Voting can be added to your list of things to do this weekend since the Santa Cruz County Clerk/Elections Department and Watsonville City Clerk’s Office will be open for voting from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. on Saturday June 19 for voters to cast their vote in the 15th State Senate District Special Primary Election.

It’s too late to request a ballot be mailed to you for the June 22 Special Primary to fill the vacancy in the 15th State Senate District, but ballots can still be obtained in person at the County Clerk/Elections Department, located at 701 Ocean St., Room 210 in Santa Cruz or the Watsonville City Clerk’s Office, located at 275 Main Street, 4th Floor, in Watsonville during regular business hours from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m.

This final week of voting is for voters who are unable to go to the polls due to illness, disability or absence from their precinct on Tuesday, June 22. Extended voting hours will be offered from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. this Saturday and from 7 a.m. to 8 p.m. on Election Day at the Santa Cruz County Clerk/Elections Department and in Watsonville voting will be available at 275 Main Street, 4th Floor in the Community Room.

During the six days before the election, if voters are unable to come in and obtain a ballot personally, they may provide a written statement allowing an authorized representative of the voter to obtain the ballot on the voter’s behalf. Applications are available online at www.votescount.com

The 15th State Senate District includes all of the incorporated areas of Scotts Valley and Watsonville. In addition, it includes parts of Los Gatos, Zayante, Felton, and Soquel as well as the areas of Amesti, Aptos Hills-Larkin Valley, Corralitos, Day Valley, Freedom, Interlaken, and Rio Del Mar.

If voters are uncertain if they reside in the 15th State Senate District, please call the Elections Office at 831-454-2060 or send an e-mail to gail.pellerin@co.santa-cruz.ca.us

Voters who have obtained vote-by-mail ballots for the June 22 Election are reminded that the ballot must be received by the Santa Cruz County Elections Department or any polling place in the county no later than 8 p.m., Tuesday, June 22. Postmark is not acceptable. To date, more than 24,600 vote-by-mail ballots have been issued to voters in the June 22 Election and just 6,885 have been returned.

During the last few days before the June 22 election, voters are encouraged to return their ballots in person rather than mail it. There are three options for returning your vote-by-mail ballot in person:

1. Bring it to either the Santa Cruz County Clerk/Elections Department or Watsonville City Clerk’s Office during Saturday voting, June 19, from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m.; or
2. Drop it in one of two drop box locations available 24 hours a day until 8 p.m. Tuesday June 22. Voters may drop their ballot in the box without having to leave their cars or place postage on the envelope.
   • a white mailbox is available in front of the county building and
   • a green drop box is available in Watsonville on Union Street by the Police Station
3. Return to one of seven polling locations open from 7 a.m. to 8 p.m., Tuesday, June 22 in Santa Cruz County:
   • Aegis of Aptos Assisted Living - 125 Heather Terrace
   • Loma Prieta/CT English School - 23800 Summit Rd.
   • Santa Cruz County Health Center Auditorium - 1080 Emeline Ave.
   • Scotts Valley Community Center - 360 Kings Village Rd.
   • Soquel High School - 401 Old San Jose Rd.
   • Pajaro Valley Community Health Trust Community Conference Room (Diabetic Health Center) - 85 Nielson St.
   • Watsonville Civic Center Building – Community Room A - 275 Main St., 4th Floor

For more information, please call the Santa Cruz County Clerk/Elections Department at 831-454-2060 . The Watsonville City Clerk can be reached at 831-768-3040.