SLO County Elections Office outlines November voting options
Voters can return completed mail ballots at assigned polling places without envelopes
– The San Luis Obispo County Elections Office is advising voters to cast their ballots as early as they are comfortable ahead of the Nov. 3 general election.
The county has 18 official ballot drop boxes where voters can return their ballots. Ballots are on track to be sent to all registered voters no later than Oct. 5.
Questions and concerns about mail ballots and the role of the U.S. Postal Service in delivering them have led to an increase in voters contacting the Elections Office. Clerk-Recorder Elaina Cano said there are no changes to election timelines or processes at this point but encouraged voters to plan ahead.
“Our ballots are being printed right now and are on track to be mailed out at the end of this month. Given the possibility of change in post office procedure, we’re recommending that voters keep an eye out for their mail ballot and let us know if they haven’t received it by October 12,” said Cano.
Cano also recommends that voters who plan to vote by mail do so as early as possible and use one of the official ballot drop boxes, which open throughout the county on Oct. 6. Elections staff retrieve ballots from the drop boxes in dual custody and bring them directly to the Elections Center.
Voters can also return their ballots in person to the Elections Office.
Early in-person voting will begin at the San Luis Obispo Elections Office on Oct. 5 and at the Atascadero Elections Office on Oct. 26.
Ballots cast early are included in the first batch of results posted on Election Night. Elections officials said more ballots cast early will also help speed up results reporting overall.
More than 95% of San Luis Obispo County voters choose to vote by mail ballot, although many wait and cast their ballots at a polling place on Election Day.
Beginning with this election, voters who have completed their mail ballots can bring them to their assigned polling place on Election Day, check in with the clerk, and have the ballot placed directly into the precinct ballot box without an envelope.
“Voters can bring their voted mail ballot to their assigned polling place on Election Day, check in with the clerk, and then have that ballot go directly into the precinct ballot box without an envelope,” said Cano. “This offers the convenience of voting at home with the benefit of having your ballot counted on Election Night.”
As in the past, voters can still drop off mail ballots in their signed return envelopes at any voting location in California. Ballots dropped off on Nov. 3 will be scanned and processed in the days following Election Day. State law requires those ballots to be counted within 13 days of the election unless they require a signature cure.
The San Luis Obispo Elections Office will be open for early voting beginning Oct. 5. Its hours are 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday through Friday, 7 a.m. to 8 p.m. on Election Day and 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. Saturday, Oct. 31.
The satellite Atascadero Elections Office will open Oct. 26. It 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, Nov. 3.
The California Secretary of State offers a ballot tracking service that alerts voters when their ballots are mailed, received, and counted. Voters can sign up for BallotTrax at WheresMyBallot.sos.ca.gov.
Comprehensive election information and updates are available at SloVote.gov/November2026.
Voters with questions can contact the Elections Office at (805) 781-5228 or elections@co.slo.ca.us.
