With less than a month remaining until the Nov. 5 general election, Stanislaus County Registrar of Voters Donna Linder is speaking to anybody who will listen.
“It’s that time of year when we’re doing trainings and speaking,” said Linder, who was first elected in 2018. “I’ve spoken to the Rotary Club, the Kiwanis, the other night I spoke to the Latino Chamber of Commerce … anybody who’s interested in hearing what we do during elections. We want to help people understand what we do, and the care we take in processing ballots. That’s my goal, and I’ll talk to any group that will have me.”
Linder pointed out that mail-in ballots were sent to voters on Monday and should be arriving in mailboxes today or tomorrow — depending on the U.S. Postal Service.
Already, you should have received a sample ballot/voter information guide from Stanislaus County, and the thicker 144-page voter information guide from the California Secretary of State’s office.
It’s up to you now to read these materials to help make informed choices before marking your ballot.
Finally, when it’s time to return your completed ballot, you have a host of options thanks to Linder and her team at the county elections office.
You can simply put your completed ballot in the mailbox and your postal carrier will deliver it to the elections office — no stamp is necessary. Or, you can put it in any mailbox, anywhere, on or before Nov. 5.
“If you drop it in a mailbox on Election Day, make sure to check the mailbox pickup times,” cautioned Linder. “If you drop it in after the last scheduled pickup, it won’t get postmarked in time.”
For voters who are wary of using the postal service, they can deliver their ballot in person to the drop-box located in the lobby of the elections office — 1021 I St., Modesto for Stanislaus County residents and 250 E 15th Street in Merced for Merced County residents — or at any of the drop-boxes or voting center located throughout the counties.
And for those voters who rather walk in and fill out their ballot the old-fashioned way, that’s still an option.
However, unlike years past when voters were directed to one specific polling place located within their precinct, voters now are eligible to cast their ballots (or return a completed ballot) to any voting center in the county. So, a Newman voter could vote in a voting center close to their house, or one in Modesto or in Patterson or in Turlock — and they can even do it before Election Day (voting centers open as early as Oct. 26).
Don’t forget to sign your ballot envelope before dropping them in a mailbox, drop-box or at a voting center.
And remember to check pickup times to ensure your ballot will be collected in time.
Here’s a complete list of drop-box and voting center locations:
STANISLAUS COUNTY INDOOR DROP-BOX LOCATIONS
(date and times in parenthesis; service began Monday)
- Garcia’s Market, 5013 Yosemite Blvd., Empire (Monday-Saturday, 8 a.m. to 9 p.m.; Sunday, 8 a.m. to 8 p.m.)
- Ceres City Hall, 2220 Magnolia St. (Monday-Friday, 8 a.m. to 5 p.m.)
- MaxxValue, 415 Paradise Rd., Modesto (seven days a week, 7 a.m. to 10 p.m.)
- Postal Connections, 3430 Tully Rd., Suite 20 (Monday-Friday, 9 a.m. to 6 p.m.; Saturday, 10 a.m. to 3 p.m.)
- Postal Connections, 1700 McHenry Ave., Suite 65B (Monday-Friday, 9 a.m. to 6 p.m.; Saturday, 10 a.m. to 3 p.m.)
- Stanislaus Veterans Center, 3500 Coffee Rd., Suite 15 (Monday-Friday 8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.; Election Day, 7 a.m. to 8 p.m.)
