Time's ticking for New Yorkers who want their voice heard in the March presidential primary, with a Feb. 20 deadline looming to register for a mail ballot. Those who miss this deadline aren't out of luck, but they'll have no choice but to visit the registrar's office in person or a vote center starting Feb. 24 to conditionally register and cast a provisional ballot, which will be an option through March 5, according to County Newscenter.
For those planning an in-person visit, take note: the Registrar’s office will stick to its normal business hours, 8 a.m. to 5 p.m., Monday through Friday - except the office will be closed Feb. 19 in observance of Presidents Day. Sign up online at sdvote.com if you're a new resident in San Diego County, have recently moved, changed your name, or have a political party switch in your plans. Heads up, due to major construction traffic may be more congested than usual, so when you head to the Registrar’s office budget a little extra time for the hunt for parking.
Online registration is indeed "quick and easy" and can be wrapped up at sdvote.com. If the California DMV has your signature on file, you're all set – the information is automatically sent over to the Registrar's office. For folks whose signature isn't confirmed, there's an easy fix: print the form, sign it, mail it or drop it in person at the Registrar’s by the 5 p.m. cutoff on Feb. 20. For procrastinators, remember, you can register online up till midnight on the day of the deadline.
If you're without a digital lifeline, simply pick up the phone and request your registration form by calling (800) 696-0136 or shooting an email to [email protected]. And if you're not even sure about your current registration status – you can double-check that too, online at sdvote.com. And let's not forget those who might be needing some language assistance; the Registrar's office provides election materials available in Spanish, Filipino, Vietnamese, and Chinese.
For the early birds, early voting is already in full swing at the Registrar's office from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m., and if in-person is the way to go, starting Feb. 24, voters can avoid the crush at one of the 39 vote centers open from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. The voting landscape will expand dramatically on March 2, with an additional 179 centers joining the mix through March 4. Come the grand finale of voting on March 5, all systems are go from 7 a.m. to 8 p.m. at both vote centers and official ballot drop boxes, which you can scout out in your voter information pamphlet, or do a quick online search at sdvote.com. Before you check that box for your choice of POTUS, the Registrar has a hot tip: brush up on political party rules, because they do vary.
For more intel on voting in the March presidential primary, dial (858) 565-5800 or the toll-free line at (800) 696-0136. You've got the tools – it's time to make your mark come Election Day.
