MADERA – Election Day came sooner this year thanks to the California Voters Choice Act but only a small fraction of the voters have taken advantage. On May 8th the county mailed out ballots to every registered voter with instructions for the new voting process but as of one week before the traditional Election Day on June 5th, only 14% of Madera County’s 55,631 voters have returned their mailed out ballots.
Unlike in years past when voters were assigned neighborhood precincts where they would cast their votes, last month every registered voter in Madera County was mailed a ballot that voters can mail back, drop off or vote at several locations through-out the county on accessible devices. The Madera County Elections Department is concerned and wants to remind voters that the deadline for returning ballots is Tuesday, June 5th before 8pm.
Instead of being able to vote on only one day, this year voters are able to vote live for eleven days at the location of their choice. The ballots for the June Primary Election were mailed out 29 days prior to the election just like absentee ballots were in the past. Just like the absentee ballots, one option is to mail the ballot back by Election Day. As long as the ballot is post marked by June 5, 2018, the vote will be counted. If it is post marked after Election Day, it will not be.
Special lock-boxes have been installed at four locations through-out the county that began accepting ballots on May 8th until 8pm on June 5th, Election Day. The Madera County Government Center in Madera and Chowchilla City Hall in Chowchilla will have drive up locations for voters to drop off ballots. In Oakhurst at the Grocery Outlet and in the Ranchos at the Ranchos State Foods Supermarket ballots will be accepted in lock-boxes inside the stores.
The reason for the locations being inside the stores in Oakhurst and the Ranchos is so these boxes will be monitored by security cameras 24 hours a day. The outside locations in Madera and Chowchilla are also monitored by security cameras.
Starting Saturday six more locations will open for ballot drop off. They are listed below. For more information please log on to www.VoteMadera.com.
Ballot Dropbox Locations/Hours
- 1. Madera County Government Center (Exterior) 200 W. 4th Street Madera, CA 93637 Days/Hours of Operation: 05/08/2018 – 06/05/2018 24 hours per day*
- 2. Oakhurst Grocery Outlet 40301 Junction Drive Oakhurst, CA 93644 Days/Hours of Operation: 05/08/2018 – 06/05/2018 7:00am – 9:00pm*
- 3. City of Chowchilla Civic Center (Exterior) 130 S. 2nd Street Chowchilla, CA 93610 Days/Hours of Operation: 05/08/2018 – 06/05/2018 24 hours per day*
- 4. State Foods Market – Madera Ranchos 37405 Avenue 12 #401 Madera, CA 93636 Days/Hours of Operation: 05/08/2018 – 06/05/2018 7:00am – 9:00pm*
Vote Center Locations and Hours
- 1. Madera County Government Center - Lobby 200 W. 4th Street Madera, CA 93637 Days/Hours of Operation: 05/26/2018 – 06/04/2018 8:00am – 5:00pm 06/05/2018 (Election Day) 7:00am – 8:00pm
- 2. State Center Community College – Oakhurst Center - Room OC11* 40241 State Highway 41 Oakhurst, CA 93644 Days/Hours of Operation: 05/26/2018 – 06/04/2018 8:00am – 5:00pm 06/05/2018 (Election Day) 7:00am – 8:00pm
- 3. City of Chowchilla Civic Center – Council Chambers 130 S. 2nd Street Chowchilla, CA 93610 Days/Hours of Operation: 06/02/2018 – 06/04/2018 8:00am – 5:00pm 06/05/2018 (Election Day) 7:00am – 8:00pm
- 4. Liberty High School - Theatre (Madera Ranchos) 12220 Road 36 Madera, CA 93636 Days/Hours of Operation: 06/02/2018 – 06/04/2018 8:00am – 5:00pm 06/05/2018 (Election Day) 7:00am – 8:00pm
- 5. Oak Creek Senior Living Community - Clubhouse 46041 Road 415 Coarsegold, CA 93614 Days/Hours of Operation: 06/02/2018 – 06/04/2018 8:00am – 5:00pm 06/05/2018 (Election Day) 7:00am – 8:00pm
- 6. John Wells Youth Center 701 E. 5th Street Madera, CA 93638 Days/Hours of Operation: 06/02/2018 – 06/04/2018 8:00am – 5:00pm 06/05/2018 (Election Day) 7:00am – 8:00pm
