How to return your vote-by-mail ballot

Drop it off at one of the 24-hour drop boxes by 8pm on Election Day, Tuesday, March 3

  • Aptos - Cabrillo College Parking lot R by the stadium
  • Aptos - Aptos Public Library, 7695 Soquel Dr
  • Aptos - Polo Grounds, 2255 Huntington Dr
  • Ben Lomond - Highlands Park, 8500 Highway 9
  • Capitola – City Hall parking lot, 420 Capitola Ave
  • Felton - Covered Bridge Park – at Mt. Hermon and Graham Hill Rd
  • Santa Cruz - County Government Center, 701 Ocean St
  • Santa Cruz – Public Library, 212 Church St in the public parking lot
  • Santa Cruz - UCSC Quarry Plaza
  • Scotts Valley – City Hall parking lot, 1 Civic Center Dr
  • Watsonville – 316 Rodriguez St in the municipal public parking lot 14
  • Watsonville –  County Behavorial Health parking lot,1432 Freedom Blvd

- OR -

Return it in person before and including Election Day

You may personally drop it off at one of the locations below or you can have someone drop it off for you. 

  • County Elections: 701 Ocean St., Room 310 / Mon – Fri, 8am – 5pm / 831-454-2060
  • Santa Cruz City Clerk: 809 Center St. / Mon – Fri, 8am – noon, 1pm – 5pm / 831-420-5030
  • Capitola City Clerk: 420 Capitola Ave. / Mon – Fri, 8am – noon, 1pm – 5pm / 831-475-7300
  • Scotts Valley City Clerk: 1 Civic Center Dr. / Mon – Fri, 8am – noon, 1pm – 5pm / 831-446-5602
  • Watsonville City Clerk: 275 Main St. / Mon – Fri, 8am – 5pm / 831-768-3040

Or one of our Voter Service Centers:

  • Aptos - Community Foundation – 7807 Soquel Dr, Aptos
  • Capitola - Capitola City Hall – Community Room, 420 Capitola Ave
  • Felton - Zayante Fire Protection District – 7700 E. Zayante Rd
  • Santa Cruz - UCSC Bay Tree Conference Center – Quarry Plaza
  • Santa Cruz - Simpkins Family Swim Center – 979 17th Ave
  • Scotts Valley - Scotts Valley Skypark Classroom – 361 Kings Village Rd
  • Watsonville - Santa Cruz County Behavioral Health – 1430 Freedom Blvd
  • Watsonville - Pajaro Valley Community Conference Room – 85 Neilson St

 - OR -

Return it to a polling place on Election Day

You can return it to any polling place in California on Tuesday, March 3, 7am to 8pm. For a list of polling places in Santa Cruz County, go online to www.votescount.com or call 831-454-2060.

- OR -

Mail your ballot early to be sure it is received on time – Postage is paid. No stamp required!

To be counted your ballot must be postmarked on or before Election Day, March 3 and received by the Elections Department by Friday, March 6. 

Do you want to Vote at the Polls Instead?

You may surrender your vote-by-mail ballot at your assigned polling place, and you may then vote a ballot at the polls. If you do not have your ballot to surrender, you may have to vote a provisional ballot. Your ballot will count once the elections official confirms you did not mail a ballot in as well.