Santa Clara County Begins Early Voting Mailings

Ballots are now landing in Santa Clara County mailboxes, and that means the June 2 primary is no longer some future event — voting has already started. The county began sending vote-by-mail ballots during the week of May 4, and early in-person voting is now open at the Registrar of Voters office in San Jose. Basically, if you are waiting for a single big Election Day moment, you are already late. The real shift is that the county’s election machinery is now fully in motion. ### What exactly started? Santa Clara County kicked off the voting period for the June 2, 2026 statewide direct primary by mailing ballots to registered voters and opening early voting at 1555 Berger Drive, Building 2, in San Jose. That is the county’s standard Voter’s Choice Act setup — most people vote by mail, while in-person options ramp up closer to Election Day. (vote.santaclaracounty.gov) ### Why does the mailing matter so much? Because in California, the ballot mailing is the real start of the election for most voters. Once ballots are out, people can fill them in at home, drop them off early, or send them back by mail instead of waiting for June 2. The deadline still matters — ballots must be returned by 8:00 p.m. on Election Day or mailed with a June 2 postmark — but the decision window opens weeks earlier. (vote.santaclaracounty.gov) ### Where can people vote or return a ballot? Voters in Santa Clara County have three basic options. They can mail the ballot back, use an official ballot drop box, or vote in person at the Registrar of Voters office now and at additional vote centers as they open later in the month. The county’s voter portal also lets people find nearby vote centers and drop-off sites, which matters in a county this large and spread out. (sos.ca.gov) ### When do more in-person sites open? The first vote centers in California’s Voter’s Choice Act counties open on May 23, with broader in-person access available by May 30. So right now the early action is concentrated at the county elections office, but the footprint expands as Election Day gets closer. That staggered rollout is normal — it gives people an immediate option without opening every site at once. (vote.santaclaracounty.gov) ### What is on the ballot? This is a statewide direct primary, so the ballot includes major state races, including governor, along with local contests and measures that vary by jurisdiction. In the Bay Area, that means the primary is doing two jobs at once — helping shape statewide power and settling local fights that can directly affect city services, schools, and taxes. (sos.ca.gov) ### What if a ballot never shows up? Santa Clara County already has the replacement process running. Voters can request a replacement vote-by-mail ballot, and the county says the last day to request one by mail is May 26. There is also ballot tracking through the county and the state, so people do not have to guess whether a ballot was sent, received, or counted. (sos.ca.gov) ### Why are officials emphasizing this now? Because turnout patterns have changed. Elections are less and less about one Tuesday rush and more about a month-long return process. Getting ballots out early gives campaigns more time to chase votes, gives voters more time to work through long ballots, and gives election officials more time to process the flow before June 2. (rovservices.sccgov.org) ### So what is the bottom line? The headline is simple — Santa Clara County’s primary is underway now, not later. If you are registered, your ballot is either already on the way or should be soon, and the practical question is no longer when voting starts. It is how you want to return it. (vote.santaclaracounty.gov)