Election Day approaching, deadline draws dear

Every eligible voter in Santa Cruz County has been mailed a ballot. And with Election Day approaching on March 5, Santa Cruz County Clerk Tricia Webber is reminding everyone to exercise their right to vote.

Ballots can be  filled out and dropped in the U.S. Mail at no charge, returned to an in-person voting location, or  returned at one of the drop boxes listed below. 

The March 5 Primary Election includes important federal, state and local contests, including  California’s 2024 presidential primary. Tricia Webber, Santa Cruz County Clerk, says that in-person voting is currently available at the following locations:  

• Santa Cruz – Santa Cruz County Clerk/Elections, 701 Ocean St., Room 310. • Watsonville – Watsonville City Clerk’s Office, 275 Main St., 4th Floor. 

• Aptos – Temple Beth El, 3055 Porter Gulch Rd. 

• Santa Cruz – Santa Cruz County Sheriff’s Office, 5200 Soquel Ave. 

• Scotts Valley – Scotts Valley Public Library, 251 Kings Village Rd. 

Thirteen more in-person voting locations will open March 2 and four more will “pop up” on  Election Day, Tuesday, March 5. 

Check the county’s election website for information. Note that due to unforeseen circumstances, a planned in-person voting  location at Depot Park in Santa Cruz will be moved to the Harvey West Park Clubhouse, 326  Evergreen St., Santa Cruz. Instead, the VoteMobile mobile voting station will serve Depot  Park beginning March 2 through March 5. See votescount.santacruzcountyca.gov for the  VoteMobile schedule.

In addition, voters with disabilities and others who are unable to access a voting location may  now do accessible voting from their home computers. Please visit  

votescount.santacruzcountyca.gov and click on “Voting Options” for information.  

No ballots will be accepted after 8 p.m. on Election Day, unless there are voters in line or the  time for closing of the polls has been extended by court order.  

Voters can return their ballot to any of the in-person voting locations, or drop it off at one of  our 24/7 ballot drop boxes. Most are drive-up drop boxes.