Voting is the fundamental right of every US citizen.  The County of Amador Elections Office strives to uphold and preserve this right through voter registration, voter education, and accessible voting options.

Here you will find information on where, when, and how you can vote.

As a voter, we thank you for partnering with us in this core element of democracy.

Register to Vote

If you have moved, changed your name or visited the DMV recently, your registration may not be current. To update names, addresses or political party, you must re-register to vote. You can also check your voter status to ensure all of your information is correct. 

If you have a post office box, but have moved your physical residence, you still need to re-register. Voting districts are determined by residence address and if you move, you may not receive the correct contests on your ballot. 

Also, in a Presidential Primary, the Presidential Preference contest is based on party affiliation. Members of the specific parties vote to choose which candidate in their party should get to run for President in the General election.

Vote by Mail and Ballot Drop Boxes

For the March and November elections in 2020, every registered voter in Amador County will receive a vote-by-mail ballot regardless of having signed up for one. However, voters will not be limited to just voting by mail (which is postage paid now); they will be able to drop off their ballots in one of our many secure drop-off locations throughout the county or they can vote in person. 

How to Vote... by mail.

1. Vote your ballot by filling in the oval next to your choice.
2. Put your voted ballot inside the postage-paid return envelope.
3. Sign the return envelope between the hole punches.  Important: In order for your ballot to count, we must match your signature on the return envelope with the signature in your voter registration record.
4. Seal the envelope.
5. Return the ballot. (Drop it off in the mail! It can only be accepted if it is postmarked on or before Election Day and received by our office within three (3) business days after Election Day; Drop it off at any ballot dropbox; Drop it off at any vote center.

Vote Centers

If a voter chooses to vote in person, he/she will no longer be limited to a single polling place on a single day. A voter may go to any of three open vote center locations throughout the county; vote centers will be open 3 days before the election through Election Day, including weekends. The voter will have more choices. Vote centers will operate like our Elections Office and allow a voter to drop off a vote-by-mail envelope, use an accessible ballot marking device, obtain voting assistance, or receive a replacement ballot.

How to Vote... in a vote center.

1. Check-in with the Vote Center staff.
2. Wait patiently while the Vote Center staff confirms your eligibility to vote.
3. Tell the Vote Center staff if you need a replacement ballot or if you would like to vote in person.
4. Wait for your ballot to print or for your access to an accessible ballot marking device.
5. Vote.
6. When finished voting, the Vote Center staff will give you an "I Voted" sticker - wear it proudly!

Accessible Vote by Mail

Voters with disabilities can vote privately and independently by accessing and marking their ballot from a computer using their own assistive technology. Ballots must be printed out and returned to the Amador County Elections Office.  Marked ballots cannot be emailed or faxed.

How to Vote... accessible vote by mail.

1. Email us at elections@amadorgov.org or call 209-223-6465 to have a ballot look-up link emailed to you.
2. Enter your information into the Voter lookup tool to obtain your correct ballot.
3. Vote the ballot on any computer with internet access and a printer.
4. Print ballot out.
5. Follow return instructions and return to our office.

No Party Preference Voters - Presidential Primary Only

If you are unaffiliated with any party (sometimes called “no party preference” or "decline to state"), in a Presidential Primary you will be given a nonpartisan ballot, containing only State and County offices with all candidates for those offices, and any ballot measures to be voted upon at the primary election.

As a No Party Preference voter, you will receive a postcard from the Elections Office approximately 90 days prior to the Presidential Primary election notifying you which parties are permitting No Party Preference voters to vote in their Primary election. You will always have three options:

1. Do nothing. You will receive a ballot that includes everything except candidates for President of a specific party.
2. Vote for one of the permitting party's Presidential candidate, complete the information on the postcard and return it by the date indicated to receive a ballot for that party.
3. Re-register as a member of the party in whose Primary you would like to vote.

However, with the addition of Conditional Voter Registration to California Election Law, a voter may also change their party affiliation at a vote center up to 8 pm on Election Day by completing a new Voter Registration and voting a provisional ballot.