Sonoma County Registrar of Voters seeking public feedback on second draft of Election Administration Plan

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The Sonoma County Registrar of Voters Office is seeking public input on its 2023 Election Administration Plan, which informs voters about all aspects of the California Voter’s Choice Act including Voting Center services, ballot drop box locations, and information specific to voters with disabilities and language minority voters. The latest draft of the plan is now available online in English by going to View New Draft Election Administration Plan link. A Spanish version will be located at the same link soon. Comments are due by Aug. 25.

The plan outlines how Sonoma County intends to conduct elections over the next four years under the Voter’s Choice Act election model. The Registrar of Voters posted the first draft online in early May and subsequently held six public meetings along with a 14-day public comment period.

During the second half of July, the Registrar of Voters reviewed the public feedback and revised its election plan. Once the current public comment period for this second draft ends, the Registrar of Voters will again review additional public input and revise the plan once more as necessary. Finally, the Registrar of Voters will send the election plan to the California Secretary of State’s Office for final approval.

Comments on the second draft of the election plan may be submitted by calling (707) 565-6800 (Toll-Free: [800] 750-VOTE [8683]; TDD: [800] 565-6888]), emailing rov-info@sonoma-county.org, or visiting the Registrar of Voters in person at 435 Fiscal Drive in Santa Rosa. The Registrar of Voters office is open from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. on weekdays, excluding County holidays. The deadline to submit comments is Aug. 25 at 11:59 p.m.

Background

Before counties can begin conducting elections under the California Voter’s Choice Act election model, California law requires them to write an Election Administration Plan explaining in detail how they intend to transition to the new model. Sonoma County’s plan was approved by the Secretary of State in late 2021. California law also requires counties to periodically review and update their election plan.

The Voter’s Choice Act election model is a more streamlined method of conducting elections than the traditional polling place election model. It greatly expands voters’ options for when, where and how they may cast their ballots.

In-person voting takes place at vote centers, not traditional polling places.

Vote centers are open multiple days, not just on Election Day (except in smaller special elections). A registered voter can obtain the correct ballot at any vote center in the county; they are not assigned to one specific location.

Vote centers feature a slew of additional voter services, some of which were previously only available at the Registrar of Voters Office. These services include conditional (a.k.a., “same-day”) voter registration, address changes, language assistance, and accessible ballot marking devices for voters with disabilities or anybody else who wishes to use them. Additional official ballot drop boxes are required throughout the county.

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Media Contact:
Wendy Hudson
Chief Deputy Registrar of Voters 
Wendy.Hudson@sonoma-county.org
(707) 565-6800

Gina Stocker, Communications Specialist 
publicaffairs@sonoma-county.org
(707) 565-3040
575 Administration Drive, Suite 104A
Santa Rosa, CA 95403