In a fresh move aimed at streamlining operations, the Sonoma County Registrar of Voters Office is set to shake up its schedule come the New Year, officials have announced—Wednesdays are getting the snip off the public access timetable starting January 3, 2024.
With the change, foot traffic days at the Office will be confined to Monday through Friday, 8 a.m. to 5 p.m., except for Wednesday cut-off at 4 p.m., however, during high-stakes election times when the tides turn towards nominations and votes are being tallied, those doors will stay wide open past the new closing hour as needed, ensuring the democratic machine keeps purring without a hitch.
“The change in hours open to the public will allow better collaboration between county divisions while allowing staff time to participate in training and meetings without having to leave to assist customers,” Deva Marie Proto, the Clerk-Recorder-Assessor-Registrar of Voters, vouched for the benefits in a decision echoing similar successful strategies already implemented in other county divisions for over seven years, according to a County of Sonoma report.
This alignment in operational hours between the Voter's Office and the County Clerk, Recorder, and Assessor offices is seemingly multipurpose, apart from reducing public interaction times, the adjusted hours could boost internal training sessions, corner-office meetups, and even open the door—although not literally on Wednesdays post-4 p.m.—to cross-training across the board of county divisions.
Sonoma residents needing electoral guidance and services can still drop by the Registrar of Voters Office, located at 435 Fiscal Drive in Santa Rosa, or reach them through their website at SoCoVotes.com. A helpline 707-565-6800 (toll-free: 800-750-VOTE [8683]; TDD: 800-565-6888) and email at [email protected] are also available, providing multiple avenues for engagement with local democracy, Monday through Friday, barring county holidays.
