8 of 10 voters still holding their ballots for the Nov. 8 election

SANTA BARBARA, Calif. - About 18 percent of the voters with ballots in Santa Barbara County have returned them, now just one week before the November 8 election.

227,000 vote-by-mail ballots went out Oct. 7 to all registered voters at the time.

Tuesday morning, 41,000 ballots had been returned.

Santa Barbara County Registrar of Voters Joe Holland said, "I'm a little disappointed that it is a low turnout at this point in time."

The ballots can be returned by U.S. Post Office mail boxes, the white Santa Barbara County election boxes, in person at the elections office, or at a polling place on election day.

Holland says, if you have an issue with your elections ballot the staff is ready to help you or replace it.
"Sometimes people lose their ballot that's why I encourage you to get your ballot in the mail, drop it off at a drop box or bring it by on election day," said Holland. He also said a new ballot can be issued if one is lost or damaged.

A week ago at the main elections office, voters there were dropping ballots in the secure box at the site and also going to the counter inside.

At that time, about 10 percent of the voters had cast ballots.

As of last weekend the number went up to 13 percent.

The staff has been working to verify ballots prior to election day.

"We are staying right on top of it.  That is why if you get you ballot in this weekend your results will be up by 8 o'clock on election day, but we need your ballot," said Holland. 

Voters who made up their minds in the first few days said they did not want to wait, and wanted their ballots to be in and verified by the time the polling places close at 8 p.m. one week from now.

Voter Mary Burns has recently moved and said, "I was just trying to make sure I was registered in the correct district and I had the correct ballot and they were super  very helpful.  I thought it would be a problem but it was not at all."

To help the voters who can't make it out during the week, the elections offices in Santa Maria, Lompoc and near Goleta are fully staff on Saturday from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. to not only take your ballot  but answer all your questions.

At the white drop box in front of the elections office, Joan Dugan said she took a little time because, "I just kind of like to wait until the last minute in case something comes up."   

Nancy Keele started about seven days ago.
"Yes I did. I have been  working on it for about a week. I actually changed my mind of a couple of things after doing my research."

Many voters were coming by the elections office ballot box or to go inside in person on Tuesday.

Holland said, "this drop box here at election central is one of our more popular ones so you are seeing a steady stream of folks dropping their ballots off."

For more information go to www.SBCvote.com

or go to: Election drop boxes.