Martinez Tribune The website of the Martinez Tribune.
By DAVID SCHOLZ
Martinez Tribune
The effort to the take “e’’ – for excuses – out of why someone cannot vote during the upcoming June 7 Primary Election continues for the Contra Costa Elections Division as it promotes the arrival of its new “CoCo Vote-N-Go’’ drop locations.
Residents will be able to deposit their vote-by-mail ballots for free at the distinguishable, secure, steel Red Boxes that will be located at all city halls in the county – regardless of where they live.
Joe Canciamilla, Contra Costa Registrar of Voters, expressed excitement to have all the county’s city partners on board to be able to offer voters this opportunity to drop off their ballots in a safe fashion.
“We urge voters to take advantage of this service,” he said.
In addition to Martinez City Hall, another of the drop boxes will be located at the County Administration Building, 651 Pine St., Martinez.
The boxes will be available during normal business hours. Contra Costa voters can drop their ballot at Room 106 of the County Administration building.
At whichever city hall voters decide to drop off their ballot, the popular “I Voted” stickers will be available.
Mailed ballots must be postmarked on or before June 7.
Ballots may also be dropped off between 8 a.m. and 5 p.m. at the Contra Costa Elections Division office in Martinez, 555 Escobar St., or at any polling place on Election Day.
“Our goal is to make it as convenient as possible for Contra Costa residents to vote,” said Candace Andersen, Chair of the Board of Supervisors. “We’re proud that our Elections Division is at the forefront of creative efforts to simplify making your voice heard at the ballot box.”
The announcement of the Drop Box service for accepting ballots follows the Election Division’s recent unveiling of its Regional Early Voting program for next month’s election in its ongoing effort to encourage voter participation in the election process.
All registered voters, beginning May 31, will have unprecedented flexibility to receive and cast their ballots at any of the seven Regional Early Voting sites throughout the county.
The sites are geographically balanced and are located in convenient and accessible locations which include:
• Prewett Water Park Multi-Purpose Room, 4701 Lone Tree Way, Antioch;
• Bay Hills Community Church, 4555 Hilltop Dr., Richmond;
• Lafayette Learning Center, 3491 Mt. Diablo Blvd., Lafayette;
• San Ramon Community Center at Central Park, 12501 Alcosta Blvd., San Ramon;
• Pittsburg City Hall, 65 Civic Ave., Pittsburg;
• The Salvation Army Church, 3950 Clayton Road, Concord;
• Downtown Martinez at the Contra Costa Elections Office.
These sites will be open from 11 a.m. to 6 p.m. Tuesday, May 31, through Friday, June 3, and 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. Saturday, June 4.
For more information about voting by mail, call (925) 335-7800 or visit the Elections Office website at www.cocovote.us.
