the written draft or simply to observe the proceedings.
A transcript of proceedings is produced for the record and to inform those unable to attend the hearing of the discussions that took place. A complete transcript of the hearing will subsequently be available on the VCA website page.
| Meeting Date | Agendas | Minutes |
|---|---|---|
| January 22, 2022 1:00 PM - Spanish | Audiencia pública n° 4 | 22/01/2022 Grabación |
| January 22, 2022 11:00 AM - English | Public Hearing #4 | 1/22/2022 Recording |
| January 6, 2022 7:30 PM - Spanish | Audiencia pública n° 3 | |
| January 6, 2022 6:00 PM - English | Public Hearing #3 | |
| December 8, 2021 | Public Hearing #2 | 12/8/2021 Recording |
Fact Sheets
Secretary of State Fact Sheet (English): https://elections.cdn.sos.ca.gov/vca/vca-quickfacts.pdf
Common Cause Fact Sheet (English): https://www.commoncause.org/california/wp-content/uploads/sites/29/2018/04/VCA-One-Pager.pdf
San Benito County Fact Sheet (Spanish): in progress
