How to Vote by Mail

All registered voters in Inyo County can vote by mail, also called absentee voting. You can ask to get your ballot in the mail for the next election, or for all future elections by contacting the election department.

Click Here to confirm status of returned ballot

Your Ballot Will Automatically be Mailed to You

As required by Assembly Bill 37 (EC 3000.5), every registered voter will automatically be mailed a ballot for the 2022 Primary Election 29 days prior to the election. No application is required. To make sure that you mailing address is current, you can check your registration information.

Mark your Ballot

1. Mark your ballot

Mark your ballot using a dark ballpoint pen.
To vote for a candidate, completely fill in the oval next to your choice.
To vote on any measure, completely fill in the oval next to the word Yes or the word No.
If you make a mistake, you can request a replacement ballot by contacting the elections office.

2. Review your ballot

If you vote for more candidates than allowed or if you vote both Yes and No on a measure, your vote will not count for that candidate or measure.
You do not have to vote on all contests. Those you do vote on will still count.
Check both sides of your ballot for voting contests.

3. Sign and seal your ballot

After you have finished voting, complete the information on the return envelope. This includes your physical address (not a PO Box) and signature.
Important! Sign the return envelope or your ballot cannot be counted.

Make your vote count!

Avoid the most common reasons vote by mail ballots are rejected.
Missing signatures: Sign your return envelope to makes sure your vote by mail ballot counts.
Mismatched signatures: Voter’s signature must look similar to the signature on the voter’s registration card. If you can’t remember how you signed your registration card, or if your signature has changed, re-register now to update your file. Request a new registration card by contacting the Inyo Election Department, or visit our Registration site at https://elections.inyocounty.us/registration/

Return your Ballot

You have several options to return your ballot to the elections department:

You can mail your ballot to the elections offices, no later than Election Day. The postage is pre-paid with first class postage.
You can drop your ballot off at any Ballot Drop Box location or you may return it directly to the Elections Office in Historic Courthouse in Independence beginning on August 16th, through 8:00 pm on Election Day.
You can drop your ballot off at any polling location on from 7:00 am – 8:00 pm on Election Day.
You can use any private delivery service to mail your ballot to the elections office, as long as it mailed by Election Day.

To request a Spanish translation of your ballot when voting by mail, please contact the elections office at 760-878-0224. Para solicitar una traduccion en Espanol de su boleta al votar por correo, favor de communicarse con la oficina de Elecciones al 760-878-0224.

Track your ballot

Tracking your vote-by-mail ballot—when it is mailed, received, and counted—has never been easier.
Sign-up at WheresMyBallot.sos.ca.gov to receive automatic email, SMS (text), or voice call notiﬁcations about your ballot.

Note: This tracking system will only confirm receipt of mailed ballots. To receive information about whether the ballot you cast in person was counted, please contact the elections office or use the interactive tool at the bottom of this page.

After you return your ballot

When your ballot is received, your signature on the return envelope will be compared to the signature we have on file. You will be contacted by our office if there are any issues that would prevent your ballot from being counted.

During the Mailed Ballot Canvassing Board process that occurs days before the election, your ballot will be separated from the envelope to protect your privacy.

Mailed ballots received in our office before election day will be included in the first Election Day Results report posted on our site at 8pm on election night. Mailed ballots received on Election Day will be processed and counted after election day before we certify the results.

Final election results for Inyo County Elections Office will be Certified on November 23, 2022.

Ballots for the March 2024 Presidential Primary Election will be mailed out on February 5, 2024. After this date, use the below tool to check the status of your mailed ballot. This information comes directly from our office, and is separate from the state’s Ballot Trax tracking tool. Together, these tools give you real-time confirmation of the status of your mailed ballot.

If you receive notification that your signature does not match the signature on your voter registration card, or that you forgot to sign your ballot envelope, your vote can still count. Download, complete and return the Ballot Signature Verification form as soon as possible, but no later than March 25, 2024.

Late ballots

Voted ballots must be returned in person no later than 8:00 pm on Election Night or postmarked on or before Election Day to be counted. Mail your ballot early to ensure it is received in time to be processed.