Official Ballot Drop Boxes Open for June Gubernatorial Primary

May 7, 2026

San Diego County has announced that over 150 official ballot drop boxes will be available starting May 5 for the June 2 Gubernatorial Primary Election, with mail ballots being distributed to more than 2 million registered voters this week. The secure drop boxes feature heavy-duty stainless steel construction with anti-theft measures and double-locking doors to protect submitted ballots. Voters can either mail their ballots (which must be postmarked by June 2), use official drop boxes, or vote in person at early voting locations and vote centers that open on various dates leading up to election day.

Who is affected

Over 2 million registered voters in San Diego County
The Registrar of Voters office and ballot retrieval team
Voters using the U.S. Postal Service for ballot return

What action is being taken

Mail ballots are being distributed to registered voters this week
Official ballot drop boxes are being made available starting May 5
In-person early voting is available at the Registrar of Voters office in Kearny Mesa (8 a.m. to 5 p.m., Monday through Friday)
The Registrar's ballot retrieval team is collecting ballots from drop boxes

Why it matters

This election infrastructure enables secure, accessible voting for San Diego County's large voter population in the Gubernatorial Primary Election. The multiple voting options (mail, drop boxes, and in-person voting) and the staggered opening of vote centers help accommodate different voter preferences and schedules while reducing congestion and wait times on election day.

What's next

Vote centers open May 30 (10 a.m. to 6 p.m.)
Additional vote centers open June 1 and 2 (8 a.m. to 8 p.m.)
All ballots must be submitted by 8 p.m. on June 2
Mailed ballots must be postmarked by June 2 and received within seven days to be counted

Read full article from source: The San Diego Voice & Viewpoint