- Save Mart, 2595 Geer Rd., Turlock (Monday-Thursday, 6 a.m. to 11 p.m.; Friday-Sunday, 6 a.m. to midnight)
- Save Mart 1449 E. F St., Oakdale (Monday-Thursday, 6 a.m. to 11 p.m.; Friday-Sunday, 6 a.m. to midnight)
- Save Mart, 2920 E. Whitmore Ave., Ceres (Monday-Thursday, 6 a.m. to 11 p.m.; Friday-Sunday, 6 a.m. to midnight)
- Save Mart, 3601 Pelandale Ave., Modesto (Monday-Thursday, 6 a.m. to 11 p.m.; Friday-Sunday, 6 a.m. to midnight)
- Save Mart, 2100 Standiford Ave., Modesto (Monday-Thursday, 6 a.m. to 11 p.m.; Friday-Sunday, 6 a.m. to midnight)
- Save Mart, 1035 Sperry Ave., Patterson (Monday-Thursday, 6 a.m. to 11 p.m.; Friday-Sunday, 6 a.m. to midnight)
- FoodMaxx, 1845 Countryside Dr., Turlock (seven days a week, 6 a.m. to midnight)
- FoodMaxx, 2020 W. Briggsmore Ave., Modesto (seven days a week, 6 a.m. to midnight)
- Turlock Public Library, 550 N. Minaret Ave. (Monday, Tuesday, and Thursday, 10 a.m. to 6 p.m.; Wednesday, noon to 8 p.m.; Friday-Saturday, 10 a.m. to 5 p.m.)
- Yancey Home Center, 1632 N St., Newman (Monday-Friday, 7 a.m. to 6 p.m.; Saturday, 8 a.m. to 5 p.m.; Sunday, 9 a.m. to 3 p.m.)
- Hughson City Hall, 7018 Pine St. (Monday-Friday, 8 a.m. to 5 p.m.)
- Modesto Junior College (Student Center), 435 College Ave. (Monday-Friday, 6 a.m. to 9 p.m.)
- Waterford City Hall, 101 E St. (Monday-Friday, 8 a.m. to 5 p.m.)
- Denair Library, 4801 Kersey Rd. (Monday-Thursday, 10 a.m. to 6 p.m.)
- Oakdale Library, 151 S. First St. (Monday, Wednesday, Thursday, 10 a.m. to 6 p.m.; Tuesday, noon to 8 p.m.; Saturday, 10 a.m. to 5 p.m.)
- Cost Less Foods, 6331 Oakdale Rd., Riverbank (seven days a week, 7 a.m. to 10 p.m.)
- Turlock City Hall, 156 S. Broadway, 2nd floor (Monday-Friday, 8 a.m. to 5 p.m.)
- Stanislaus County Registrar of Voters Office, 1021 I St., Modesto (the Registrar of Voters Office has an indoor and 24-hour outdoor drop-box)
OUTDOOR DROP-BOX LOCATIONS
(open 24 hours a day; close at 8 p.m. on Election Day; service began Monday)
- California State University Stanislaus, 1 University Cir., Turlock
- Bonita Elementary School, 425 Fink Rd., Crows Landing
- Salida Library, 4835 Sisk Rd.
- Burchell Nursery, 12000 Hwy. 120, Oakdale
- Stanislaus County Registrar of Voters Office, 1021 I St., Modesto (the Registrar of Voters Office has an indoor and 24-hour outdoor drop-box)
CURBSIDE DROP-OFF LOCATIONS
(open 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. on Nov. 4 and 7 a.m. to 8 p.m. on Nov. 5)
- Gallo Center for the Arts, 1000 I St., Modesto
- Stanislaus Culinary Arts Institute, 1040 Wakefield Dr., Oakdale
- California State University Stanislaus, 1 University Cir., Turlock (before Nov. 4, the CSUS curbside drop-off will be an unmanned drop-box)
VOTE CENTERS
(the following will begin service begins Oct. 26, including weekends and holidays, 8 a.m. to 5 p.m., and 7 a.m. to 8 p.m. on Election Day)
- Hampton Inn by Hilton, 1821 Lander Ave., Meeting Room, Turlock
- United Samaritans Foundation Community Center, 2413 Third St., Hughson
- Stanislaus Culinary Arts Institute, 1040 Wakefield Dr., Oakdale
- Salida Library, 4835 Sisk Rd.
- Stanislaus Veterans Center, 3500 Coffee Rd. Suite15, Room 114/115, Modesto.
- L.J. Newman Memorial Building, 649 Orestimba Rd., Newman
(the following will begin service begins Nov. 2, including weekends, 8 a.m. to 5 p.m., and 7 a.m. to 8 p.m. on Election Day)
- Turlock Public Library, 550 N. Minaret Ave., (Hilmar Cheese Co. Community Room)
- Assyrian-American Civic Club of Turlock, 2618 N. Golden State Blvd.
