Do I have to vote electronically?

No. One electronic touch screen voting machine will be located in every polling place on Nov. 7 in order to comply with federal law. Voters who desire to vote electronically will need to notify the precinct board officials that they do not want a paper ballot.

Can I vote early?

Yes. From now until Nov. 7, Nevada County voters can vote at the Elections Office at 10433 Willow Valley Road, Suite E, Nevada City.

If I vote absentee, how will my ballot be counted?

Absentee ballots are processed at the Elections Office prior to Election Day and counted with optical scan equipment. They also can be hand delivered to the Elections Office or to any polling place on election day by 8 p.m. to count.

How should I fill my absentee ballot out?

With a pen. In the past it was with a No. 2 pencil, but instructions this year call for pen.

What happens to absentee ballots turned in on Election Day?

First, all ballots must be received by the Elections Office no later than 8 p.m. on Election Day. Postmarks do not count. An absentee ballot can be hand delivered to the Elections Office or turned in at any Nevada County polling location up until the close of polls on Election Day. If you plan to return your absentee ballot by mail, mail no later than Oct 31.

All absentee ballots received no later than 8 p.m. on Election Day are counted and added to the vote totals for our county. This activity is completed during the canvass period, the 30 days following every election

Why has my polling place location changed?

Polling place locations are subject to change every election. Every registered voter in Nevada County will receive a Voter Information Pamphlet and Sample Ballot with the address of their polling place listed on the back cover. Be sure to check the back cover of your pamphlet for every election.

Locations change for a variety of reasons. The most common is that the facility no longer wishes to be used for polling purposes. Other facilities can no longer be used because they do not meet Americans with Disabilities Act accessibility requirements.

Can I get a paper ballot at my polling place location? How will it be counted?

Yes. After voting on a paper ballot at the polls, it is inserted into an optical scanner that reads the ballot to determine whether the ballot has been overvoted. An overvote occurs when a voter casts votes for more candidates than the number of candidates to be elected for an office; or casts both a “yes” and a “no” vote for a ballot measure. If the ballot has been overvoted, the voter has the opportunity to cast a corrected ballot. Once scanned, the paper ballot is deposited into the ballot box.

Why did I receive a postcard about being in an all-mail ballot precinct?

Prior to every election, the Elections Office sends a notice to voters with Permanent Absent Voter status and every voter who resides in an all-mail ballot precinct letting him or her know a ballot will automatically be mailed to them. If you are a Permanent Absent Voter and received a postcard stating you are in an all-mail ballot precinct, this means for this election your precinct does not have a polling place.

If you are a Permanent Absent Voter or reside in an All Mail Ballot precinct and have not received your ballot in the mail by Tuesday, please call the Elections Office at (530) 265-1298 or toll free at 1-888-395-1298.
Source: Nevada County Elections Office