Sonoma County election officials gear up for high voter turnout in June election

Sonoma County election officials are ordering extra ballots and beefing up staffing in anticipation of a high voter turnout in this June’s primary election.

The county’s Registrar of Voters is expected to add as many as 45 extra temporary positions to its regular staff of 14, said Elizabeth Acosta, chief deputy registrar of voters.

“And we’re ordering extra ballots just in case we need them. We’ve already seen a bump this year in registration numbers,” Acosta said. “We’re seeing that trend across the state right now.”

California Secretary of State Alex Padilla alerted state and county officials this month to prepare for increases in voter turnout on Election Day, which falls on June 7.

“Our data suggests a surge in voter participation in both the presidential primary election in June and the general election in November,” Padilla wrote in an April 4 letter to Gov. Jerry Brown.

In the past three months alone, more than 600,000 people across the state have registered to vote or updated their voting information online, Padilla said. Sonoma County also has experienced an increase in voter registration. The total so far is up 2.3 percent from roughly this time last year, with 245,517 total registered voters, according to county voter data.

And more people are expected to register in the coming weeks, Acosta said.

The deadline to register to vote is May 23. County residents can register in person at 435 Fiscal Drive, Santa Rosa or online at registertovote.ca.gov.

In preparation for higher-than-usual turnout, county elections officials are ramping up their public outreach to increase mail-in ballots. About 70 percent of the county’s registered voters are permanent vote-by-mail voters.

“It’s another trend we’re seeing in California,” Acosta said. “I think it’s hugely convenient, and it helps us prepare for elections.”

County officials also are alerting people about specific requirements this year to cast votes in the June presidential primary.

Registered voters who declare no party preference, for example, must select a political party in order to cast a vote in the presidential primary. Also, some areas of the county are not equipped with polling places. In those cases, voters should receive a pastel-colored card with instructions on how to cast their votes. For more information, contact the Registrar of Voters at 565-6800.

Sample ballots are expected to go in the mail April 18. Vote-by-mail ballots are slated to go out ?May 9.