As Election Day approaches, the San Diego County Registrar of Voters is encouraging residents to mail their ballots in as soon as possible this week, deliver those ballots to local drop boxes, or vote in person at one of the region’s 39 in-person vote centers that opened as of Saturday, Oct. 26.
The vote centers are open daily 8 a.m.-5 p.m., with more than 200 total centers running Nov. 2-4, according to the Registrar of Voters. On Election Day Tuesday, Nov. 5, all vote centers will be open 7 a.m.-8 p.m.
There are 24 ballot drop-off boxes in coastal North San Diego County:
✔ 7 in Oceanside
✔ 4 in San Marcos
✔ 3 each in Carlsbad and Encinitas
✔ 2 each in Del Mar, Rancho Santa Fe and Vista
✔ 1 in Solana Beach
The vote centers also include Super Centers, two of which are in Encinitas and San Marcos. These larger centers have more in-person voting equipment and increased poll workers to handle higher turnouts on Election Day, according to the Registrar of Voters.
Coastal North County communities have several city government offices and tax measures on this November’s ballot.
Oceanside
In Oceanside, city residents will be voting for mayor, clerk, treasurer, and City Council districts 3 and 4. In addition, Oceanside residents are voting on whether to extend Measure X, a sale tax originally approved in 2019, by an additional 10 years. The City Council approved its placement on this fall’s ballot in June.
Carlsbad
In Carlsbad, city residents will elect City Council members for districts 2 and 4, and treasurer. Residents will also consider Measure B, a proposition placed on the ballot by the City Council in June that, if approved, would update current Proposition H’s property acquisition spending limit from $1 million to $3.09 million, adjust the limit annually on Jan. 1 based on the percentage increase in the region’s Construction Cost Index, and exempt public safety facilities from the limit.
Encinitas
Voters in Encinitas will choose a mayor and two City Council seats, for districts 1 and 2. Measure K is also on the ballot — a proposition calling for a 1 cent-per-dollar general sales tax to go toward city services and maintenance. The measure was approved for the ballot by the City Council in May.
Solana Beach and Del Mar
Solana Beach Mayor Lesa Heebner, District 1 Councilman David A. Zito and District 3 Councilwoman Jewel Edson are incumbents without competing candidates. The City Council appointed the incumbents to their seats on Aug. 21.
Residents of Del Mar have three candidates to choose for three at-large City Council seats. Also on the ballot are measures A and M, approved for the election by the City Council in June. Measure A calls for adjustments to City Council compensation, while Measure M calls for updates to the city’s transient occupancy tax, including the application of the tax to short-term rentals.
Vista and San Marcos
In Vista, residents will go to the polls to elect City Council members for districts 2 and 3.
San Marcos residents will elect two City Council members, one each for districts 3 and 4. In addition, Measure Q is on the ballot. The proposition, placed on the ballot by the City Council in July, would enact a 1-cent sales tax, if approved, to boost city services and maintenance.
More information about this November’s election is available online at sdvote.com, or by phone at 858-565-5800 or toll free at 800-696-0136.