- Calvary Baptist Church, 700 E. Monte Vista Ave., Turlock
- Denair Middle School, 3701 Lester Rd. (school library)
- American Legion Hall, 2609 Lawrence St., Ceres
- Empire Library, 98 I St.
- Casa de Modesto, 1745 Eldena Way, R.E. Penney Bldg. Modesto
- Hope Commons, 300 Trask Ln., Modesto
- Martin G. Peterson Event Center, 720 12th St., Modesto
- North Modesto Church of God, 1918 Sherwood Ave., Modesto
- Hanline Elementary School, 4295 Central Ave., Bldg. C, Multi-Purpose Room, Ceres
- Keyes Community Center, 5506 Jennie Ave.
- County Center III, 917 Oakdale Rd., Modesto
- King-Kennedy Memorial Center, 601 S. Martin Luther King Dr., Modesto
- Modesto City-County Airport, 617 Airport Way, Departures Terminal, Modesto
- Stanislaus County Agricultural Center, 3800 Cornucopia Way, Harvest Hall, Room D/E, Modesto
- Apostolic Jubilee Center, 821 Lassen Ave., Modesto
- Grace Davis High School, 1200 W. Rumble Rd. (Little Theater), Modesto
- Mancini Hall Senior Center, 718 Tuolumne Blvd., Modesto
- Modesto Junior College—West Campus, 2201 Blue Gum Ave. (El Capitan Building), Modesto
- Gene Bianchi Community Center, 110 S. 2nd Ave., Oakdale
- Patterson Library, 46 N. Salado Ave. (Large Room), Patterson
- Western Plaza, 124 S. Western Ave., Suites 4 and 5, Waterford
- Riverbank Community Center, 3600 Santa Fe St.
- Riverbank High School, 6200 Claus Rd. (Room 601)
(the following will begin service begins Nov. 4, 8 a.m. to 5 p.m., and 7 a.m. to 8 p.m. on Election Day)
- Sacred Heart Church, Lopes Orchard De Paul Center, 505 M St. (Meeting Room A/B), Patterson
MERCED COUNTY BALLOT DROP BOX LOCATIONS (service begins Monday and continues to Nov. 5)
Atwater City of Atwater 750 Bellevue Road Atwater, CA 95301 M-F: 8am-5pm Election Day: 8am-5pm
Ballico Merced County Fire Department #92 Ballico Station 11284 Ballico Avenue Ballico, CA 95303 M-F: 8am-5pm Election Day: 8am-5pm
Delhi Liberty Market 16385 Schendel Avenue Delhi, CA 95315 M-Sun: 8am-9:30pm Election Day: 8am-8pm
Dos Palos City of Dos Palos 2174 Blossom Street Dos Palos, CA 93620 M-F: 8am-5pm Election Day: 8am-5pm
El Nido Merced County Fire Department #83 El Nido Station 10537 S Hwy 59 El Nido, CA 95317 M-F: 8am-5pm Election Day: 8am-5pm
Gustine City of Gustine 352 Fifth Street Gustine, CA 95322 M-Th: 8am-5pm; F: 8am-2pm Election Day: 8am-5pm
Le Grand Merced County Library – Le Grand Branch 12949 Le Grand Road Le Grand, CA 95333 M-Th: 10am-6pm; F: 10am-5pm Sat: 10am-3pm; Closed Sunday Election Day: 10am-6pm
Livingston City of Livingston 1416 C Street Livingston, CA 95334 M-F: 8am-5pm Election Day: 8am-5pm
Los Banos City of Los Banos 520 J Street Los Banos, CA 93635 M-F:8am-12pm & 1pm-5pm Election Day: 8am-12pm & 1pm-5pm
Los Banos Merced College Los Banos Campus - Student Services Building 22240 Hwy 152 Los Banos, CA 93635 M-F: 8am-5pm Election Day: 8am-5pm
