Berkeley Expands Voting Options for November Election

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October 7, 2020

BERKELEY–Today, Mayor Jesse Arreguin announced that the City of Berkeley, in coordination with the Alameda County Registrar of Voters, is expanding opportunities for residents to cast their ballot.  The expanded number of ballot drop boxes and Accessible Voting Locations (AVLs) is intended to address growing concerns about efforts to undermine the American electoral process during the COVID-19 pandemic and help ensure all votes are counted.

“Our democracy is sacred and the fact that the President and his allies are taking steps to quell participation is a disgrace,” said Berkeley Mayor Jesse Arreguin.  “Your elected leaders have an obligation to ensure the public can safely and securely fulfill their civic duty.  Anything less is not just undemocratic, it’s un-American.”

Recent statements by President Trump have raised concerns about possible voter intimidation efforts occuring at polling places. The mayor’s office urges anyone experiencing voter intimidation or who is denied their right to vote to call the national Election Protection Hotline at (866) 687-8683. 

Under Governor Newsom’s Executive Order N-64-20, every Californian who is registered to vote will receive a vote-by-mail ballot. Voters in Berkeley and Alameda County will begin to receive their ballots sent from the Alameda County Registrar of Voters on October 5th.  For registration information and status, the public is encouraged to go to https://registertovote.ca.gov/.   

Ballot drop boxes will be available at the following locations in Berkeley: 

  • Berkeley City Hall, 2180 Milvia St

  • Claremont Branch Library, 2940 Benvenue Ave

  • Frances Albrier Community Center, 2800 Park St 

  • North Branch Library, 1170 The Alameda

  • UC Berkeley, Sproul Plaza between Sather Gate and Sproul Hall

  • West Branch Library, 1125 University Ave

Those who decide to vote in person should bring their mail-in ballots with them to a polling station on Election Day. While most polling locations will be closed, the Alameda County Registrar of Voters has confirmed that it will offer some Accessible Voting Locations (AVLs). AVLs will be at the following locations in Berkeley: 

  • Berkeley High School, 1980 Allston Way

  • City of Berkeley Building (formerly Premier Cru), 1011 University Ave

  • Ed Roberts Campus, 3075 Adeline Ave

  • Epworth United Methodist Church, 1953 Hopkins St

  • Lawerence Hall of Science, 1 Centennial Dr

  • Longfellow Middle School, 1500 Derby St

  • MLK Student Union, Pauley Ballroom, 2455 Bancroft Way, 3rd Floor

  • Northbrae Community Church, 941 The Alameda

  • Willard Middle School, 2425 Stuart St

AVLs will open beginning on Saturday, October 31. They will generally be open from 9am-5pm on Saturday 10/31, Sunday 11/1, and Monday 11/2, and 7am-8pm on Election Day, 11/3. 

Registered voters can vote as soon as they receive their ballot. To fight the spread of COVID-19, county elections officials advise voters to mail completed ballots through the U.S. Postal Service or drop them into an official drop box.  Voters who return their ballot by mail must have it postmarked by Election Day. Mailed ballots can be tracked on the California Secretary of State’s  “Where’s My Ballot?” webpage.  

Voters who drop their ballot into a dropbox must do so before the polls close at 8pm on November 3. Those who have yet to register to vote can still do so. The deadline to register online is October 19. Though elections officials advise voters to register at least 15 days before November 3, they can register in-person through Election Day.

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Jesse Arreguin