Plumas County ballots in the mail by Oct. 5
By Debra Moore
Just like every election since 2016, Plumas County registered voters will receive their ballot in the mail. Plumas County uses all mail balloting, so for the local Election’s Office it’s business as usual.
“It’s exactly like we’ve been from the 2016 election forward; the rest of the state is just catching up,” said Kathy Williams, Plumas County Clerk Recorder and chief elections official.
Plumas County ballots will be mailed by Oct. 5 and residents should expect to receive them no later than Oct. 13. If a ballot isn’t received, individuals should call 283-6256 for assistance.
Does Williams have any advice for voters?
Williams encourages voters to return their ballot as soon as possible so that they will be received by her office and available to be counted on Election Day, Nov. 3.
Ballots must be postmarked by Nov. 3 to be counted, but those who wait until that day to mail their ballots, should know that they won’t be part of the Election Day count. Those ballots will be counted at a later date, jeopardizing the ability to know immediately who wins various races. While the national top-of-the ticket races, such as the presidency, may take days or weeks for the final results, local races such as those of District 1 and 2 supervisor, could be known on election night if ballots are returned in a timely manner.
Williams also reminds people that they must sign their ballot envelope. The lack of signature causes the elections office to send out a follow-up document to be signed, incurring more time loss and cost.
Each ballot costs $5.25 when the cost of printing, staff time, and postage are totaled. The ballot envelope is prepaid postage so there is no need to put stamps on the envelope. Those who do so thinking that they are helping reimburse the county for election costs would be mistaken. “They are just wasting a stamp,” Williams said, since the county is not reimbursed.
Williams is anticipating a high voter turnout, maybe upwards of 80 percent. “We are always in the top 10, usually in the top 5 of voter turnout in the state,” Williams said of the county’s voting history. She attributes part of the historic large turnout to the use of mail ballots. Even before the county became an all-mail voting entity, most registered voters had opted for that method.
In summary, ballots will be in the mail by Oct. 5. If you haven’t received yours by Oct. 13, call 283-6256. Return your ballot as soon as possible, and be sure to sign the return envelope.
