Vote by Mail

To obtain an Vote by Mail ballot, a registered voter should submit a completed Vote by Mail ballot application or personal letter to the county elections official. Your Sample Ballot contains an Vote by Mail ballot application. Sample Ballots are mailed to registered voters starting 40 days before an election. A letter request for an Vote by Mail ballot can be mailed almost any time before an election. All applications must reach the County Elections Office no later than 7 days before the election. The earlier the better. Current law allows anyone desiring to become a Permanent Vote by Mail Voter to apply and receive a ballot by mail for all elections.

Mail your request to:

Ventura County Vote by Mail Voter Application Form for download (pdf)
California State Vote by Mail Application Form for download (pdf)

The application or letter must contain:

  1. The voter's name as registered.
  2. The registered voters address.
  3. The address to which the Vote by Mail ballot should be sent, if different than the registered voter address.
  4. The name and date of the election for which the applicant wants the Vote by Mail ballot.
  5. The voter's signature.
Once the application is processed by the County Elections Office, the proper ballot type/style will be mailed to the voter.

Vote by Mail Ballot Return

You must return your voted ballot in the envelope provided, making sure you complete all required information on the envelope including your signature. You may mail your completed Vote by Mail ballot, or return it in person to the Elections Office, or drop it off at any Ventura County polling place on election day. Under certain conditions, you may authorize a legally-allowable third party (relative) to return your voted ballot on your behalf. Regardless of how your Vote by Mail ballot is returned, it MUST be received at the County Election Office or a Polling Place by the time polls close (8 p.m.) on election day. Late arriving Vote by Mail ballots, although post marked on or before election day, are not counted.

There are special voting provisions for overseas voters, as well as new citizens and new residents within California. For further information about these provisions, contact the county elections official for your county. See our home page for the Ventura County Office phone number. Click Here

If you are a US citizen and are going to be overseas or you are in the military and wish to vote by Vote by Mail, there are special provisions for you to register and receive an overseas Vote by Mail ballot. To do this you will need to complete a "Federal Post Card Registration and Vote by Mail Ballot Request." See your local Federal Voting Assistance Program Officer. Click Here to download a Federal Post Card Registration and Vote by Mail Ballot Request form.


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