NORTH FORK – Eastern Madera County voters will now have more ways to return their ballots during the general election.
Rebecca Martinez, Madera County’s Registrar of Voters, has announced that a fifth drop box will be available, with the latest being installed in North Fork. And for those returning their ballots by mail, postage-paid envelopes will be provided so you don’t even need a stamp.
In June, Madera County was one of five counties to implement the Voter’s Choice Act (VCA) – a voting model that includes sending every registered voter a vote-by-mail ballot, opening vote centers for up to 10 days before election day, and providing ballot drop boxes.
“The law requires, based on voter registration, that Madera County have four ballot drop boxes and that is how many we had in June,” explained Martinez. “As a result of voters taking advantage of the opportunities the VCA presented, I felt compelled to add an additional drop box in North Fork.”
North Fork will join Oakhurst, Madera Ranchos and the cities of Madera and Chowchilla as communities served by drop boxes. All Madera County drop boxes will open on Oct. 9, the day after vote-by-mail ballots are sent to voters.
The drop boxes in North Fork, Oakhurst and Chowchilla are outside, available 24 hours a day starting on Oct. 9. They will close at 8 p.m. on Nov. 6, election day.
The North Fork drop box is located at the Crazy Y intersection, across from the North Fork Market and the Post Office.
The drop box in Oakhurst is located in the Grocery Outlet store on Junction Drive near Sears. The drop box in the Madera Ranchos is located in the State Foods Market on Avenue 12. Both are inside their respective stores which are open daily from 7 a.m. until 9 p.m. The boxes will close at 8 p.m. on election day.
The November 2018 general election will also be the first time that postage will be prepaid for voters returning their ballot by mail. State law will require the County to prepay postage starting in 2019 but Madera County has opted to begin complying with the law immediately.
“Whether it is providing more than the minimum number of drop boxes or providing paid postage return, my goal has always been to meet the needs of Madera County voters,” says Martinez. “I have a responsibility to serve the people who live in Madera County and I will do whatever it takes to ensure that every Madera County Voter has the opportunity to vote.”
Additional information about the upcoming election including vote center and drop box locations and hours can be found at www.votemadera.com or by calling the Madera County Elections Division at (800) 435-0509.
