SANTA CRUZ >> Santa Cruz Local’s Election Guide is the most comprehensive guide to candidates and ballot measures in Santa Cruz County. 

The guide provides in-depth and nonpartisan information to help voters understand candidates’ positions on the issues. It also explains 17 ballot measures across the county.

Some of the most read pages include:

• Measure Q – Santa Cruz County Water and Wildfire parcel tax
• Measure Z – City of Santa Cruz soda tax
• District 2 Santa Cruz County supervisor: Kristen Brown and Kim De Serpa
• District 5 Santa Cruz County supervisor: Christopher Bradford and Monica Martinez

Where to drop off mail ballots in Santa Cruz County

Mail-in ballots either be mailed or dropped off at ballot boxes throughout the county. Ballots will be accepted until 8 p.m. on Election Day, Tuesday, Nov. 5.

Ballot drop boxes are shown on the map in blue.

Ballots in drop boxes are picked up daily by elections officials. Ballots also can be dropped off at any voting location during voting hours.  If a drop box is full, not functioning, or has been damaged, call the Voter Hotline at 831-454-2060.

Where to vote in-person in Santa Cruz County

Six voting locations are open in Santa Cruz County as of Thursday, Oct. 31, and 14 more locations are expected to open Saturday, Nov. 2 in places such as Felton, Boulder Creek, Capitola and Soquel. 

On Election Day, Tuesday, Nov. 5, polls will be open 7 a.m. to 8 p.m. at 24 voting locations across the county. 

Santa Cruz County voters can vote at any location in the county. Residents can also register to vote and cast provisional ballots, and get replacement ballots. 

• Blue pins on the map indicate locations that are open now.
• Gray pins indicate locations that will open on Election Day.
• Click on a pin for voting hours.

The county’s mobile voting booth is scheduled 5-8 p.m. Thursday at Beer Mule, 45 Aviation Way, Watsonville and 2:30-5:30 p.m. Friday, Nov. 1 at Dominican Oaks, 3400 Paul Sweet Road, Santa Cruz. See the county’s website for vote mobile locations.

Open for voting as of Saturday, Nov. 1:

Aptos
• St. John’s Episcopal Church, 125 Canterbury Drive.
• Temple Beth El, 3055 Porter Gulch Road.

Bonny Doon
• Bonny Doon Elementary School, 1492 Pine Flat Road.

Boulder Creek
• Boulder Creek Fire Station, 13230 Highway 9.

Capitola
• New Brighton Middle School, 250 Washburn Ave.

Felton
• Zayante Fire Department, 7700 E Zayante Road.

Live Oak
• Santa Cruz County Sheriff’s Office, 5200 Soquel Ave.
• Simpkins Family Swim Center, 979 17th Ave.

Santa Cruz
• Depot Park, 119 Center St.
• Masonic Center, 828 N. Branciforte Ave.
• UC Santa Cruz Stevenson Event Center, 520 Cowell-Stevenson Road.
• Santa Cruz County Clerk, 701 Ocean St., Room 310.

Scotts Valley
• Scotts Valley High School, 555 Glenwood Drive.
• Scotts Valley Public Library, 251 Kings Village Road.

Soquel
• Soquel High School, 401 Old San Jose Road.

Watsonville
• La Selva Beach Clubhouse, 314 Estrella Ave.
• Pajaro Valley Community Trust, 85 Nielson St.
• Santa Cruz County Fairgrounds, 2601 East Lake Ave.
• Watsonville City Clerk’s Office, 275 Main St., 4th floor.
• Westridge County Building, 500 Westridge Drive.

Open only on Election Day, Nov. 5:

Corralitos
• Corralitos Community Church, 26 Browns Valley Road.

Davenport
• Pacific Elementary School, 50 Ocean St.

Los Gatos
• Loma Prieta Temp. Community Center, Community Room next to the pre-school, 23845 Summit Road.

Santa Cruz
• Christian Life Center, 1009 Mission St.

View voting locations and hours on the county’s elections website. 

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