Santa Cruz County election guides

Santa Cruz County election results

Looking for Santa Cruz Local’s Election Guide for March 5, 2024?

Polls closed 8 p.m. Nov. 8. Read Santa Cruz Local’s election results page for the Nov. 8, 2022 election.

Welcome to Santa Cruz Local’s guide to the Nov. 8 election.

  • This guide provides nonpartisan information about candidates and local ballot measures.
  • Santa Cruz Local does not endorse candidates or take positions on ballot measures. Read our ethics statement.

How this guide was made

In other newsrooms, reporters and editors decide the questions for candidates without necessarily consulting voters or residents. Since 2020, Santa Cruz Local has put the power in residents’ hands.

  • This year, Santa Cruz Local visited public places around Santa Cruz County and asked hundreds of residents about their top concerns and questions for the candidates. We also conducted an online survey.
  • Residents’ feedback informed the questions we asked candidates and helped guide our elections reporting.

Find information about local races below.

Santa Cruz County ballot measures

Campaign fundraising

Frequently asked questions about voting and ballots

Ballots are expected to be mailed to registered voters Oct. 10. Sign up for email or text alerts to track your ballot.

Spanish ballots and voting guides will be mailed around Oct. 13 to voters who have requested them on their registration form.

To request a Spanish ballot and voting guide by mail or email, email [email protected] or call 831-454-2060.

Spanish voting materials will be available at all in-person voting locations.

Any Santa Cruz County voter can go to any voting location in the county. Once a location opens for voting, the hours are:

  • 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday to Friday.
  • 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Saturday and Sunday, beginning Oct. 29
  • 7 a.m. to 8 p.m. Election Day Tuesday, Nov. 8

Two locations will open Oct. 10:

  • Santa Cruz: Santa Cruz County Clerk/Elections Office at 701 Ocean St., Room 310.
  • Watsonville: Watsonville City Clerk’s Office, 275 Main St., fourth floor.

Three locations will open Oct. 29:

  • Aptos: Temple Beth El, 3055 Porter Gulch Road.
  • Live Oak: Santa Cruz County Sheriff’s Office, 5200 Soquel Ave.
  • Scotts Valley: Scotts Valley Community Center, 360 Kings Village Road.

Thirteen locations will open Nov. 5:

  • Aptos: St. John’s Episcopal Church, 125 Canterbury Drive.
  • 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.
  • Interlaken: Santa Cruz County Fairgrounds, 2601 E. Lake Ave.
  • La Selva Beach: La Selva Beach Clubhouse, 314 Estrella Ave.
  • Santa Cruz: Depot Park, 119 Center St.
  • Santa Cruz: Masonic Philosophical Society study center, 828 N. Branciforte Ave.
  • Santa Cruz: UC Santa Cruz Stevenson Event Center, 520 Cowell-Stevenson Road.
  • Scotts Valley: Scotts Valley High School, 555 Glenwood Drive.
  • Soquel: Soquel High School, 401 Old San Jose Road.
  • Watsonville: Pajaro Valley Community Health Trust, 85 Nielson St.

The “VoteMobile” van also will offer voter services throughout the county. The schedule will be posted on the county elections website.

  • Drop off: Voters can drop off their ballot in one of 17 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. 8 and received by Nov. 15 to be considered on time.

Outdoor ballot drop box locations

Aptos: Resurrection Catholic Church, 7600 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 Community Center, 35 Browns Valley Road
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
Scotts Valley: Scotts Valley City Hall parking lot, 1 Civic Center Drive
Watsonville: public parking lot, 316 Rodriguez St.
Watsonville: County Health Center, 1430 Freedom Blvd.

  • Santa Cruz County residents can sign up before Nov. 1 to get a ballot by email. Sign up on the county elections website.
  • You’ll need a 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.

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