Absentee Voting

Apply to Vote Absentee

Registered voters can apply for an absentee ballot, by mail, for an upcoming election at any time, but not later than seven days prior to the election. Applications must be submitted to the county elections officials no later than the seventh day prior to the election.

The application to vote an absentee ballot is available as a PDF download by clicking on one of the links below.

The English version of the statewide absentee voter application may be completed by typing your information directly on the online application. Once you have typed in your information, simply print, sign and date the form, and mail it to our office. DO NOT SEND IT TO THE SECRETARY OF STATE'S OFFICE.

• English - Absentee Ballot Application - Primary Election ONLY
• English - Absentee Ballot Application - General Election
• Spanish - Primary Election Only
• Spanish - General Election

*All valid absentee ballots are counted in every election in California, regardless of the outcome or closeness of any race. For additional canvass of the vote information please visit the Secretary of State's web site at www.ss.ca.gov/elections/elections_oc.htm

To apply for an absentee ballot, you may use the application printed on your Sample Ballot, which you will receive prior to every election, or apply in writing to our office. You will need to submit a completed application or letter to our REGISTRAR OF VOTOR'S between 29 days and 7 days before the election. The application or letter must contain
1) your name and residence address as stated on your registration card;
2) the address to which the absentee ballot should be sent (if different than your registered address);
3) the name and date of the election in which the you would like to vote absentee; and
4) the date and your signature.

Once your application is processed by our county elections official, the proper ballot type/style will be sent to you. After you have voted, insert your ballot in the envelope provided for this purpose, making sure you complete all required information on the envelope. You may return your voted absentee ballot by
1) mailing it to: Joe Paul Gonzalez, Registrar of Voter's, 440 Fifth Street - 2nd Fl Room 206, Hollister, CA 95023
2) returning it in person to a polling place or elections office within San Benito County on election day; or
3) authorizing a legally-allowable third party (relative or person residing in the same household as you) to return the ballot on your behalf.

Regardless of how the ballot is returned, it MUST be received by the county elections office by the time polls close (8 p.m.) on election day. Late-arriving absentee ballots are not counted.

Once your voted absentee ballot is received by our Registrar of Voter's, your signature on the absentee ballot return envelope will be compared to the signature on your voter registration card to determine that you are the authorized voter. To preserve the secrecy of your ballot, the ballot will then be separated from the envelope and the ballot becomes as anonymous and secret as any other ballot.

For more information on absentee voting, please view our publication A Guide to Absentee Voting. The Guide to Absentee Voting in California is currently being revised. We anticipate the revised version to be available on our website soon. It will reflect legislative revisions.

Permanent Absentee Voting (PAV)

Any registered voter may apply for permanent absentee voter status. If you are a permanent absentee voter, you will automatically receive an absentee ballot for each election. To become a permanent absentee voter, you must complete an application, which is available from our offices. See the links above.

If you complete an application to become a permanent absentee voter, you will retain this status as long as you vote in all statewide primary and general elections. If you fail to cast a ballot in two consecutive statewide general elections, you will be removed from the permanent absent voter list and will need to reapply in order to restore status.