Mail-in ballots go to Sonoma County voters Monday

Come Monday, hundreds of thousands of vote-by-mail ballots in Sonoma County will be sent out to residents’ mailboxes, allowing two-thirds of the county’s registered voters to cast their vote early for the Nov. 4 general election.

Elections officials have lauded the county’s high vote-by-mail rate, saying the process is more convenient and it encourages citizen engagement in the democratic process. Countywide, there are 162,000 permanent mail-in voters, out of a total of 242,572 total registered voters.

“That’s an extremely large number,” said Gloria Colter, assistant registrar of voters.

In addition to state and federal races, county ballots will feature 13 bond and tax measures for schools, fire districts and cities. Nine candidates are battling for three council seats in Santa Rosa. Petaluma is electing its mayor and filling three city council seats and three seats are up for grabs in Sebastopol, Windsor, Sonoma and Cloverdale. Healdsburg, Cotati and Rohnert Park voters will fill two seats on each of their city councils.

North county voters will choose between former White House appointee James Gore and longtime Windsor Town Councilwoman Deb Fudge for ?4th District Sonoma County supervisor.

Registered voters can apply for a mail-in ballot up until Oct. 28 by sending a personally signed letter to the Registrar of Voters or by applying for one in person. Residents can also apply by filling out the mail-in form on the back of the sample ballot. The elections office is located at 435 Fiscal Drive, Santa Rosa.

Colter encouraged mail-in voters to return ballots before Election Day.

“Anything returned on election day will slow the results process, and it won’t be included in counts on election night,” she said.

County residents have until Oct. 20 to register to vote.

You can reach Staff ?Writer Angela Hart at ?526-8503 or angela.hart@?pressdemocrat.com. On Twitter @ahartreports.