Merced City of Merced 678 W. 18th Street Merced, CA 95340 M-F: 8am-5pm Election Day: 8am-5pm
Merced City of Merced - Airport 20 Macready Drive Merced, CA 95341 M-Th: 8am-5pm; F-Sun: 6am-10pm Election Day: 8am-5pm
Merced Elections Central Count Facility 250 E. 15th Street Merced, CA 95341 Election Day only: 7am-8pm Merced
Merced County Administration Building Lobby 2222 M Street Merced, CA 95340 M-F: 8am-4pm Election Day: 7am-8pm Merced
Merced County Administration Parking Lot Drive Up 2222 M Street Merced, CA 95340 M-Sun: 24hrs Election Day: 12am-8pm
Merced Rancho San Miguel Market 1930 Yosemite Parkway Merced, CA 95340 M-Sun: 5am-10pm Election Day: 5am-8pm
Merced UC Merced ASUCM – Student Government Granite Pass Room 174 5400 N. Lake Road Merced, CA 95343 M-F: 8am-5pm Election Day: 8am-5 pm
Santa Nella Merced County Fire Department #72 Santa Nella Station 29190 Centinella Drive Santa Nella, CA 95322 M-F: 8am-5pm Election Day: 8am-5pm
Snelling Merced County Fire Department #65 Snelling Station 15974 Hwy 59 Snelling, CA 95369 M-F: 8am-5pm Election Day: 8am-5pm
Stevinson Merced County Fire Department #97 Stevinson Station 2738 Lander Avenue Stevinson, CA 95374 M-F: 8am-5pm Election Day: 8am-5pm
Open 11 Days: Saturday, October 26, 2024 – Tuesday, November 5, 2024
Atwater Community Center 760 E. Bellevue Road Atwater, CA 95301 Sat-Mon: 8am – 4pm Election Day: 7am-8pm
Los Banos Community Center 645 7th Street Los Banos, CA 93635 Sat-Mon: 8am – 4pm Election Day: 7am-8pm
Merced American Legion Post 83 Main Hall 939 W. Main Street Merced, CA 95340 Sat-Mon: 8am – 4pm Election Day: 7am-8pm
Open 4 Days: Saturday, November 2, 2024 – Tuesday, November 5, 2024
Delhi Veterans Memorial Building (VFW Hall) 9799 Stephens Street Delhi, CA 95315 Sat-Mon: 8am – 4pm Election Day: 7am-8pm
Dos Palos D.E.S. Hall 1357 Elgin Avenue Dos Palos, CA 93620 Sat-Mon: 8am – 4pm Election Day: 7am-8pm
Gustine Al Goman Community Center 745 Linden Avenue Gustine, CA 95322 Sat-Mon: 8am – 4pm Election Day: 7am-8pm
Hilmar Grange Hall 8188 Lander Avenue Hilmar, CA 95324 Sat-Mon: 8am – 4pm Election Day: 7am-8pm
Livingston Veterans Memorial Building 1605 7th Street Livingston, CA 95334 Sat-Mon: 8am – 4pm Election Day: 7am-8pm
Los Banos College Greens Park Scripps Building 1815 Scripps Drive Los Banos, CA 93635 Sat-Mon: 8am – 4pm Election Day: 7am-8pm
Merced Christian Life Center 650 E. Olive Avenue Merced, CA 95340 Sat-Mon: 8am – 4pm Election Day: 7am-8pm
Merced County Fairgrounds Tioga Hall 900 Martin Luther King Jr. Way Merced, CA 95341 Sat-Mon: 8am – 4pm Election Day: 7am-8pm
Merced St. Patrick’s Catholic Church Parish Hall 671 E. Yosemite Avenue Merced, CA 95340 Sat-Mon: 8am – 4pm Election Day: 7am-8pm
Planada Community Center 9167 Stanford Avenue Planada, CA 95365 Sat-Mon: 8am – 4pm Election Day: 7am-8pm
Winton Community Hall Walnut Avenue and Center Avenue Winton, CA 95388 Sat-Mon: 8am – 4pm Election Day: 7am-8pm