Ballots for Nov. 3 election to mail early, drop boxes open Oct. 1
Atascadero satellite elections office to open Oct. 26
– San Luis Obispo County voters can expect their ballots for the Nov. 3 general election to arrive a little earlier than originally anticipated, according to the county elections office.
The elections office completed preparations ahead of schedule, allowing ballots and county voter information guides to be delivered to the U.S. Postal Service’s Goleta processing facility on Wednesday, Sept. 30. The elections office expects the Postal Service to begin sending the materials to voters that same day.
With ballot packets heading to voters early, the county is also moving up the opening of its 18 official ballot drop boxes to Thursday, Oct. 1. The boxes had previously been scheduled to open Oct. 5 and 6, depending on the operating days of individual locations.
“We’re pleased to be able to get ballots into voters’ hands a little earlier this election,” said County Clerk-Recorder Elaina Cano. “Opening our official drop boxes at the same time means voters who are ready to make their choices can return their ballots right away using a secure County ballot drop box.”
Voters do not need to wait until Election Day to vote. Once they receive their ballot, they may complete and return it as soon as they are comfortable doing so. Cano recommends that voters who vote early use an official drop box or bring their ballot to the elections office. Voters who choose to mail their ballot should allow plenty of time and mail it at least a week before Election Day, according to Cano.
Cano said ballots mailed at the last minute risk getting a late postmark or arriving past the deadline, and those ballots cannot be counted.
“Voting early also means your ballot will be included in that first batch of Election Night results and will speed up the counting process overall,” Cano said.
The county’s satellite elections office in Atascadero will open Monday, Oct. 26, giving North County voters an additional location for in-person election services during the final days of voting. The Atascadero office will be open from 8:30 a.m. to 4 p.m. Monday through Friday, and from 7 a.m. to 8 p.m. on Election Day.
The county has opened the Atascadero location earlier in some previous election cycles. Based on historically lighter use during the earlier weeks of the voting period, the elections office is concentrating staffing at the location during the final week, when voter demand is expected to be greatest, according to the county. Voters may continue to access election services at the San Luis Obispo elections office throughout the early voting period.
Beginning Monday, Oct. 5, the clerk-recorder’s office will close to the public at 4 p.m. each weekday. Election services will remain available later. A dedicated elections service window at the San Luis Obispo office will be open from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday through Friday, beginning Oct. 5 and continuing through the completion of the official election canvass in late November. The window will be open from 7 a.m. to 8 p.m. on Election Day, Tuesday, Nov. 3.
The elections window and the full elections center will also be open Saturday, Oct. 31, from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. Voters can cast their ballot, get a replacement ballot, or observe ballot processing activities during that time.
For more information, including a list of drop box locations, polling places, and frequently asked questions, visit www.slovote.gov/November2026.
