Key elements of Voter’s Choice Act Elections Model
Vote-by-Mail Ballots
Every active, registered voter in participating counties is mailed a ballot 28 days before Election Day.
Complete it. Sign it. Return it.
Voters have three ways to return their vote-by-mail ballots:
- Mail the ballot
- Drop the ballot in a secure county ballot drop box
- Return the ballot to a vote center drop box
Vote Centers
Vote centers replace traditional polling centers. Voters have the freedom to cast a ballot in-person at any vote center in their county instead of being assigned to a single polling location. Vote centers look and feel like polling places, but provide additional modern features to make voting easy and convenient.
At any vote center in a participating county, a voter may:
- Vote in-person
- Drop off their ballot
- Get a replacement ballot
- Vote using an accessible voting machine
- Get help and voting material in multiple languages
- Register to vote or update their voter registration
Starting 10 days before the Election and through the Friday before Election Day, one vote center is required for every 50,000 registered voters. On Election Day and the Saturday, Sunday, and Monday leading up to Election Day, one vote center is required for every 10,000 registered voters.
Ballot Drop-Off Locations
Ballot drop-off locations provide voters with an additional way to return their ballot, postage-free.
Starting 28 days before Election Day, there is at least one drop-off location for every 15,000 registered voters.
Drop-off locations must be secure, accessible to voters with disabilities, and located as near as possible to public transportation routes.
Voter Education and Public Process for Adopting Election Administration Plans
Every county that adopts the Voter’s Choice Act model is required to draft and adopt a detailed plan through an open, public process.
In addition, counties are required to hold education workshops with community groups, including organizations that assist voters with disabilities and language minority communities.
View the election administration plans from each VCA county on our VCA Counties web page.
Public Partnerships
The Secretary of State works closely with community groups and election administrators to develop best practices and ensure a smooth transition to the Voter’s Choice Act for California voters.
The Secretary of State also participates in a working group with the California Association of Clerks and Election Officials ( CACEO) to coordinate the technical, logistical, and legal requirements of the Voter’s Choice Act.
Additionally, the Secretary of State works with community partners, like Voters Choice California, a network of civil rights and advocacy groups, to ensure broad public participation and outreach to California voters.
