The primary election will be over in less than 48 hours and the final countdown for ballot counting will begin. If one is wondering where to drop off their ballot, they have many options to do so. If voting in the Monterey area, California State University, Monterey Bay (CSUMB) created an on-campus ballot drop box to make sure students and staff have a voting place to ensure their voices are heard this election.
The Director of Student Engagement & Leadership Development (SELD) Marco Dowell worked with Community Engagement – an organization under SELD – partnered with the Monterey County Elections Office. They have worked with the Monterey County Election office since 2016 to provide the CSUMB ballot dropbox.
This year’s dropbox will be located at the Saratoga Community Center on Nov. 3 starting at 7 a.m. The Associate Vice President of Student Affairs and Dean of Students Dr. Leslie Williams, Chief Conduct Officer Idonas Hughes and Dowell took an oath Saturday and participated in the proper training to become servants of the Monterey County Elections Office. This allows them to collect ballots and host an official ballot drop box for all CSUMB community members to drop off their ballots.
Dowell explained that due to COVID-19 and the University’s online transition, the creation of a ballot drop box was looking very unlikely this year. Their original goal for the general election was “to work to have an actual polling place on campus but [the team] did not anticipate being able to succeed with that effort due to indoor gatherings being prohibited.”
Once it was determined that the community center could be considered since actual gathering doesn’t occur with a dropbox, Dowell said the plan to place the drop box “was full steam ahead.”
What Dowell considered the most rewarding part of that process was the “direct student civic and voter empowerment activities” that were put on by “many campus colleagues, departments and programs.”
Community Engagement and the Associated Students educated and empowered voters by sponsoring two presidential debate watch parties, and another for the vice presidential debate.
“Inspiration [for the ballet drop box] was the opportunity to empower members of the CSUMB family and our neighbors from surrounding communities to first register as voters and then to participate in the electoral process with little to no obstacles,” Dowell said. “We now work to achieve this election’s objective year to year.”
Community Engagement encourages members of the CSUMB community to visit the ballet drop off box which is located at 1802 Saratoga Court, Marina tomorrow from 7 a.m. to 8 p.m. to make voting easy and convenient in this year’s election.
If the CSUMB ballet drop box isn’t accessible for you, here is a list of certified Ballot Drop Boxes in Monterey County. These are open 24 hours a day, but will close at 8 p.m. on election night.
Carmel:
- Carmel Valley Library
65 W. Carmel Valley Rd., Carmel Valley
- Harrison Memorial Library
Corner of Ocean Ave and Lincoln St., Carmel-by-the-Sea
Castroville:
- Castroville Library
11160 Speegle St., Castroville
Salinas:
- Cesar Chavez Library
615 Williams Rd, Salinas
- Monterey County Elections
(Provides in person assistance on Monday 8am-5pm | Election Day 7am-8pm )
1441 Schilling Place North Bldg., Salinas
- Monterey County Health Department
1270 Natividad Rd., Salinas
Gonzales
- Gonzales Library
851 Fifth St., Gonzales
Greenfield
- Greenfield City Hall
599 El Camino Real, Greenfield
King City
- King City Library
404 Broadway St., King City
Marina
- Marina Community Center
211 Hillcrest Ave., Marina
- Marina Library
190 Seaside Circle, Marina
Seaside:
- Seaside – City Hall
440 Harcourt Ave., Seaside
Monterey
- Monterey Public Library
625 Pacific St., Monterey
Pacific Grove
- Pacific Grove City Hall
300 Forest Ave, Pacific Grove
Prunedale
- Prunedale Library
17822 Moro Rd., Prunedale
Soledad
- Soledad Library
401 Gabilan Dr., Soledad
Business Hour Drop Box Locations in Monterey County OPEN from 8am-5pm:
Del Rey Oaks:
- Del Rey Oaks City Hall
650 Canyon del Rey Blvd., Del Rey Oaks
Seaside:
- Early Voting Center at Embassy Suites
(In-person Assistance on Monday 8am-5pm | Election Day 7am-8pm)
1441 Canyon Del Rey Blvd., Seaside
Gonzales:
- Gonzales City Hall
147 4th St., Gonzales
King City:
- King City City Hall
212 S. Vanderhurst Ave., King City
Salinas:
- Monterey County Government Center 1st Floor
168 W. Alisal St., Salinas
Sand City:
- Sand City Hall Chamber
1 Pendergrass Way (Sylvan Way), Sand City
Soledad:
- Soledad City Hall
248 Main St., Soledad
If you live in Monterey County and want to vote in person, visit the Monterey County Elections Office Website to find your designated polling location.
The Monterey-Salinas Transit Center (MST) is also doing their part to help make it easier for voters by providing free bus rides to polling stations all day on Tuesday. According to an MST press release, “Lack of transportation should not prevent anyone from being able to exercise their right to vote.”