Election Guide

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Santa Cruz Local’s Nov. 5, 2024 Election Guide

 

Who we are

Santa Cruz Local is a nonpartisan, nonprofit news outlet that does not endorse candidates or take positions on ballot measures.

Read our ethics statement.

How this guide was made

Santa Cruz Local surveyed and interviewed hundreds of Santa Cruz County residents about their concerns.

Then we pressed the candidates on voters’ top issues.

Election Guide

Frequently asked questions about voting and ballots

Don’t see your question below? Send us a text at (831) 246-6418.


Any Santa Cruz County voter can go to any voting location in the county.

Click on locations on the map to see voting hours. Blue pins indicate polls that are open now. Gray pins indicate polls that will open only on Election Day.

Find all voting locations and hours here.

Register to vote here. The last day to register to vote and receive a mail ballot and voter information guide in the mail is Oct. 21. Voters can still register and vote as late as on election day, Nov. 5.

  • Drop off: Voters can drop off ballots at 21 outdoor drop boxes in Santa Cruz County. The boxes are marked “Santa Cruz County Official Ballot Drop Box” and are managed by the Santa Cruz County Elections Department.
  • Walk in: Voters can drop off their ballot at an in-person voting location.
  • Mail in: Registered voters received a mailed ballot with a postage paid envelope. Ballots must be postmarked on or before Nov. 5 and received by Nov. 12 to be counted.

Outdoor ballot drop box locations

Ballot drop boxes are shown on the map in blue. Ballots in drop boxes are picked up daily by elections officials.

If a drop box is full, not functioning, or has been damaged, please call the Voter Hotline at 831-454-2060. No ballots will be accepted after 8 p.m. on Election Day unless the time for closing the polls has been extended by court order.

  • Aptos: Aptos Branch Library, 7695 Soquel Drive
  • Aptos: Polo Grounds near the dog park, 2255 Huntington Drive
  • Aptos: Cabrillo College parking lot R by the stadium, 3732 Cabrillo College Drive
  • Ben Lomond: Highlands Park, 8500 Highway 9
  • Boulder Creek: Boulder Creek Community Church, 12465 Highway 9
  • Capitola: Capitola City Hall parking lot, 420 Capitola Ave.
  • Capitola: Capitola Mall near the old Sears, 1855 41st Ave.
  • Capitola: Capitola Public Library, 2005 Wharf Road
  • Corralitos: Corralitos Womans Club, 33 Browns Valley Road
  • Davenport: Fire Station, 75 Marine View Ave.
  • Felton: Felton Covered Bridge Park, Graham Hill Road at Mount Hermon Road
  • Los Gatos: Summit Store, 24197 Summit Road
  • Santa Cruz: County Government Center parking lot, 701 Ocean St.
  • Santa Cruz: public parking lot, 212 Church St.
  • Santa Cruz: UCSC Quarry Plaza
  • Santa Cruz: Sheriff’s Crisis Center, 5300 Soquel Ave. 
  • Santa Cruz: Trescony Park, end of Trescony Street
  • Scotts Valley: Scotts Valley City Hall parking lot, 1 Civic Center Drive
  • Watsonville: County Building at Westridge, 500 Westridge Drive
  • Watsonville: County Health Center, 1430 Freedom Blvd.
  • Watsonville: public parking lot, 316 Rodriguez St.

Ballots are expected to be mailed to registered voters beginning Oct. 7. Sign up for email or text alerts to track your ballot.

Oct. 21 is the last day to register to vote for the Nov. 5, 2024 election and receive a ballot and voter guide in the mail.

Look up which districts you vote in by your address.

This county tool shows your districts from the state to local level based on the address where you are registered to vote.

Enter your city and your house number. Then enter the name of your street without “Street,” “Road,” “Blvd.,” etc. If using a mobile phone, hit “Enter” or “Done” rather than “Tab.” Then click or tap on your street.

Las papeletas y guías de voto en español se enviarán por correo a los votantes que las hayan solicitado en su formulario de inscripción.

Para solicitar una papeleta o una guía de voto en español por correo postal o electrónico, envíe un correo electrónico a [email protected] o llame al 831-454-2060.

Los materiales de votación en español estarán disponibles en todos los lugares de votación.

  • Santa Cruz County residents can sign up before polls close on Nov. 5 to get a ballot by email. Sign up on the county elections website.
  • You’ll need an email address, computer and printer.
  • Ballots must be returned by mail, at a drop box or a voting location.
  • Questions? 831-454-2060.

You can register to vote even if you don’t have a mailing address. The county elections website has details.