1. Completing an Application for Absent Voter's Ballot
   • An Application is included in the Sample Ballot/Voter Information Pamphlet sent to each voter

   • Applications are also available from the Registrar of Voters Office or from the California Secretary of State website.

   • Many campaign organizations mail Applications to registered voters

2. Sending a written request for an absent voter's ballot to the Registrar of Voters Office which includes:
   • The election for which you are requesting a ballot

   • Your name

   • Your residence address

   • The address to which you would like your ballot mailed (if different than your residence address)

   • Your signature

3. Applying in person at the Registrar of Voters Office. If you apply in person at the Registrar of Voters Office, you will be given your ballot at that time. You may either vote your ballot at the Registrar of Voters Office, or you may return your ballot by mail. The office hours are:
   • Monday through Friday 8:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m.

   • Evenings and weekends as necessary. Please call for evening and weekend hours.

Regardless of how you apply, you may request an absent voter's ballot as early as 29 days prior to an election. If your written request or application is received prior to 29 days before the election it will be held until that time. The last date for requesting an absent voter's ballot by mail is 7 days prior to an election, after which time absent voters' ballots are available only by applying in person at the Registrar of Voters Office or by sending a representative, authorized by you in writing, to the Registrar of Voters Office to pick up your ballot for you. Representatives may include the following: spouse, child, parent, grandparent, grandchild, sibling, or person residing in the same household as the absent voter, who is 16 years of age or older. Ballots issued within 7 days of the election may be returned personally or by an authorized representative, but may not be returned by mail.

In Sonoma County, you may vote your absent voter ballot with a #2 black lead pencil. After voting your ballot, place the ballot card(s) into the secrecy envelope provided and then into the Identification Envelope. Important! You must sign where indicated on the Identification Envelope or your ballot will not be counted!

Voted Absent Voter Ballots may be returned as follows:

• By mail to the Registrar of Voters Office at any time, providing your voted ballot is received by the Registrar of Voters Office no later than 8:00 p.m. on election day

• Personally to the Registrar of Voters Office at any time, providing your voted ballot is received by the Registrar of Voters Office no later than 8:00 p.m. on election day

• Personally to any polling place in Sonoma County prior to 8:00 p.m. on election day

• By a spouse, child, parent, grandparent, grandchild, sibling or any person residing in the same household authorized by you in writing, to the Registrar of Voters Office at any time, providing your voted ballot is received by the Registrar of Voters Office no later than 8:00 p.m. on election day

• By a spouse, child, parent, grandparent, grandchild, sibling or any person residing in the same household authorized by you in writing, to any polling place in Sonoma County prior to 8:00 p.m. on election day

• If the ballot was issued within seven days of the election, personally or by any person authorized in writing by the voter, providing the authorization statement is complete