Voting: who, what, where, when, why
Nov. 5 marks the 2024 United States presidential election, as well as many congressional, state and local elections. Those who have registered to vote prior to Oct. 21, 2024 and will be at least 18-years-old on Election Day are able to vote in the 2024 elections and will receive a mail-in ballot. To check your registration status, visit “https://voterstatus.sos.ca.gov/.”
In addition to the presidential election, there are 435 seats in the U.S. House of Representatives and 35 seats in the U.S. Senate that will be contested to determine their upcoming membership. Residents living in Conejo Valley Unified School District Areas 1 or 5 will also be able to vote for one of two running candidates. Area 1 generally covers the eastern and southern parts of the city, and candidates include Karen Sylvester and Nancy Van Volkinburg. Area 5 generally covers the westernmost part of the city, like Newbury Park, and candidates include Lauren Gill and Franke Enderle. The trustee area map can be found on the CVUSD website. The Conejo Recreation and Park Division is holding elections for Division 1 [Sunset Hills area] and Division 5 [Santa Monica Mountains area]. Candidates for Division 1 include Chuck Huffer and Wendy MacLeod. Candidates for Division 5 include Ashley Orozco, Allan Linderman, Steven Stanley and Halla Maher.
In-Person Voting: All In-Person Vote Centers, both those that will be open for 4 days, as well as 11 days, will offer same-day voter registration, replacement ballots, accessible ballot marking devices, language assistance and of course, in-person voting. The following information of Vote Centers pertains solely to Ventura County: there will be 11 Vote Centers open from Oct. 26 through Nov. 1 from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m., 52 Vote Centers open from Nov. 2 through Nov. 4 from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. and 52 Vote Centers open on Election Day, Nov. 5 from 7 a.m. to 8 p.m..
Mail-In Voting: Since Oct. 7, 2024, Vote By Mail ballots have been sent out by County Election Officials. Any registered voter has the option to vote using the Vote By Mail ballot rather than go in-person to a polling center. In order to vote by mail, make sure that the ballot has been marked using blue or black ink from a ballpoint pen. Then, place your filled out ballot into the postage paid return envelope. In order to ensure that the ballot is accounted for, it must be postmarked on or before Election Day and received within 7 days. The ballot can also be returned to any official Ballot Drop Box, or at any Vote Center by 8:00 p.m. on Election Day.
Official ballot drop boxes are available 24/7 from Oct. 7 until Nov. 5 at 8:00 p.m.. A list of official drop boxes closest to your residence or address on your voter registration can be found with your mail-in ballot, as well as at “VenturaVote.org” for Ventura County locations. This website also has information on locations for Vote Centers.
