How, and where, to vote on Election Day in Mendocino County

MENDOCINO Co., 11/3/20 — It’s finally Election Day today, but for many reasons it’s not a normal election day. COVID has forced various changes to our normal voting habits, which we are laying out here. Most obviously, polling stations will be enforcing a variety of COVID precautions, including a mask requirement (read more about that here). People have been encouraged to vote by mail, and every registered voter should have received a mail-in ballot. Already 59% of registered voters have voted and had their ballots collected by the Mendocino County Election Division.

(You can find the locations for all the polling places and drop-boxes.)

The biggest change in terms of Election Day voting is that most people will not be handed a ballot at the polling location. As a COVID safety measure every registered voter in California should have received a mail-in ballot. Now, if a voter desires to have that ol’ polling place experience they may bring their mail-in ballot, and the envelope, and fill it out in the booth. If it’s already filled out they can drop it off at the polling station. This goes for both usual vote-by-mail (absentee) voters, and voters who usually vote at the polls.

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If a voter does not have their vote-by-mail ballot, ether because they did not receive it or lost it, they will be asked to fill out a provisional ballot (which goes in a pink envelope). This is a precaution to ensure that voters do not cast two ballots. During the vote count over the next couple weeks election workers create a list of every mail-in ballot cast, and then begin to tally the provisional ballots, checking all the while that they are not duplicates from a voter who has already cast a vote.

Californians who are eligible to vote, but are not registered, may register today, Election Day, at a polling location and cast a provisional ballot — this is called conditional voter registration and has been law for a few years. These ballots will be counted once the registration is processed.

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In California convicted felons regain their voting rights once their parole is completed, and may vote in this election.

As the Mendocino County Assessor-Clerk-Recorder Katrina Bartolomie explained in a press release:

By Executive Order of the Governor of California, EVERY “active” registered voter in Mendocino County was sent a Mail In (aka Vote By Mail or Absentee) Ballot. Because of this, in this election – if a “normal poll voter” (where the voter traditionally went to a polling place to vote, was listed in the roster, and normally only had to sign their name to vote) goes to a polling location to vote, like they have in past elections – the voter will have to vote a “Provisional Ballot” and put their voted ballot into a Pink Provisional Envelope – unless they take the ballot AND envelope they received in the mail with them to surrender. This will also apply to a vote by mail voter, they will also have to vote a Provisional Ballot. Again, this is because everyone was sent a mail in ballot.

County of Mendocino

Ballot drop-box locations

• CITY OF WILLITS, 111 E COMMERCIAL ST, WILLITS
• CITY OF FORT BRAGG, 416 N FRANKLIN ST, FORT BRAGG
• CITY OF POINT ARENA, 451 SCHOOL ST, POINT ARENA
• MENDOCINO CO ADMIN BLDG, 501 LOW GAP RD, UKIAH
• MENDOCINO CO FAIRGROUNDS, FAIRGROUNDS OFFICE, BOONVILLE –Open – 9 AM – 4 PM Monday – Friday
• ROUND VALLEY JUSTICE COURT, 76270 GRANGE ST, COVELO — Open 7 AM to 8 PM Election Day only

The list of polling places

Here is the County’s polling location website.

Ukiah area

• UKIAH FAIRGROUNDS – CARL PURDY HALL 1055 N STATE ST – UKIAH (new location)
• THURSTON AUTO PLAZA 2800 N STATE ST – UKIAH
• NEW LIFE COMMUNITY CHURCH 750 YOSEMITE DR – UKIAH

Redwood & Potter valleys

• REDWOOD VALLEY GRANGE 8650 EAST RD, REDWOOD VALLEY
• POTTER VALLEY HIGH SCHOOL MULTIPURPOSE RM. 10401 MAIN ST, POTTER VALLEY

Willits Area

• BROOKTRAILS COMMUNITY CENTER 24860 BIRCH ST – WILLITS
• WILLITS COMMUNITY CENTER 111 E COMMERCIAL ST – WILLITS

North Coast

• FORT BRAGG CITY HALL EAST — 213 E LAUREL ST, FORT BRAGG (new location)
• FORT BRAGG VETERANS MEMORIAL BLDG 360 N. HARRISON ST, FORT BRAGG
• CASPAR COMMUNITY CENTER 15051 CASPAR RD, CASPAR
• MENDOCINO FIRE – MEETING ROOM 44700 LITTLE LAKE RD, MENDOCINO

North County

• LAYTONVILLE LIONS FIRE HALL 44920 WILLIS AVE, LAYTONVILLE

Anderson Valley & South Coast

• MENDOCINO Co. FAIRGROUNDS DINING ROOM, BOONVILLE
• LITTLE RIVER INN – ABALONE ROOM 7901 HWY 1, LITTLE RIVER (this is a new location)
• CHAPEL OF THE REDWOODS 31201 COMPTCHE UKIAH RD, COMPTCHE
• VETERAN’S MEMORIAL BLDG 451 SCHOOL ST, POINT ARENA
• COMMUNITY CENTER – MAIN HALL 47950 CENTER ST, GUALALA

South County

HOPLAND FIRE DEPT. 21 FELIZ CREEK RD, HOPLAND

Polling place changes

However, due to COVID some polling places proved too small for occupancy limits and safety. If you previously polled at one of the following places, your polling location has been moved:

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Ukiah area

• Ken Fowler Motors poll has moved to Carl Purdy Hall, Ukiah Fairgrounds
• County administrative building poll has moved to Carl Purdy Hall, Ukiah Fairgrounds
• St. Mary’s Church poll has moved to Carl Purdy Hall, Ukiah Fairgrounds
• Ukiah Assembly of God Church poll has moved to Carl Purdy Hall, Ukiah Fairgrounds

Coast area

• C.V. Starr Center has moved to the Fort Bragg City Hall east
• Whitesboro Grange has moved to Little River Inn
• The Woods Clubhouse has moved to Little River Inn