Residents Encouraged to Vote in the March 5th Primary Election

Contra Costa County — Kristin B. Connelly, the Contra Costa Clerk-Recorder and Registrar of Voters is encouraging residents to exercise their civic duty and vote.

Election Division staff are ready and waiting to receive ballots now. Early Voting Sites will be open beginning this Friday, March 1st and polling places will be open from 7:00 am until 8:00 pm on Election Day, March 5th.  Voters are encouraged to return their ballots early by mail, postmarked on or before Election Day, or drop their ballot off at one of the County’s 40 official drop boxes before 8:00 pm on March 5th to ensure we receive your ballot on time.

“Nearly 90% of eligible Contra Costa County residents are registered,” said Kristin B. Connelly, the County’s top Elections Official. “We are currently on track for only 35% of those registered voters to participate in the upcoming Election on March 5th, and I want to remind our residents that important local, county, state, and federal elections are on the ballot, in addition to the Presidential Primary. Voting at all levels offers residents the chance to influence policies and elect leaders who best represent their priorities. Your vote is your voice. Make it count and send us your ballot!”

While the Primary Election on March 5th will offer an opportunity for Contra Costa Residents to choose the top two candidates for several federal offices to be decided in November, it also presents an opportunity to select candidates for some local county offices and vote on measures that directly impact residents’ daily lives, including public safety, health, and local infrastructure projects.

Contra Costa County makes it easy for eligible voters to cast their ballots.

In-Person Voting Opportunities

If you prefer to vote in person or need in-person services to cast your ballot, Contra Costa County residents will have early voting options at five Regional Early Voting sites throughout the county beginning this Friday, March 1st. 

All registered Contra Costa voters will be able to vote at any of the Regional Early Voting locations, which will be open Friday March 1st from 11:00 am to 6:00 pm, Saturday March 2nd from 9:00 am to 3:00 pm, and Monday March 4th from 11:00 am to 6:00 pm.  These locations also serve as polling places on Election Day from 7:00 am to 8:00 pm.

The Regional Early Voting sites are:

• Brentwood Community Center, 35 Oak Street, Brentwood
• Pittsburg Library-Community Room, 80 Power Avenue, Pittsburg
• Richmond Memorial Auditorium, 403 Civic Center Plaza, Richmond
• San Ramon Valley United Methodist Church, 902 Danville Boulevard, Alamo
• Walnut Creek City Hall, 1666 North Main Street., Walnut Creek

Polling Places
Polling places will be open on Election Day, Tuesday March 5th from 7:00 am to 8:00 pm.  Please check the back of your Voter Information Guide for your polling place or go to our website and check “My Voting Information”. You can also see the list of 147 polling locations on our website.

Drive Through Drop Off
Drive through drop off will be available at the Clerk-Recorder-Elections Office at 555 Escobar Street in Martinez on Monday March 4th from 8:00 am to 4:30 pm and on Election Day, March 5th from 7:00 am to 8:00 pm.

Conditional Voter Registration

If you missed the voter registration deadline, you still can register and vote in person using Conditional Voter Registration. It is a one-stop opportunity to register and cast your ballot and is available at our office at 555 Escobar Street in Martinez, Regional Early Voting sites, and all polling places.

Accessible Voting Equipment and Additional Language Access

Official ballots and voting instructions are provided in English, Spanish, and Chinese.  Voting equipment with accessible features are available at every in-person voting location for voters who may need assistance due to a disability. Additional language resources are available through ballot translation guides which are available online and at in-person voting locations.

Be Prepared

If you vote in person, it helps to come prepared. Make your choices ahead of time and bring your pre-marked Sample Ballot to the polls. Copies of the Voter Information Guide are available at the polls and the information is also available online.

Leave the Campaign T-Shirts, Buttons, and Hats at Home

Please remember that voters have the right to cast a ballot free from intimidation or distraction. Electioneering, including wearing anything with a candidate’s name on it, is prohibited within 100 feet of any voting location.  Anyone wearing electioneering items will be asked to remove or cover them while they are at the voting location.  Please help our poll workers by respecting the non-partisan nature of the voting locations.

For more information on voting options for the Primary Election, visit ContraCostaVote.gov or call 925.335.7800.

Editors Notes:

To listen to Podcast involving some of the candidates in the March primary, see links below:

• Feb 27 – Podcast: Marisol Rubio Runs for State Senate District 9
• Feb 26 – Shanelle Scales-Preston Runs for Contra Costa County Board of Supervisors
• Feb 24 – Christopher Cabaldon Runs for Senate District 3
• Feb 9 – Wanda Wallis Runs for State Assembly District 11
• Feb 6 – Karen Mitchoff Runs for California State Assembly (ContraCosta.news Endorsed Candidate in this race)
• Feb 5 – Mike Barbanica Runs for Contra Costa County Board of Supervisor
• Feb 1 – Jelani Killings Runs for Contra Costa County Board of Supervisor