Making Sure Your Vote-by-Mail Ballot Counts

By law, all voters eligible for an election will be mailed an official ballot 29-days prior to Election Day.

"Where's My Ballot" Ballot Tracking with BallotTrax

Tracking your Vote-by-Mail ballot—when it is mailed, received, and counted—has never been easier.

The California Secretary of State and Yolo County offer Where’s My Ballot?—a way for voters to track and receive notifications on the status of their Vote-by-Mail ballot. Powered by BallotTrax, Where’s My Ballot? lets voters know where their ballot is, and its status, every step of the way.

Sign-up at: WheresMyBallot.sos.ca.gov to receive automatic email, SMS (text), or voice call notifications about your ballot. 

PLEASE NOTE: You can call our office (530) 666-8133 to sign up for BallotTrax. You can also receive your automatic notifications by phone. You don't need a computer or smart phone to take advantage of this service.

"Cure" Letters

Vote-by-mail ballot envelopes missing a signature or with a signature that doesn't match the voter's signature on file are challenged. Conditional and provisional ballot identification envelopes can also be challenged for missing a signature. Yolo County Elections contacts the voter with a letter to help "cure" the challenge. We also make calls and send emails if we have that contact information on record. 

Voters may resolve a challenge by submitting a cure letter at least two days prior to certification of the election. Yolo County Elections will post the exact date of the deadline 10 days prior to certification. The forms can be returned in person, via email, fax, or postal service. The contact information is on the form. Please return your form as soon as possible in order for your ballot to be counted.

A vote-by-mail ballot envelope may be challenged when the voter's registration status changes between the VBM mailing and signature verification of the VBM ballot envelope. To learn more about curing challenges, please contact the Yolo County Elections Office at (530) 666-8133 or [email protected].

California Replacement Vote-by-Mail Ballot Application

If you failed to receive your vote-by-mail ballot or if you have lost or destroyed your original vote-by-mail ballot, you may apply in writing for a replacement vote-by-mail ballot. This California Replacement Ballot Application must be provided to your county elections official. Only the registered voter themself may request a replacement ballot. A request for a replacement ballot that is made by any person other than the registered voter is a criminal offense. (Elec. Code, § 3014(a).)

Only the voter shall mark the ballot and sign the return envelope. Information about returning the ballot is enclosed with the ballot.

Authorizing Someone to Pick Up a Vote-by-Mail Ballot for You

Any voter may authorize a representative to pick up a second vote-by-mail (VBM) ballot on their behalf and deliver it directly to the voter using this Application to Provide Vote-by-Mail Ballot to Representative. 

Voters may allow someone they trust to deliver the VBM ballot to them only with written pre-authorization in California. This application must be provided in person to the voter's county elections office by the voter's representative. (Elec. Code, § 3014(b). The voter's signature on the authorization application will be verified prior to the county election official issuing the ballot.

Only the voter shall mark the ballot and sign the return envelope. Information about returning the ballot is enclosed with the ballot.

Remote Accessible Vote-by-Mail

Under Assembly Bill 37 in 2021, all registered voters may now use Remote Accessible Vote-by-Mail (RAVBM). The system was created in 2016 as a tool to allow voters with disabilities who prefer or need to vote from home to read and mark their ballot as privately and independently as possible. The link to the RAVBM system is available starting 29 days prior to Election Day. The voter requesting RAVBM will be sent a direct link the RAVBM system via email. Contact the Yolo County Elections Office at (530) 666-8133 or [email protected] for further assistance.