Registrar of Voters invites public to attend March 28 virtual community briefing on Voter’s Choice Act election model

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Deva Marie Proto, Sonoma County Clerk-Recorder-Assessor-Registrar of Voters (ROV), announced today that the ROV Office is partnering with the California Secretary of State (SOS) to host a virtual community briefing later this month on the Voter’s Choice Act (VCA) election model going into effect in Sonoma County this year.

“We’re excited to join with the SOS to get the word out about the exciting flexibility and new options the VCA will provide to Sonoma County voters,” Proto said. Topics covered will include what Vote Centers are and how they differ from traditional polling places, important upcoming election dates, and how to obtain reliable voting information.

The community briefing is scheduled for March 28 from 6 to 7 p.m. To participate, go to https://bit.ly/37COwiz or watch live on Facebook @CaliforniaSOS.

Background

A little over a year ago, the Sonoma County Board of Supervisors unanimously voted to move Sonoma County from a traditional precinct polling place election model to the VCA model. The SOS gave its final approval to the county’s plan in December.

Approved by the California Legislature in 2016 and established by SB 450, the VCA expands voters’ options for how, when and where they cast their ballots. As a VCA county, Sonoma County will be required to do the following:

• Mail every active, registered voter a ballot for each election in which they are eligible to participate. (Due to the passage of Assembly Bill 37 last fall, this is now a requirement for all California counties, not just VCA counties.)
• Offer a combination of official ballot drop boxes and vote centers instead of polling places. Vote centers offer several major advantages over polling places: 

The first elections in Sonoma County to be conducted under the VCA model will be the April 12 Special Election (only applicable to voters residing in the Town of Windsor) followed closely by the June 7 Statewide Direct Primary Election (applicable to all Sonoma County voters).

For more information about the VCA and upcoming events and elections, visit sonomacounty.ca.gov/vote, call (707) 565-6800, email rov-info@sonoma-county.org, or visit the Registrar of Voters Office in person at 435 Fiscal Drive, Santa Rosa. The office is open 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. on weekdays, excluding holidays.