Vote Center In Walnut Creek: Where To Vote In Person 2020

Walnut Creek CA

27 October, 2020

10:52 PM

Description

WALNUT CREEK, CA — Voting in the November Presidential Election may look a little different this year, with many ballots already cast by mail. But you can still cast or hand off your ballot in person this year — and you can do it early or on Election Day. Dubbed "vote centers" rather than "polling places," physical voting locations will also be a bit different than in years past. The amount of in-person polling places in California will be limited compared to previous elections, in accordance with a law signed by Gov. Gavin Newsom in August, but some vote centers already opened up as early as Oct. 24. Centers are required to remain open Saturday through Monday Nov. 2 for at least eight hours each day and from 7 a.m. to 8 p.m. on Election Day. Although every registered and active voter in California was already mailed a ballot in October, polling places will still be open for same day voter registration, for those who need assistance with language or disabilities — or for those who simply want to witness the historic election day unfold. In Walnut Creek, one vote center will open on Saturday. There are drop-boxes for already marked ballots at all the voting center. Walnut Creek Vote Center The vote center will be open 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Oct. 31 - Nov. 2. Hours are 7 a.m. to 8 p.m. on Election day, Nov. 3. Here is the location in Walnut Creek: Heather Farms Park, 301 N San Carlos Dr., Walnut Creek, CA 94598 All of these changes to voting in California this year are to mitigate the spread of COVID-19. Vote center volunteers and employees are required to space voting booths apart, sanitize surfaces and encourage those waiting in line to socially distance. Voters are encouraged to arrive with a face covering, but those who show up without will be provided one. Some of the first vote centers opened in California Oct. 21; in Los Angeles, hundreds lined up outside the Staples Center waiting to vote in person. In California, more than 21 million ballots were mailed to voters, and an astonishing 7 million ballots have already been cast in the state in this historic election. — Written by Patch editor Kat Schuster with additional reporting by Bea Karnes