What you need to know about voting in today’s Primary Election

It’s California’s Primary Election Day; polls are open from 7 a.m. until 8 p.m., and here’s what you need to know:

Who votes: Every registered voter in California should have received a ballot in the mail.

How do you vote? There are multiple ways to cast your ballot:

• Mail it back: Vote-by-mail ballots that are mailed must be postmarked on or before Election Day and received by your county elections office no later than seven days after Election Day.
   
  • Bonus: Postage is paid.
     
• Vote or drop off a ballot in person: In Palm Springs, there are three ballot drop-off locations where you can also vote in person:
   
  • Demuth Community Center at 3601 East Mesquite Ave.
  • James O. Jessie Desert Highland Unity Center at 480 West Tramview Road.
  • Palm Springs Public Library at 300 South Sunrise Way.
     
• Drop-off only: There’s a drop box at Palm Springs City Hall, 3200 East Tahquitz Canyon Way, but no voting booths.

Of note: You can also register to vote today and cast your ballot at each of the in-person voting locations, but it will only be counted once your registration has been verified.

• These locations will also provide replacement ballots, accessible voting machines, and language assistance.

Election burnout: So far, turnout is dismal. According to the LA Times, just over 10% of registered voters in the state had cast a ballot as of Sunday. In Riverside County, as of this morning, only 15% of registered voters returned ballots.

• Experts blame the lack of exciting races and just plain old election fatigue following the recall and the election last November.

Local races to watch: We’re casting our ballots in new districts, so some names may be unfamiliar. For example: Instead of voting in District 36 for the U.S. House of Representatives, Palm Springs is now in District 41, where the incumbent is Republican Ken Calvert. 

• Read our rundown of more races to watch here.

The room where it happens: If you’d like to watch democracy in action, check out this live stream to see tireless public servants at work on the Riverside County Ballot Count.

• Or watch election results roll in the old-fashioned way here.

Details: If you need more information, here’s the link to the Riverside County Registrar of Voters. You can also double-check the drop-off locations here. 

Call the registrar’s office at 951-486-7200 if you have questions.