City Government

Most ballot drop boxes now in place after installation delays

October 15, 2020

An official ballot collection box in front of a colorful mural

Hayward and adjacent unincorporated areas have experienced a delay in the placement of ballot drop boxes from the Alameda County Registrar of Voters—but most are now in place.

Boxes have been installed at Hayward City Hall, 777 B Street; Chabot Community College, 25555 Hesperian Blvd. (near the campus bus stop close to Building 200); Cal State University East Bay, 25800 W. Loop Rd. (between the old and new Student Union); Cherryland Park, 198 Grove Way; and San Felipe Community Park, 2058 D St.

A box slated for South Hayward Parish has been placed instead at nearby Weekes Community Center, 27182 Patrick Ave., while another that was to be positioned outside the Hayward Hall of Justice at 24405 Amador St. still hasn’t arrived.

By executive order of Gov. Gavin Newsom, the Nov. 3 general election in California is being held as an all-mail election—with all registered voters to be provided a vote-by-mail ballot and access to 24-hour ballot drop boxes, with at least one drop box available for every 15,000 voters.

Voters can return completed ballots by mail or by placing them in one of 66 official Alameda County of Registrar of Voters drop boxes up until 8 p.m. on election night.  In either case, first place the completed ballot in the prepaid postage return envelope that accompanied the vote-by-mail ballot and sign the envelope before mailing or placing it in a drop box.  Completed ballots being returned by mail must be postmarked on or before Election Day, Nov. 3.

An updated map of Alameda County drop boxes locations is available here on the Alameda County Registrar of Voters website.

Several in-person voting locations also are being established for early and Election Day voting.  At these sites, voters will be able to vote in person; drop off a vote-by-mail ballot; use devices that allow voters with disabilities to vote independently; receive a replacement ballot; obtain language assistance; and register to vote or update voter-registration information.

The last day to register in advance to vote is Oct. 19.  However, residents who are eligible to vote but miss the Oct. 19 deadline will be able to complete a Conditional Voter Registration and cast a ballot at any of the accessible in-person voting locations.  These accessible in-person voting locations will be open 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Saturday, Oct. 31, Sunday, Nov. 1, and Monday, Nov. 2, and from 7 a.m. to 8 p.m. on Election Day, Nov. 3.  A map of accessible in-person voting locations is available here on the Registrar of Voters website.  For more information on voting in Alameda County, visit www.acvote.org/community/partnerships.

For more information on the Hayward municipal election—in which voters will decide on two ballot measures and elect four candidates to seats on the seven member City Council, visit the Hayward general municipal election page on the City of Hayward website.